Left-Side Boarding: A Practice Rooted in Tradition and Safety

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 HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

Hey there, fellow aviation enthusiasts! Have you ever wondered why we board planes from the left side? Well, today we're going to take a deep dive into this curious practice and uncover the fascinating reasons behind it.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

It all started with the crew's requirements. In the early days of aviation, airport designers wanted planes to taxi in front of the terminal so that the captain could easily judge the wing clearance from the building, and the plane door could be in front of the terminal doors. Some planes even had doors on the right side, but pilots found that they didn't have the same unobstructed view as they did from the left side. So, for safety reasons, planes started having doors on the left side.

This beautiful mid-1930s postcard shows an Eastern DC-2 at the passenger terminal with a large crowd of onlookers. Photo by sunshineskies.com

In addition, the captain's seat is traditionally on the left side, as it allows for better maneuvering of the aircraft to a standstill. The Civil Aviation Authority also requires a clear separation of passengers from ground servicing activities, which typically occur on the right side of the plane.

A Hostess inside the cockpit/flightdeck in PANAM DC/3

But where did this practice originate from? It turns out that it dates back to naval practices, where ships have a port on the left side and starboard on the right side. Passengers would embark and disembark on the port side, and since planes are an evolution of passenger travel, it only made sense to continue this practice.

Photo by The ASC on Facebook

Now, you might be thinking, "What about smaller planes?" Well, in some cases, smaller planes like the Cessna 206 board from the right side to allow the pilot to enter before the passenger sitting adjacent. And in times of emergencies or inconvenience, there may be situations where it would make sense to use the right door of a larger aircraft for customers.

Photo by Flying Magazine

In conclusion, regardless of the origin of this practice, it makes logistical sense to board on the left side. Imagine the chaos if we suddenly switched to the right side! So, the next time you board a plane, remember the fascinating history and safety protocols behind why you're boarding from the left. And who knows, maybe one day we'll discover an even better way to board planes! Until then, fly safe and keep your seatbelts fastened.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

And if you're ever feeling bored on a long flight, just think about the fact that you're sitting in a metal tube soaring through the air at 600 miles per hour. Pretty cool, huh?

Photo by Praveen Thirumurugan on Unsplash

Oh, by the way, Just wanted to remind you that in addition to my aviation blog, I also have another blog dedicated to the extraordinary stories from history. It's called historyisextraordinary.blogspot.com, and it's packed with interesting and hilarious tales from the past. If you're a fan of learning about history in a fun and engaging way, then be sure to check it out! Who knows, you might just learn something new, or at least have a good laugh. Let me know in the comments if you're interested in hearing more!

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