Originally Posted by
Madone59
No one has mentioned the human factor: In case of emergency could a unskilled (no sim time either) passenger be found that didn't need a fresh pair of pants when they land?
I spend a lot of time in the air, listen to ATC frequently and feel i'd conferrable communicating with ATC but am not sure I'd have the guts to take the seat in case of emergency.
I'd guess that on an average aircraft load you would have someone who had worked in a high pressure environment, and wouldn't freak out - I am thinking military / police / paramedic / doctor etc. In true emergency situations, I don't freak out, I deal calmly and methodically with the situation (and sometimes, once the crisis is over, spend half an hour puking my guts out!)