Originally Posted by
nickio
Oh, don't get me wrong, there's definite value to the demonstration and most of the safety measures that are in force... My point was that at 30,000+ft, the likelihood of surviving an exit from an aircraft through the over-wing exits is so slim that it's none. So the old FAA rule about being able to fully recline in the Exit Rows above 10,000ft was sufficient.
Not only that, but the exits CANNOT be opened once the aircraft is airborne! DeitCoke and jetBlueFA can elaborate on this one, but my basic understanding is that the outside air pressure forces the exits to remain closed when in the air. It's physically/virtually impossible to open them.