One of the world’s most experienced pilots has finally revealed why the brace position is used on planes.
It’s something that has pondered the minds of many passengers, much like the need for having your table up before landing, as well as the tiny blind for the window.
But a pilot has finally explained the meaning and protection behind the ‘brace’ position that, thankfully, most of us have never had to use.
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The position involves bending forward and putting your hands over your head, which doesn’t seem like it would be hugely effective, in terms of the enormity of a plane crash.
Long-running rumours have even speculated that the position is actually designed to immediately kill passengers in the event of a crash.
But a top pilot has revealed that the theory is completely false, and that the brace position is intended to protect people after all.
Nick Eades, who is the world's most experienced Boeing 747 pilot, told LADbible: "What you're trying to do is to stop people breaking their necks in a big impact.
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"You're just trying to get the body into a position that's going to suffer the least damage.
"It's like whiplash - you're trying to avoid that sudden movement of the head, which can result in serious injury, if not death.”
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But he also explained that the system is changing, and that cabin crew are no longer being trained to tell passengers to 'brace' in the event of an emergency.
Eades said: "I've had a couple where we had problems with the landing gear, and the cabin crew shouted to all the passengers 'brace, brace!'.
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"Now, if you think about it, I would say at least half - probably three-quarters - of passengers on the aeroplane don't speak English as a first language."
And if you think about it, what does 'brace' mean?
"It took a long time for the aviation world to realise if you're suddenly thrown into an emergency situation and people start shouting 'brace' at you, you might think, 'what the hell do they mean?'"
He added that the term 'brace' is becoming redundant, and that cabin crew will replace it with a simpler phrase.
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Eades explained: "They'll replace it with 'heads down, hands over your head.
"At least that gives somebody in probably the most stressful position they'll ever be in in their lives something to do.”
He’s got a great point.
Topics: Plane Etiquette, Travel
Mia Williams