Why don’t airplanes have parachutes for passengers?

Parachute systems are not used on airplanes because they are not thought to be feasible or effective safety measures. Commercial airplanes, unlike other types of aircraft like fighter jets, do not have parachutes since utilizing one takes substantial training, which most passengers on a commercial flight do not have.

1. Training: It would be challenging to provide every passenger with proper training prior to every flight because the great majority of passengers on commercial airplanes are not trained in the usage of a parachute.
2. Logistics: On a commercial flight, it would be difficult to store and distribute hundreds of parachutes even if every passenger had gotten parachute training. The weight and bulk of the parachutes would add to the weight of the aircraft, which could affect its safety and fuel efficiency.
3. Safety: In some situations, such an in-flight fire or a sudden depressurization, trying to escape the plane using a parachute could not be safe. In fact, attempting to do so can have the opposite effect.
4. Risk: Last but not least, it is extremely unlikely that a catastrophic event would make the use of parachutes necessary. Airliners are developed and tested to withstand hostile environments, and commercial aviation has a very high safety record.

The aviation industry places more of its focus on practical and effective safety measures than parachutes, like rigorous training for pilots and flight attendants, safety equipment on board aircraft, and stringent rules and regulations enforced by government agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Parachutes are necessary equipment for fighter planes and other military-style aircraft because skilled pilots use them in the most desperate circumstances.