Never Use the Back Seat Pockets: A Pilot Explains Why

Never Use the Back Seat Pockets: A Pilot Explains Why

  • Captain Steve Schreiber, from the United States, cautioned against utilizing ‘black holes of despair.’

  • EXPLORE FURTHER: As an aviator, this is why aircraft windows have rounded edges

An experienced pilot has shared the straightforward explanation for why travelers should steer clear of utilizing the rear pouches found behind airplane seatbacks.

Steve Schreiber, 63, from
New Orleans
, U.S., boasts 26 years of flight experience — with eleven of those years served as a captain — during which he has accumulated an impressive 5,860 hours piloting 60 distinct aircraft types.

Known as Captain Steve online, the ex-US Navy officer frequently offers safety advice related to aviation to his followers.
Youtube
The channel, @captainsteeeve, has more than 440K subscribers.

On May 24th, an experienced pilot went live on a video-sharing site to caution travelers about avoiding the use of what he termed as the ‘bottomless pit of gloom’ during flights.

In the
clip
, Captain Steve

mentioned that the back-of-seat compartments often serve as one of the most common spots for passengers to misplace their personal items when flying.


He playfully referred to it as a ‘black hole of despair,’ where things like phones, passports, and wallets tend to vanish – usually for good.


The pilot stated: “Please refrain from placing your personal belongings in the seatback pocket ahead of you. Should you prefer to potentially misplace them forever, feel free to deposit them into that deep, mysterious pit known as the seatback pocket in front of you.”

The pilot mentioned that it’s quite typical for numerous travelers to rush back to the gate in distress upon discovering they’ve forgotten an important item in their pocket. However, often by the time they realize this, retrieving the lost possession becomes almost unachievable.

He stated: “Should the aircraft still be at the gate, let’s hope someone compassionate enough will head out there and locate whatever item of yours was left in the seat-back pocket.”

He cautioned that the chances of recovering the item decrease significantly as time passes after the sale of tickets begins, particularly when cleaning staff or subsequent passengers come aboard, potentially doing so shortly after the aircraft has been vacated.

The captain finished by asking travelers to ensure they have all their possessions with them before leaving the aircraft.

It has emerged following Captain Steve’s recent sharing of this information.
remarkable ability that defines an excellent captain – and it’s not related to aviation skills.

In April, the experienced pilot shared on their YouTube channel an underappreciated skill needed for a captain: cultivating a solid rapport with their co-pilot.

In the video, the pilot initially mentioned that he is not allowed to read anything while flying unless it pertains directly to the aircraft or the field of aviation in general.

Although he highlighted the significance of focusing on a secure and smooth flight, he emphasized that another vital aspect lies in how the discussion proceeds between him and his co-pilot.

Starting with discovering each other’s origins, moving on to heartwarming tales of their families, and then delving into their passions and pastimes, Schreiber emphasized that an organic conversation between co-pilots is essential.

He remembered his initial interview with his present airline, stating: “During my first interview at this airline, they spent around 20 minutes talking with me – they didn’t pose many technical questions.”

Although the captain initially found himself ‘ scratching his head,’ it quickly dawned on him that he had already been deemed a ‘suitable candidate’ by those who hired him. He realized he was being evaluated on whether he could maintain a ‘positive and engaging’ discussion over an extended period.

He remarked, “This is quite significant in this role. It might shock you that numerous individuals struggle with sustaining a lengthy conversation. When my fellow pilots engage in an interesting talk about various topics, it really seems to shorten the duration of the flight.”

More than 190 spectators expressed curiosity in the comments section, prompting numerous queries regarding possible problems that might occur within the flight deck.

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