Facts
Surprising-Facts
Why the Captain Sits on the Left
left
seat position
The captain always sits in the left seat of the cockpit, a convention dating back to early propeller aircraft where left-seat positioning helped manage engine torque during takeoff.
Explanation
Early aircraft with clockwise-rotating propellers experienced a tendency to drift left during takeoff (known as P-factor). Sitting on the left gave the pilot better leverage and visibility to counteract this drift. The convention persisted even after multi-engine aircraft eliminated the issue. International regulations now formalize the left seat as the pilot-in-command position.
Source: ICAO / FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge