So I was wondering...

[+Viper63a 651]

So...in a side seat config, do British pilots sit on the left or the right?

[+guuruu 5,580]

Simple answer ... they are always on correct side.

But seriously it is not question of regulations , but more tradition.

After World War I, most airplanes had rotary engines with left turning tendencies because it followed the torque of the engine. Therefore, turning left was easier than turning right. Because of this, pilots considered left turns as more convenient maneuver, and thus more experienced pilot started sitting on the left.

So .. same as US.

[Crawford 570]

Not certainly in that way. Yes, you are right, this is not question of regulations , but more tradition.

But this tradition has nothing to do with engine type or torque. It was just that during takeoff, landing or taxiing, the large nose of the aircraft blocked the pilot's forward view. The pilot had to look out of the cockpit. The British decided that it was more convenient to look out from the left. Later, young pilots were taught this way, and very soon it became a habit and became the norm. Also the instructor stand on the left wing when teaching taxiing.

[+russouk2004 6,951]

Left yes so pilots could transfer to other country a\c without further training....