Since airplanes fly through the air wouldn't it be more helpful to have a parachute for each passenger instead of a flotation device? What happens if the crash occurs on land instead of in the water? A flotation device will be useless in this scenario but a parachute could be the item that saves the day for the passengers on board. The cabins of these vehicles are very small, and passengers are cramped and among a sea of strangers. Of course you should feel secure because according to the TSA everyone has been inspected and probed for any type of potentially dangerous weapon or substance, but many passengers end up feeling victimized by the very agency that is intended to make them feel safe.