Although it would seem as though airline seats couldn’t possibly grow any smaller, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) is currently seeking public input to determine whether airlines should be prohibited from reducing seat sizes. As there are now no regulations governing the size and shape of aeroplane seats, airlines are free to continue determining these dimensions without a formal decree.
Federal regulations now mandate a specific amount of space in exit rows, but it is now up to the airlines to choose their own seating arrangements. According to a report published by Fortune, the average airline seat width has decreased to about 17 inches, from an initial 18.5 inches, and the average seat pitch—the distance from the back of one seat to the same level of the seat in front—went from 35 inches in the 1970s to roughly 31 inches today.
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Why is that this the FAA in search of public enter?
After Congress approved a bill to change the FAA Reauthorization Bill once more in 2018, the FAA was compelled to investigate the seat issue. To determine whether seat sizes affected passenger security, the FAA conducted simulated emergency evacuations. The simulated emergency evacuations, according to critics, didn’t go far enough because the study didn’t include children, individuals over 60, or those with impairments. The FAA is now providing a platform for the general people to provide their own feedback so the FAA can take them into account for its analysis and ultimately determine whether limits will need to be implemented on airways.
According to an FAA notice, “The FAA seeks public comments to help the agency in evaluating what minimum passenger seat dimensions (including pitch, breadth, and length) may be necessary for safety, including in particular aeroplane evacuation.” The FAA examined potential safety concerns related to seat size and came to the conclusion that more information on evacuations might be useful.
How are you able to become involved?
The public has until November 1 to lobby the FAA to impose limitations on airline routes regarding seat size. All members of the public are welcome to comment, which “should address whether one or more of the following seat dimensions have or demonstrably could adversely affect the safety of air passengers by delaying the group egress time of an emergency evacuation, considering the existing regulatory requirements,” according to the discovery. The FAA emphasises that input that includes technical details and statistics is the most valuable. Comments may be submitted by fax, mail, hand delivery, or through the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.regulations.gov).
Which airline has one of the best legroom?
Airlines use seat pitch to refer to legroom since it is regarded to be the best way to compare seats, with the typical measurement being around 31 inches.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com