Seat space on airlines
1999; Elsevier BV; Volume: 353; Issue: 9163 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0140-6736(05)67232-7
ISSN1474-547X
AutoresGeorg Röggla, Berthold Moser, M Röggla,
Tópico(s)Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders
ResumoThe convention of the American Heart Association in March in New Orleans was cause for much long-distance air travel. On all flights, passengers are instructed by film about safety measures and especially about the position to take in case of an emergency or crash landing. In this brace-for-impact position, the upper torso must be flexed totally forward to ensure a certain amount of protection in case of an emergency. The aim of our small study during the flights was to evaluate whether the suggested crash brace position can actually be achieved by passengers. 24 doctors took part (22 men, two women; median height 1·80 m [range 1·72–1·93]). Nobody was severely overweight, 18 travelled in economy class, and six in first class. Only two of 18 passengers in economy class could reach fully flexed brace position (both were women, the two smallest participants), whereas this was possible for all six passengers in first class (compare two proportions test p<0·01). Failure to reach brace position was due to highly restricted space in economy class. Although the brace position enhances the chance of uninjured survival in case of a crash landing,1White DB Firth JL Rowles JM The effects of brace position on injuries sustained in the M1 Boeing disaster, January 1989.Aviat Space Environ Med. 1993; 64: 103-109PubMed Google Scholar this position could only be achieved in first class rows for passengers with a height of more than 1·78 m. Airlines should increase the distance between seat rows in economy class, because this would increase safety and comfort.
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