Planes May Adopt St console Seating Arrangements in Future?
Hopping onto the Future of Budget Travel: Half-Standing Seats
European airlines are eagerly exploring an innovative approach to save costs, introducing Skyrider 2.0 - a revolutionary half-standing seat designed for short-haul flights. Instead of the traditional chair, passengers will lean against padded bicycle saddles secured to the cabin's floor and ceiling, reclining at a 45-degree angle. safety belts and harness-like supports will ensure security during the trip.
These space-saving seats are nearly half the weight of conventional seats, reducing fuel consumption, and could be priced as low as €1-€5. More passengers can board as a result, boosting airlines’ profits through higher passenger counts. Cleaning costs will also decrease as fewer seats mean less maintenance, allowing planes to spend more time soaring through the skies.
Standing seats have sparked debate online. Budget-conscious flyers praise this solution as the ultimate cost-cutting measure, while others raise concerns over comfort and passenger well-being.
The concept, originally planned by Ryanair's Michael O'Leary in 2012, has resurfaced in Spain and Eastern European nations. However, its implementation has raised concerns about safety, compliance with regulations, and passenger well-being. Issues concerning passenger safety during turbulence, emergency situations, and evacuation procedures when utilizing these seats are yet to be resolved.
Presently, these standing seats are struggling to pass the stringent certifications required for commercial flights. They can only be implemented once these certifications are approved.
FAA, EASA Safety, and Emergency Regulations
The safety and compliance of standing seats for commercial flights remain under scrutiny, as new challenges emerge related to:
Emergency Evacuation
The FAA and EASA demand that all commercial aircraft be capable of evacuating passengers within 90 seconds in an emergency. The reduced aisle space and mobility associated with standing seats may potentially hinder this process.
Impact Forces
Seats must undergo dynamic testing simulating high-impact forces during crashes or turbulence. Standing seats alter how these forces are distributed throughout the body, potentially introducing new risks.
Compliance with Regulations
- Certification Status: The Skyrider 2.0 and its iterations have not been safety-certified by the FAA or EASA. Currently, no standing seat designs have been submitted or approved for certification.
- Airworthiness Standards: New seat designs must meet stringent airworthiness standards, including structural safety and evacuation performance. The dense configuration of standing seats may interfere with these requirements.
Ultimately, despite the hype around standing seats, several safety and regulatory challenges must be addressed before they can become a staple in commercial aviation. At present, these seats remain in the testing phase, with certification still pending for commercial usage.
In light of the safety concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are scrutinizing the safety and compliance of standing seats for commercial flights, particularly for emergency evacuation procedures and dynamic testing to ensure safety during high-impact forces. Currently, the Skyrider 2.0 and similar standing seat designs have not been safety-certified by the FAA or EASA, and no designs have been submitted or approved for certification, despite the ongoing discussions regarding their implementation in the aviation industry. Budget-conscious travelers may have to wait for these seats to pass stringent safety and regulatory checks before they can experience them. This situation also raises questions about the future of lifestyle, finance, and technology in the travel industry, as the safety and comfort of passengers are paramount.
