Effects of Seating Configuration and Number of Type III Exits on Emergency Aircraft Evacuation

Details

• Creators:
  McLean, Garnet A. ; Chittum, Charles B. ; Funkhouser, Gordon E. ; Fairlie, Gregory W. ; Folk, Earl W.
• Corporate Creators:
  Civil Aeromedical Institute
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Office of Aviation Medicine
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Air transportation crashes
  • Evacuation
  • Emergency exits
  • Seats
  • Aircraft cabins
  • Performance tests
  • Time studies
  • Aircraft accidents
  • Airplanes--Evacuation--Testing
  • Airplanes--Seats
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FAA/AM-92/27
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Abstract:
  Introduction. An increase in the required pathway width from aircraft center aisles to Type III overwing exits is being weighed by the FAA. To augment the analysis, an examination of seat/exit configuration effects on simulated emergency egress was conducted in the CAMI Evacuation Research Facility. ; Methods. Four subject groups traversed four different seat/exit configurations in a counter-balanced, repeated-measures design. Pathway width was modified by altering seat pitch. ; Results. In single-exit trials the fastest times and highest flow-rates occurred with a 20" pathway between triple seats or a 10’’ pathway between double seats. Double exits produced 36% shorter egress times (p<.007), although flow-rates declined 11% and exit plug removal times increased 32%, compared to single exits. ; Conclusion. Efficient egress requires optimization of the space around the exit. Generally, wider pathways and fewer obstructions enhance this process; however; when available space exceeds individual passenger needs, conflicts may be produced which inhibit egress.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/21397/dot_21397_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 516.62 KB]
• Collection(s):
  FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute ; US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:79c3bd400e38421c41b5b6ee5f19bff7d6e0e06abebdd7a913a59a11f8c16633e03b61d355ba6861b195a111d34b2fdaceab50199df86a70b95ab8a68341c8d8