Seriously obese passenger query.

[Capot]

As well as considering the ability of passengers to move to and leave via an emergency exit, the Regulatory Authorities Obese Passenger Working Group set up by EASA is focussing on the very immediate issue of the loads imposed on the seat mountings, not only when the fattie sits down, but more importantly when there is a sudden deceleration such as hitting the ground at 170 Kts in an otherwise survivable manner.

The 4 mounting points are, between them designed to withstand a 9G force. This is based on an average weight plus a considerable allowance. Typically this will mean that the mountings for a 3-seat economy assembly are stressed to share a load of 2,970 KGS without the seat separating rom the floor.

Now, if you get a real fattie alongside 2 males of average weight, the total load on all 4 mountings in the event of a 9G deceleration is likely to be in the order of 3,290 Kg.

This would mean that the entire assembly, complete with strapped in fattie and 2 others, would part company from the floor and fly at high speed into or over the seat(s) in front, imposing unacceptable loads on those seats in a kind of domino effect that rapidly progresses forward through the cabin until stopped by the little curtain put there to stop hoi polloi from looking at their betters.

For this reason, the Tampa Association for Mutual Protection and Aviation Excellence recommends to its members that they should occupy the rearmost rows of seats. And sound advice that is, to be sure.

Inexplicably, at a recent EASA Conference on Safety Management this issue was not raised, but behind the scenes the RAOP Working Group is working flat out on it, and prompt regulatory action can be expected within, oh, 2 years.

Until then airlines are being advised to prepare a special pallet for very obese passengers, and load them firmly fastened down on it, into the hold. To kill two birds with one stone, the Over Wing Exit Egress Ability Test will be used to define a very obese passenger. If they can't manage the exit, it's into the hold with them, for their own safety and comfort, of course..