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Use of Emergency Exit Row seating
Can anyone guide me to any regulation that states or suggests that Emergency Exit row seats could/should NOT be left empty?
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It all depends if by emergency exit you are referring to the over wing exits on say a 737..these are deemed self help exits and the occupation of these depend on aircraft capacity. Hope that helps.
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Some airlines sell those for an extra price due to increased leg room and therefore they remain empty quite often.
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Yes, I mean overwing emergency exit seats.
Denti, that is actually the point I am researching. We have that policy, but have received a complaint from a passenger (ex Captain) who states that it is against "Safety Regulations", to leave the un-sold emergency exits seats empty. I am personally not aware of any regulations that state anything to this effect. |
Some airlines sell those for an extra price due to increased leg room and therefore they remain empty quite often. Unfortunately this particular low-cost disease is starting to spread to some real airlines who are copying it. :* And I'm unaware of any requirement to stick bums in seats next to emergency overwing exits. |
Mainly a trait of those cheap shonky bogan-carrying outfits. Unfortunately this particular low-cost disease is starting to spread to some real airlines who are copying it. |
....... and the three biggest low cost carriers in the world have never charged for extra legroom until recently. Ryanair in the last year and Easyjet evaluating the possibility. The charging for extra leg room was very much a charter initiative that spread to legacy. By and large the low cost sector had little to do with it.
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EU-OPS 1.280 and also guidance in CAP789 Chapter 30 Para 9.
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Also see OPS 1.1005 where cabin crew training must include
the importance of correct seat allocation with reference to aeroplane mass and balance. Particular emphasis shall also be given on the seating of disabled passengers, and the necessity of seating able-bodied passengers adjacent to unsupervised exits; 8.3.15. Cabin safety requirements. Procedures covering: ... (b) procedures to ensure that passengers are seated where, in the event that an emergency evacuation is required, they may best assist and not hinder evacuation from the aeroplane; Carriage of persons with reduced mobility (a) An operator shall establish procedures for the carriage of persons with reduced mobility (PRMs). (b) An operator shall ensure that PRMs are not allocated, nor occupy, seats where their presence could: 1. impede the crew in their duties; 2. obstruct access to emergency equipment; or 3. impede the emergency evacuation of the aeroplane. Passenger seating An operator shall establish procedures to ensure that passengers are seated where, in the event that an emergency evacuation is required, they may best assist and not hinder evacuation from the aeroplane. Occupancy of Passenger Seats next to Self-Help Emergency Exits 9.1 The aircraft certification process for emergency evacuation assumes that seats next to self-help emergency exits are occupied by passengers (or in some instances by cabin crew). From an operational perspective, the occupancy of such seats has the potential benefit of a passenger being able to operate the emergency exit at an early stage if an emergency evacuation is required. If these seats are unoccupied, the operation of the exit and subsequent evacuation could be delayed. This situation would require passengers to move from their seats to the exit and then familiarise themselves with its operation (the instructions for which are often located on a passenger seat-back) prior to opening the exit. 9.2 Operators should ensure that the passenger seats immediately adjacent to self-help emergency exits are occupied during the taxi, take-off and landing phases of flight. Such procedures should take into account any seating restrictions for certain categories of passengers in line with Operations Manual procedures. 9.3 Operators should also consider providing an abbreviated briefing to passengers seated at self-help emergency exits in order to determine their suitability to occupy those seats, seek their initial agreement to assist in an emergency and to advise them to read and understand the operating instructions contained on the seat-back placards, exit hatch and safety card. |
IIRC Qantas had a minimum number of pax required to be in the exits (I believe it was 1 per row on the 737, so 4 pax) when the total pax count was under a certain amount... cannot remember for sure now though, sorry. Perhaps a current Q hostie can tell you. I do know the requirement didn't exist on the 767 b/c crew are seated in between those overwing exits.
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Top marks for BA!
Few weeks back I was positioning on a BA short haul flight (not in uniform). I was one of the last to board and noticed that every seat surrounding my aisle seat was occupied but there were some empty ones towards the rear. I turned to ask the attendant behind me who happened to be the Purser if it was OK to go straight to one of the empty seats at the rear when he asked "would I mind" taking one of the seats by the over-wing emergency exit instead which was empty. He then proceeded to ask a chap from the row behind on the other side if he would do likewise.
The point about this is that those seats were just in front of the curtain separating economy from exec (it was quite far back on this day). We were Then treated to the full exec service. Not only that but on asking us to take those seats, and subsequently, the purser behaved as though we were doing him a favour (putting proper safety measures in place) and not the other way round. Pure CLASS! |
9.3 Operators should also consider providing an abbreviated briefing to passengers seated at self-help emergency exits in order to determine their suitability to occupy those seats, seek their initial agreement to assist in an emergency and to advise them to read and understand the operating instructions contained on the seat-back placards, exit hatch and safety card. I've seen people seated by the over-wing exit that look like they are bigger than the door plug. Or too gangly to get through the opening. But either of these types are exactly who the FAs often feel sympathy for their need for the extra space. Seat a 5'-8" (1.73 m) ex-marine next to the door and watch all the tall people grumble for the duration of the flight. |
When I am pax and not seated at the emergency exit rows I try to sit 1-2 rows rear wards at most and carefully select which of my follow travelers I will have to crawl over / thump to expedite my escape.
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