Ask the Captain: Does adding more seats compromise safety?

Question: The airlines are adding more seats to their planes.  Are they jeopardizing passenger safety?                      

— Steve R., Detroit

Answer: No, each airplane is certified for a maximum number of passengers based on the ability to evacuate all passengers and crew within 90 seconds. Most airlines do not have the maximum number of seats installed, so an increase in the seats that is still below the maximum certified number does not jeopardize safety.

Q: Take an Airbus 319 which was certified for approximately 120 passengers, then an ultra-low cost airline adds 20 additional seats, does the airplane need to be recertified?     

— Bud, Knoxville, Tenn.

A: The certification evacuation demonstration is performed with the maximum number of passengers onboard. Half the exits are blocked, and the evacuation must be complete within 90 seconds. The maximum certified number of passengers is determined by that process, and is usually significantly higher than the number of passengers that airlines fly.

Q: From a safety perspective, what is your opinion regarding the airlines reducing legroom to add more seats, or better yet, Airbus' idea and recent patent to stack seats?      

— Alan, Riverside, Calif.

A: While the reduced legroom is uncomfortable, it has not proven to be a safety issue. When evacuations are necessary, they are successfully accomplished.

The Airbus idea of stacking seats is certainly innovative. I would want to see the evacuation tests before forming an opinion.

Q: My friend says Ryanair has stand-up seating in their aircraft. I said that RyanAir presented this scenario years ago but the UK government would not approve it. Who is right?               

— Greg, Colorado Springs

A: You are. Ryanair has seats with seat belts like all other airlines. They have proposed standing “seats,” but no regulator has approved it.

Q: Why do so many airlines order new planes with more seats than the plane was designed for, given that more seats and passengers reduce cargo and luggage weight capacity?                    

— Walter Johnson, Vancouver, Wash.

A: Every airliner has a maximum number of seats that can be installed. To say that there are more seats than the airplane was designed for is not accurate. Airlines make strategic choices regarding how the payload is divided up between passenger and cargo, resulting in a variety of configurations.

Q: Will it take congressional action to stop the airlines from cramming the seating in the LAST class section? I am quite concerned about being able to evacuate in case of fire.

— Wayne, Pensacola, Fla.

A: Every airplane at the maximum certified seating capacity must prove the ability to evacuate within 90 seconds to receive the type certificate. A type certificate is required by the FAA to sell the airplane for commercial service.

Some airlines have very little space between seats, but every airline has to prove the ability to evacuate passengers and crew. This means that the airplane and the airline have demonstrated successful evacuation.

I do not support congressional action in aviation. The experts in aviation are not within the halls of Congress.

John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.