[jimworcs]

Sorry, I meant 36", I was reading from a previous post that I had made about standard seat pitch and transplanted the wrong figure. In fact, the FAA rejected the idea of regulating seat pitch per se. They instead regulate on the timings of egress in an emergency. The FAA argue that seat pitch has no impact on speed of evacuation.

I have serious issues with this. The trial evacuations by the manufacturers are conducted in conditions which are highly artificial. The people participating are generally employees and friends of employees and are fit. There are no wheelchair passengers, blind people, obese people, parents separated from children, etc. Nor are there any "assistance geese" onboard. As a result, when the trials are completed, you get youtube video's of whooping passengers clapping and generally high fiving at how clever they all are.

In a real situation, the video is very different... it is weeping relatives being told their loved one's died of smoke inhalation and were found scrunched together trying to find their way out.

For those who want it, here is a link to evidence given to congress relating to seat pitch. It is old, but remains the position of the FAA today.

http://testimony.ost.dot.gov/test/pa...st/Taylor6.PDF