Vertical seat
Encyclopedia
The vertical seat is an airline seat
configuration, created in 2003 by Airbus
, canvassed to Asian carriers in 2006, and most recently promoted by RyanAir
in 2010. The configuration involves passengers standing in place, while being braced in position.
The configuration and all designs have not yet been approved by regulatory agencies. There is no bar to such a configuration in Federal Aviation Administration
(US) regulations. However, according to Transport Canada
, every passenger over the age of two requires a seat, meaning it would not fly in Canada.
In 2006, Airbus
was quietly polling airline
s to see about the viability of a perch seat, which it had created in 2003.
In 2010, RyanAir
promulgated a vertical seat design for use in its aircraft. Both the European Aviation Safety Agency
and UK Civil Aviation Authority were skeptical as to the design being able to meet licensing requirements. The design is expected to start undergoing safety trials in the 2011-2012 time frame. It has already been rejected by Boeing
, as it believes that the design would not meet the 16G regulatory requirement. Tiger Airways Australia
announced that it would also pursue the RyanAir design, as has its parent, Tiger Airways
. The RyanAir version of the seat has been described as "barstools with seatbelts" According to UK aviation law, passengers require a seatbelt on landing and takeoff, so the lack of a seat may preclude the design from being legal in the UK. The RyanAir design would have passengers perched on a narrow shelf, with their weight taken up by their legs, and their back against the seatback, strapped in, with additional shoulder restraints similar to rollercoaster overhead restraints.
The configuration is superficially similar to the SkyRider
saddle seat
design proposed by Aviointeriors
.
Airline seat
An airline seat is a chair on an airliner in which passengers are accommodated for the duration of the journey. Such seats are usually arranged in rows running across the airplane's fuselage...
configuration, created in 2003 by Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
, canvassed to Asian carriers in 2006, and most recently promoted by RyanAir
Ryanair
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
in 2010. The configuration involves passengers standing in place, while being braced in position.
The configuration and all designs have not yet been approved by regulatory agencies. There is no bar to such a configuration in Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(US) regulations. However, according to Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
, every passenger over the age of two requires a seat, meaning it would not fly in Canada.
In 2006, Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
was quietly polling airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
s to see about the viability of a perch seat, which it had created in 2003.
In 2010, RyanAir
Ryanair
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
promulgated a vertical seat design for use in its aircraft. Both the European Aviation Safety Agency
European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
and UK Civil Aviation Authority were skeptical as to the design being able to meet licensing requirements. The design is expected to start undergoing safety trials in the 2011-2012 time frame. It has already been rejected by Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, as it believes that the design would not meet the 16G regulatory requirement. Tiger Airways Australia
Tiger Airways Australia
Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Australia, is a low cost airline which commenced services in the Australian domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
announced that it would also pursue the RyanAir design, as has its parent, Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Singapore, is a low cost airline which commenced services on 25 March 2005. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
. The RyanAir version of the seat has been described as "barstools with seatbelts" According to UK aviation law, passengers require a seatbelt on landing and takeoff, so the lack of a seat may preclude the design from being legal in the UK. The RyanAir design would have passengers perched on a narrow shelf, with their weight taken up by their legs, and their back against the seatback, strapped in, with additional shoulder restraints similar to rollercoaster overhead restraints.
The configuration is superficially similar to the SkyRider
SkyRider (seat)
SkyRider is an airliner saddle seat, a type of airplane seat shaped similar to a horse saddle. It was designed by the Italian firm Aviointeriors and reduces economy-class seating spacing from an average of 32- to 30-inches, to 23-inches , a 25% decrease...
saddle seat
Saddle seat
Saddle Seat is a style of horseback riding within the category of English riding that is designed to show off the high trotting action of certain horse breeds. The style developed into its modern form in the United States, and is also seen in Canada and South Africa...
design proposed by Aviointeriors
Aviointeriors
Aviointeriors S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of airline seats. Some of Aviointeriors' competitors include BE Aerospace, Weber Aircraft LLC, Recaro, and Sicma Aeroseat....
.