SkyRider airline seats pack fliers into 23 inches of space

Tabnabs

Think your seat in coach is cramped? Take a look at the SkyRider.

The new airplane seat, to be unveiled next week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas conference in Long Beach, would give passengers an experience akin to riding horseback.

They'd sit at an angle with no more than 23 inches between their perch and the seat in front of them — a design that could appeal to low-cost airlines that have floated the idea of offering passengers standing-room tickets on short flights.

The SkyRider isn't headed for an airplane cabin just yet. But its designer, Aviointeriors, an aircraft seat design firm based in Latina, Italy, says several airlines, including some in the U.S., have expressed interest.

"We feel extremely confident that this concept will ... have great appeal to airlines for economic purposes," says Dominique Menoud, director general of Aviointeriors Group.

The SkyRider could be its own class of seating, like business or coach, Menoud says. Passengers would likely pay lower fares. But airlines could boost their profits because the narrowly spaced seats would allow them to squeeze more fliers on board.

"For flights anywhere from one to possibly even up to three hours ... this would be comfortable seating," he says. "The seat ... is like a saddle. Cowboys ride eight hours on their horses during the day and still feel comfortable in the saddle."

The novel design may draw interest — especially from two overseas carriers that have entertained the idea of providing no seats at all.

Ryanair, the Irish low-cost carrier that has set trends such as charging for in-flight meals, has said it would let passengers stand during flights if the Irish Aviation Authority would allow it.

And last year, Spring Airlines, a low-cost carrier in China, tried to get the OK from regulators to redesign its planes to accommodate some standing passengers.

But Gaetano Perugini, Aviointeriors' director of research and development who created the SkyRider, emphasizes that the firm isn't proposing that passengers be on their feet.

"Even though the (distance between seats) is extremely narrow, we are talking about seats, not about ... having passengers simply standing on the floor," he says. "You are sitting on a special seat, but it is a seat."

The seats will offer storage space as well, including a shelf for carry-on bags, and hooks to hang a jacket or purse.

If a carrier commits to installing the new seats, Aviointeriors will apply to European aviation authorities and those in the United States for proper certification, Menoud says.

Les Dorr, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates air travel in the U.S., says he's not familiar with the SkyRider's particular design.

However, he says, "While it's not impossible, it's difficult to conceive of a standing seat that would be able to meet all applicable FAA requirements and still be cost-effective."

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It's inevitable, isn't it?

mgmt

I doubt they will meet the 16g aircraft seat requirement given the higher centre of gravity.

Run_to_da_hills

I would be more concerned about being crammed together in an emergency or evacuation situation especially if there is a rush for an exit.

iPlop

I bet Michael O' Leary was found sleeping outside the door of the factory this morning! I guarantee by the end of next year ryanair will be kitted out with this rubbish:mad:

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As has been mentioned before there are strict safety regulations dictating to the amount of passengers permitted onboard any particular model of aircraft.

If you put more seats, and hence passengers, on an aircraft then you are required by law to have more emergency exits and more cabin crew.
The cost to retro-fit a Boeing 737-800 with more emergency exits would far out weigh the benefit of implementing such a modification.

Unless a new airliner comes along designed and built specifically with this high ratio seating in mind then its just another pipe dream.

Moving on...:pac:

mickdw

But the likes of ryanair could use these seats to carry up to max numbers of people as certified for the aircraft then use all the free space created for other revenue creating activities which M O Leary woud have no problems dreaming up.

testicle

Septic Leper wrote: »

I guarantee by the end of next year ryanair will be kitted out with this rubbish:mad:

Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?

Fratton Fred

I don't know why everyone gives Ryanair a hard time, have you seen some of EI's A320s, they have rediculously low amounts of legroom.

mickdw

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I don't know why everyone gives Ryanair a hard time, have you seen some of EI's A320s, they have rediculously low amounts of legroom.

I was on ryanair recently and I have to say was pleasantly surprised with the leg room. Nothing at all to complain about. The tacky yellow cabin is a different story though.

Fratton Fred

mickdw wrote: »

I was on ryanair recently and I have to say was pleasantly surprised with the leg room. Nothing at all to complain about. The tacky yellow cabin is a different story though.

it does feel like a gawdy 1970's fast food restaurant:D

*Kol*

The type certificate data sheet for the B737-800 says that the maximum amount of pax that can be carried is 189.

So no matter how many seats you can cram into the cabin you can still only carry 189 people on board.

globemaster1986

*Kol* wrote: »

The type certificate data sheet for the B737-800 says that the maximum amount of pax that can be carried is 179.

So no matter how many seats you can cram into the cabin you can still only carry 179 people on board.

I'm pretty sure that should be 189 people. Thats what Ryanair have as the capacity on theirs anyway!

*Kol*

globemaster1986 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that should be 189 people. Thats what Ryanair have as the capacity on theirs anyway!

Correct!! Typo on my behalf. Well spotted!! I was thinking of the A320 which is certified for 179 by the FAA and 180 by EASA.

kirving

Fratton Fred wrote: »

it does feel like a gawdy 1970's fast food restaurant:D

Making it feel cheap is a brilliant marketing ploy though, once you think cheap flying - you think of those horrible interiors, and before you know it, you're on Ryanair's website!

Milan Cobian

It's inevitable, isn't it?

Only if they public wish to pay for that service. If they don't, then it won't run. Simple. That said, plenty will willingly travel that way, while moaning all the way, failing rather stupidly to make the connection between what you pay for and what you get.

So no matter how many seats you can cram into the cabin you can still only carry 189 people on board.

Correct and is a limitation of emergency exits. In theory, if more emergency exits were retrofitted, more pax could be carried, a la 737-900ER which carries up to 215 pax. This would also require the carriage of one more cabin crew member.

*Kol*

Milan Cobian wrote: »

Only if they public wish to pay for that service. If they don't, then it won't run. Simple. That said, plenty will willingly travel that way, while moaning all the way, failing rather stupidly to make the connection between what you pay for and what you get.



Correct and is a limitation of emergency exits. In theory, if more emergency exits were retrofitted, more pax could be carried, a la 737-900ER which carries up to 215 pax. This would also require the carriage of one more cabin crew member.

Don't forget the -900 is also around 9 feet longer than the -800 too. It can carry up to 220 pax depending on the classification of the mid exits.

Yawns

In fairness if I was only going to liverpool or somewhere short, I'd take one of those seats. Don't they have them similar style seats on the luas? (the akwards looking ones )It'll be nearly the same time wise



Note I havn't been on a luas in years

Milan Cobian

Don't forget the -900 is also around 9 feet longer than the -800 too. It can carry up to 220 pax depending on the classification of the mid exits.

yeah true. The limiting factor is still the exits though. Or more specifically, the ability to get everyone out in 90 seconds with half the exits closed.