Civil Aviation Authority guidance on seating restrictions for disabled passengers on United Kingdom aircraft

Introduction

Some seat rows on aircraft have more space than others. First class and club class seats normally provide additional space, which usually results in extra legroom. Another area that provides additional space in front of seats are the exit rows adjacent to emergency exits.

However, these exit row seats are restricted and not generally allocated to disabled people. In order to understand why, it is necessary to know something about the way aircraft are certificated in respect of passenger evacuation in an emergency.

Aircraft certification requirements

Existing international requirements specify additional space at exits in order to facilitate ease of exit operation and deployment of the evacuation slide, together with the rapid movement of passengers to and through the exit without hindrance or obstruction. The required amount of access to each type of emergency exit differs. In general terms, the bigger the exit, the more access space is required, particularly if assistance is provided from cabin crew.

The evacuation test

In order to obtain an aircraft type certificate, the manufacturer must demonstrate the capability of the aircraft to facilitate rapid evacuation of the maximum number of passengers for which certification is being sought. The full-scale evacuation test is conducted under simulated conditions of night, using only 50% of the exits and with only the cabin emergency lighting being operable.

Restrictions on seating near exits

The principal reason for not allocating seats adjacent to floor level emergency exits to disabled passengers is that they may impede cabin crew in carrying out their emergency duties, including the required actions during an emergency evacuation, or they may obstruct access to emergency equipment.

Regulations state that disabled people, including blind and deaf people, should not be seated where they could obstruct emergency exits, impede the crew in their duties, obstruct access to emergency equipment or hinder aircraft evacuation. However, regulations do advise that disabled passengers should be seated as close to emergency exits as the above limitations allow.

Seat allocation at self-help exits

In most cases self-help exits require the passengers to evacuate without assistance from the cabin crew. Seats forming the access route from the cabin aisle to self-help exits are only allocated to passengers who can help operate the exit or assist other passengers. Check-in staff allocate these seats on this basis, with preference given, where possible, to seating non-operating crew at these locations.

Disabled passengers are not allocated seats in seat rows leading to these types of exit.

Summary

The UK Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the regulation of aircraft registered in the UK. It does not wish for an inflexible policy on the restrictions for seat allocation at emergency exits.

Therefore, the only exits that are specifically restricted are the 'self-help' exits. The access space leading to these exits is less than that at the larger floor level exits where crew provide assistance. The CAA policy in this respect is quite clear and airlines have been advised not to allocate these seats to disabled passengers and other categories of passengers such as children, infants, deportees, etc.

Airline operator policy will determine seating restrictions at floor level exits taking into account individual cabin configurations.

Conclusion

First class and business class cabin configurations usually provide passengers with a greater amount of seat space than economy class cabins. Scheduled economy seats may afford more legroom than charter flights. For economy/charter passengers the only additional seat space (ie legroom) is usually only available at seat rows leading to emergency exits.

There is well-documented certification and operational reasons for the Authorities to restrict such seats to certain categories of passengers.

However, there is no reason why operators should not configure aircraft cabins with additional seat space in areas of the cabin which are not adjacent to exits and allocate these to people who require additional space but are not allowed to sit at or near the exit.

For information on individual airline operator company policies contact the airline with whom you intend to travel.

Published: 12 June 2001

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