Anyone out there thinking that boarding and deplaning is tedious? Well, just widen the aisle, avoid the single file walk by umpteen passengers and get off that jet quicker!
Hank Scott and Kevin Van Liere, two aerospace engineering lecturers at the University of Colorado, aimed at just that when they came up with the idea of sliding the aisle seat sideways across its neighbouring middle seat to more than double the typical narrowbody aisle width from around 20in (51cm) to 43in.
The two engineers - Scott is former US navy test pilot - slightly lowered the middle seat and developed a mechanism that allows the aisle seat to slide across the centre position.
Both formed an engineering company, Molon Labe Designs, outside Denver, started the patent registration process, and are now looking for seat manufacturers to introduce the technology. A number of producers have made enquiries about partnerships as Scott and Van Liere have publicy unveiled their demonstrator for the first time at this year's show.
Aside from offering speedy boarding to everyone, the wider aisle also makes air travel much simpler for travellers in wheelchairs - while the airlines benefit from shorter turnaround times and potentially greater aircraft productivity.
Van Liere concedes that the notoriously unpopular middle seat might be perceived as even less attractive if it is a few centimetres lower than its neighbours. But he says that the offset position can improve comfort as the travellers'shoulders are separated. Furthermore, the middle seat can be made slightly wider.
Despite the more complicated support structure, Van Liere does not expect that the "Side-Slip Seat" will incur a significant weight penalty over conventional three-seat rows.
Development and certification will depend on the seat manufacturer, says Van Liere, but should take at least a year.
- All the latest news from the 2013 Aircraft Interiors Expo
Source: Flight Daily News
