Aircraft seating comfort: the influence of seat pitch on passengers' well-being.
One of the most important factors influencing aircraft seating comfort in economy class, is legroom. In an airline interior mock up, with the ability to adjust the seat pitch in a range of 28 inches to 43 inches, a study to investigate the influence of seat pitch on passengers' well-being was conducted. In a pre-study, aspects of subjective postural sensations and spatial perception were identified, and a questionnaire was developed. In the main study, 30 subjects rated at different seat pitch settings the spatial perception and the ability of adopting and changing sitting postures. As a result a functional relationship between overall well-being, the subjects' anthropometry and seat pitch was developed. Furthermore it was identified, that there is a maximum overall well-being at a seat pitch of 34 inches to 40 inches, depending on the passengers' anthropometry. A further enlargement of seat pitch, led to a reduction of well-being.
Institute of Ergonomics, Technische Universität München, Boltzmannstr 15, D-85747 Garching, Germany. kremser@tum.de
Florian
F
Kremser
Fabian
F
Guenzkofer
Claudia
C
Sedlmeier
Olaf
O
Sabbah
Klaus
K
Bengler
D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D000886:Anthropometry; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D013028:Space Perception; D055815:Young Adult