CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

USA Today wrote: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."

ChristianKitsune (post: 1423156) wrote:I don't know i I'd like it... XD I think you have to get used to riding a horse before it's actually comfy, right? The same would apply here, I'd assume.

Pascal (post: 1423300) wrote:You know... there are seating limitations in restaurants mandated by the fire Marshall... Why not air-planes? I mean, if you jam too many people close together and something goes wrong there is going to be absolute chaos. After a certain point, it's just not safe.

ich1990 (post: 1423622) wrote:For short flights I would have no problem riding in these seats, if it means I get where I am going 20% cheaper or so (any less of a discount and it would be a tougher decision). On a $200, 2 hour flight, that means I get paid $20 an hour for sitting around in a somewhat uncomfortable position. I would do that.

Atria35 (post: 1423679) wrote:Or it means that you're paying $180 dollars an hour to sit in an uncomfortable seat. Putting it that way doesn't make it sound any better >.>"

Warrior4Christ wrote:That's nothing. Ryanair (UK)'s seats are more vertical/standing. It's a flat board on an angle.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/ryanair-plan-for-standingroom-vertical-seats-20100702-zru8.html

Warrior 4 Jesus wrote:There are people who say it's no different to standing up on a train or bus. Um. Yes, there is! Buses and trains wouldn't throw you around as much. They don't need to take off and land. Believe you me, that would not be a pleasant experience in one of these vertical operating tables.

Radical Dreamer (post: 1423724) wrote:Dude, there is no way I could do this. XD I've never flown before, but having only 23 inches of space to myself (and what looks like zero leg room) would be beyond uncomfortable, even for a short flight. XD I'm not sure I could last longer than 30 minutes in a seat like that. XD

Also the idea of being packed into a sardine can with wings at 15,000 feet doesn't seem like the best idea to me. XDD