bkmk
1. Impact on cabin crew in-flight movement and service.
2. Ability to rapidly evacuate the aircraft under emergency conditions.
For example, 1forAll’s Tetris design would be an in-flight service nightmare for the cabin crew. It’s currently hard enough for a flight attendant shoving a drink cart down a narrow main cabin aisle without dislocating pax shoulders. Now complicate that by requiring providing multiple class service while maneuvering corners, etc.
Likewise, rapidly evacuating the Tetris and people pod designs in the event of an emergency will likely require additional time, thus violating the FAA safety requirements. (I’d like to see the study of the result of high longitudinal loads on the human body during rapid decelerations, especially neck/spinal compression and the impact on movement during subsequent aircraft evacuation)
There were some good ideas, however. I liked the entry which improved the drink cart/in-flight refreshment station in terms of efficiency, access, and aesthetics.
All in all, this contest appears to be another example of creative design school imagination unlimited by engineering reality. ;-)
Early interior designs for the 747 showed an in flight cocktail lounge — complete with a piano — located in the upper deck hump behind the cockpit. Alas, such a Mad Men era inspiration was not to be and airlines shoved in as many seats as possible in order to boost revenue. I do not expect that to change. Those who want and can afford better will go by private jet.
Aircraft interiors: people are willing to suffer for a few hours to save money.
“Would you sleep in an airplane’s windowless cargo cabin?”
If you can guarantee no crying babies, no fat people overflowing their assigned seats, and no fake “service animals”, I’m down.