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Questioning Safety of Heavy Passengers on Planes
NYT ^ | May 7, 2012 | CHRISTINE NEGRONI

Posted on 05/08/2012 10:18:55 AM PDT by Brandonmark

More than six decades ago, when the federal standards on the strength of airplane seats and seat belts were written, government regulations specified that seats be designed for a passenger weight of 170 pounds. But now the average American man weighs nearly 194 pounds and the average woman 165.

Now, some engineers and scientists have raised questions about whether airplane seats, tested with crash dummies that reflect the 170-pound rule, are strong enough to protect heavy travelers.

“If a heavier person completely fills a seat, the seat is not likely to behave as intended during a crash,” said Robert Salzar, the principal scientist at the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia. “The energy absorption that is built into the aircraft seat is likely to be overwhelmed and the occupants will not be protected optimally.”

Nor would the injury necessarily be confined to that passenger, Dr. Salzar said. If seats collapse or belts fail, he said, those seated nearby could be endangered from “the unrestrained motion of the passenger.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bmipolice; chrischristie; dnctalkingpoints; fat; flying; foodnazis; lifestylechoice; marchingorders; obamacare; obesity
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To: Beelzebubba

The point is that we should not let people impair the safety of others.

And yet they allow terrorists on. I suppose they fit the guidelines but I would feel much better seeing a fat person get on board.


21 posted on 05/08/2012 10:44:47 AM PDT by marstegreg
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sigh...


22 posted on 05/08/2012 10:55:44 AM PDT by Jaded (Really? Seriously?)
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To: marstegreg

Yes, because as a fat person, when that terrorist gets up to charge the cockpit, I can fall down on them and keep them in place until they’re properly restrained. And punch them in the back of the head a few times while I’m down there.

(And yes, I’m a fatso.)

}:-)4


23 posted on 05/08/2012 10:57:27 AM PDT by Moose4 ("Oderint dum metuant" -- "Let them hate, as long as they fear." (Lucius Accius, c. 130 BC))
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To: RGF
I go about 5’7” and 150 pounds...

Yes, you should get to check bags over the wieght limit.

After all, I'm sure it's been a challenge being puny all your life.

24 posted on 05/08/2012 10:58:46 AM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (Pictionary at the Rorschach's tonight!)
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To: Brandonmark
Mandatory Picture required....
 
 
 
... for all Fat Ass Airline Passenger Threads

You may now continue to post your horror stories at being seated next to such mongo monstrosities.


25 posted on 05/08/2012 11:01:58 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: RGF
I’m sorry, but I think “big boned” folks should pay more for airfare. Why not charge by the pound, like we do steak, or volume as we do for so many things?

How about total weight, not just passenger weight? Weigh the passenger and all baggage and ring 'em up.

26 posted on 05/08/2012 11:05:40 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Rose, there's a Messerschmitt in the kitchen. Clean it up, will ya?)
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To: Responsibility2nd

 
 
"I gotz to go now. Mah flight leaves in 10 minutes. I'll holler back when I lands in Chicago. Uh-huh."


27 posted on 05/08/2012 11:07:56 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: Trod Upon
Not only that, but that 6'4" guy (who weighs 230, but isn't really fat) might squash all the little people in front of them! Whooda thunkit?

(I wonder how much that study is going to cost us?)

28 posted on 05/08/2012 11:14:00 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
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To: Trod Upon

But they could provide extra cushion for the rest of us.


29 posted on 05/08/2012 11:15:58 AM PDT by dfwgator (Don't wake up in a roadside ditch. Get rid of Romney.)
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To: a fool in paradise
" the IDEAL weight for a man who is 6 foot is 180"

LOL! That's rich! The ideal weight of a rhinoceros is about 4,500 pounds but that doesn't get him an aisle seat.


30 posted on 05/08/2012 11:21:14 AM PDT by I see my hands (If you say what you think then no one will like you.)
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To: Brandonmark
It's not only planes, but also cars that are affected by additional weight. Especially the small cars that are becoming more popular. Loading several obese passengers into these cars often exceeds their safe load limit and poses a danger to other drivers.

It was especially well illustrated in a Top Gear episode I saw last night. They ran a small 4-door hatchback to 70mph, braked to a full stop and measured total distance.

With only the tiny 130lb stunt driver, the car did it in about 320 meters total.

With three obese passengers and the same driver, it took about 520 meters total. Both braking and acceleration performance declined by over 50%. I wish they also did a cornering test.

Keep in mind this was done without any luggage. Also, these people were obese but I've seen way bigger. I can't imagine the results if 4 super obese people and their luggage was included...

31 posted on 05/08/2012 11:33:16 AM PDT by varyouga
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To: Osage Orange
But, I’d say it’s really not all that important

yep. "Don't worry about the 20000 foot fall, or the crash, or the ensuing fireball. I've got an FAA-approved seat!"

That's like driving over a cliff and thinking you'll be fine because of the airbags.

32 posted on 05/08/2012 11:35:39 AM PDT by wbill
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To: Brandonmark

Obese people die most readily in a crash. F=MA. Physics is a heartless bitch.


33 posted on 05/08/2012 11:41:44 AM PDT by pabianice
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To: RGF

At 5’7” you should ask to ride in the overhead bins. /s


34 posted on 05/08/2012 11:42:34 AM PDT by newzjunkey (I advocate separation of school and sport)
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To: Uncle Slayton

I was aboard a plane this weekend that had a women, who was VERY LARGE,taking up 1 1/2 seats. I was across the aisle and one row back in the over wing exit row. Not only she wouldn’t be able to fit through the exit ,if she tried she would have gotten stuck. In the event of an accident she would have gotten people killed.
She shouldn’t have been allowed to board.


35 posted on 05/08/2012 11:44:15 AM PDT by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: Beelzebubba

I think they ought to charge a fixed fare from one spot to another to cover overhead, and then each passenger should pay a “fuel surcharge” to pay for the fuel that that individual will require to be moved from point a to point b.

Moreover, besides the soda tax, I say no restaurant should be allowed to serve over 1000 calories to any individual at one time.


36 posted on 05/08/2012 12:01:29 PM PDT by ichabod1 (Cheney/Rumsfeld 2012)
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To: RGF

Excellent question. The pricing models airlines have used for 40 years has been just plain stupid.


37 posted on 05/08/2012 12:09:01 PM PDT by CodeToad
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To: Brandonmark

Give`em cargo parachutes instead.


38 posted on 05/08/2012 12:11:27 PM PDT by bunkerhill7 (what?Who knew?)
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To: Brandonmark

Ban lardasses from airplanes!!!


39 posted on 05/08/2012 12:12:51 PM PDT by dalereed
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To: ichabod1

While I might agree with you on the airline pricing scheme you have come up with, please keep your calorie counting to yourself, and find somewhere else to focus your energy other than my menu selections. Free will ya know.
& BTW I’m not a fattie! 5’10 and a fit 180lbs.


40 posted on 05/08/2012 12:21:52 PM PDT by enraged
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