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 ...
5’10” 180lbs gives you a BMI of 25.82 so according to the government you are overweight. Sorry your meal choices will now be made by a government employee. /s
We all have a good laugh at those BMI numbers here at work when our yearly insurance checkups are due. I’m supposed to be around 165lbs, I haven’t weighed that since I was in xcountry track in high school! Nearly 30 years ago!
Damn, I’m old. What happened?
(And yes, I’m a fatso.)
No sir. You are a Patriot! :)
Yeah I remember when I went to Ranger school, nearly 30 years ago also. I was 190 lbs at 6’ 1” and overweight, BMI is pure BS.
The safety guidelines presume a butt that is less than two axe handles wide.
I do believe you just called FLOTUS a Battle-axe! (if the shoe fits!)
So - any crash that would cause seat failure - isn’t likely one you will survive anyway... so whats the deal with the seat “behaving as intended”...
And fat people should be required to wear a patch in the shape of a fork too, right? Any other good totalitarian ideas you can come up with, while we're at it?
Way I figure, if everything on the plane was functioning as intended, you’d land safe sitting on an orange crate. If it crashes, I think there is more malfunctioning to worry about than the seat...
Wouldn't any decent engineer would take that requirement and design for 340 pounds?
I regret that I have but one pizza-and-beer gut to give in the service of my country.
:)
}:-)4
I saw that pic somewhere else with the caption, "They be all like 'you need pants to fly'"
Your also more likely to bounce when you crash, and if it’s a cold water landing, more likely to survive hypothermia!
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