SkyRider (seat)
Encyclopedia
SkyRider is an airliner saddle seat, a type of airplane seat shaped similar to a horse saddle
. It was designed by the Italian
firm Aviointeriors
and reduces economy-class seating spacing (seat pitch) from an average of 32- to 30-inches, to 23-inches (58cm), a 25% decrease. The creator describes it as for use for ultra-high density seating configurations, allowing up to 40% increase in passenger capacity.
The seat was designed to reduce ticket prices and increase profits. It is for use on flights less than 3-hours in duration. The company notes that cowboys ride in similar style seats for more than 8-hours a day in comfort. The seat requires passengers to be seated partially upright, with their weight taken up by their legs. The seat does not recline, and leaves the occupants knees in contact with the seat in front of them. The seat still contains a fold-down tray, and back of seat pocket, both for storage of carry-ons. The design was unveiled at the 2010 Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas on 13 September 2010, in Long Beach, California.
The design is superficially similar to the vertical seat
design proposed by RyanAir
. This stand-up seat design was met with initial skepticism by the safety and licensing authority, the European Aviation Safety Agency
and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and has not yet been licensed for use. However, the SkyRider is not expected to meet with as much regulatory resistance as the RyanAir seat.
The SkyRider seat is not currently approved by the FAA for use in the USA.
Saddle
A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is the equestrian saddle designed for a horse, but specialized saddles have been created for camels and other creatures...
. It was designed by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
firm Aviointeriors
Aviointeriors
Aviointeriors S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of airline seats. Some of Aviointeriors' competitors include BE Aerospace, Weber Aircraft LLC, Recaro, and Sicma Aeroseat....
and reduces economy-class seating spacing (seat pitch) from an average of 32- to 30-inches, to 23-inches (58cm), a 25% decrease. The creator describes it as for use for ultra-high density seating configurations, allowing up to 40% increase in passenger capacity.
The seat was designed to reduce ticket prices and increase profits. It is for use on flights less than 3-hours in duration. The company notes that cowboys ride in similar style seats for more than 8-hours a day in comfort. The seat requires passengers to be seated partially upright, with their weight taken up by their legs. The seat does not recline, and leaves the occupants knees in contact with the seat in front of them. The seat still contains a fold-down tray, and back of seat pocket, both for storage of carry-ons. The design was unveiled at the 2010 Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas on 13 September 2010, in Long Beach, California.
The design is superficially similar to the vertical seat
Vertical seat
The vertical seat is an airline seat configuration, created in 2003 by Airbus, canvassed to Asian carriers in 2006, and most recently promoted by RyanAir in 2010. The configuration involves passengers standing in place, while being braced in position.The configuration and all designs have not yet...
design proposed by RyanAir
Ryanair
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
. This stand-up seat design was met with initial skepticism by the safety and licensing authority, the European Aviation Safety Agency
European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and has not yet been licensed for use. However, the SkyRider is not expected to meet with as much regulatory resistance as the RyanAir seat.
The SkyRider seat is not currently approved by the FAA for use in the USA.
External links
- Sunday Morning Herald, "Saddle up: world's smallest airline seat unveiled", Craig Platt, 14 September 2010 (accessed 15 September 2010)