Airlines & seat pitch: how much is a human life worth?

First-of-their-kind tests are aimed at setting new standards for airplane seats

At a special center in Oklahoma City, researchers from the Federal Aviation Administration are running a series of drills that could affect the comfort and safety of millions of airplane passengers.

More than 700 residents have been recruited to help determine whether the space between airplane seats or the size of the seats affects their ability to evacuate an aircraft.

The drills mark the first time the FAA is examining whether the trend toward smaller seats and less personal space on today’s planes poses safety risks to those aboard in the event of an emergency.

But consumer advocates and lawmakers are worried that the results of the tests are flawed, because the people the agency recruited don’t reflect the demographics of today’s flying public.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/first-of-their-...