Originally Posted by BF263533
A recent study concludes that economy-class passengers are so tightly packed together that they cannot assume a correct "brace" position for emergency landing, and the seats themselves can be obstacles to quick emergency evacuation of the cabin. The current minimum spacing and design standards for transport-category aircraft allow for too-tight seating, and new standards are needed regarding minimum seat width and a minimum area for feet.
Unfortunately, given the historical track record of safety improvements to passenger-carrying companies (Common Carriers still aren't required to furnish seatbelts to bus passengers under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations), I doubt anything will be done about seat-pitch as a safety issue anytime soon. No end of high-profile studies and reports may surface stating that 31" pitch is a danger, but nothing will be done. Lobbyists will ensure that no legislation ever gets off the ground, if any politician even bothers to take up the issue. The only circumstances under which I can foresee regulations being changed to call for increased seat pitch is if the current industry standard (approx 31" to 32" - by no means the minimum currently allowable) is determined to be a contributing factor to enhanced injuries/mortality in an evacuation/air crash disaster scenario (God forbid). Even then, I would imagine lobbyists would ensure that any change is excruciatingly slow, minimal, cost-minimising and largely ineffective
I can imagine that a few hefty class-action suits on behalf of those suffering from DVT in-flight might speed things along considerably. These days, litigation is far more effective behavior modification for corporations than legislation.