Exam for an Exit Row seat?
 

Just reading the latest issue of Conde Nast Traveler. Specifically an article about rapid aircraft evacuations in the event of an accident.
It stated a study that found "exit-row passengers in real-life evacuations were an impediment because they were unfamiliar with procedures and did not know how or when to open the emergency exits."
Though not likely to be instated there's the idea of designating passengers from their pool of frequent flyers to be trained, tested and demonstrate their capability of opening the exit and assist in directing evacuation. In exchange, they would be given priority for receiving the coveted seat assignment.

Would you do it?

I can't remember the last time I flew in an RJ and didn't have an exit row. I don't trust the rest of you bozos to save me in an emergency ;) .

Sure, I'd do it.

My husband is ex-military and very calm in an emergency. I can't imagine a better person to assist with an evacuation, but he does not have the status to select exit row seats. My sister's husband has top status on Delta and always sits in the exit row; however, my sister says he would open the door but would just be the first one out. So you can never tell what type of person would be sitting at the exits in an actual emergency.

Even if there were training, no one knows how any person would respond when a real emergency occurs. There are many stories of FA's reacting to an emergency with panic and tears even though they have had extensive training.

I need to know how to do two things when I'm in the exit row, which is most every flight I haven't been upgraded.

1) open the door, and I always check those instructions when I sit down, even If I was on that plane a million times.

2) Be able to give instructions. The only instruction I plan on giving from the exit row is quite simple

"Follow Me"

A couple of weeks I sat next to a guy in an exit row that would have been a problem in an emergency. I'm sure he could have opened the thing, but there's no way he would have fit through it. The opening would have needed to be at least twice as large as it is to accomodate this guy's gut. I was kind of surprised that he was allowed to sit there, since this was on DL and they tend to be rather anal about the exit row, with their whole little question and answer session a flight attendant always gives you if you're seated in that row.

FAR 135.129 regulates exit row seating, and it can be found at http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....11.41&idno=14. The gist is (with applicable sections for this case bolded):

(b) No certificate holder may seat a person in a seat affected by this section if the certificate holder determines that it is likely that the person would be unable to perform one or more of the applicable functions listed in paragraph (d) of this section because—
(1) The person lacks sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands, and both legs:
(i) To reach upward, sideways, and downward to the location of emergency exit and exit-slide operating mechanisms; (ii) To grasp and push, pull, turn, or otherwise manipulate those mechanisms;
(iii) To push, shove, pull, or otherwise open emergency exits;
(iv) To lift out, hold, deposit on nearby seats, or maneuver over the seatbacks to the next row objects the size and weight of over-wing window exit doors;
(v) To remove obstructions of size and weight similar over-wing exit doors;
(vi) To reach the emergency exit expeditiously;
(vii) To maintain balance while removing obstructions;
(viii) To exit expeditiously;
(ix) To stabilize an escape slide after deployment; or
(x) To assist others in getting off an escape slide;2) The person is less than 15 years of age or lacks the capacity to perform one or more of the applicable functions listed in paragraph (d) of this section without the assistance of an adult companion, parent, or other relative;

Clearly a customer of size could not perform these tasks, and thus is ineligible to sit in the exit row. Good luck getting it enforced, even when brought to the crew's attention they rarely care about who is sitting in the exit row. That is my experience anyway. I've seen the elderly, families, non-English speakers, children, and customers of size all sitting in the exit row. Only once when I brought it to the crew's attention did they move a group of non-English speaking children out of the exit row, but that was a pretty eggregious violation, violating two points.

P.S. I'd be quite happy to go through an exit row training program. But what are the odds vs. the cost? It would probably be cost prohibitive for the airline to do it unless they could get some kind of insurance break. I'd certainly do it, I know the Navy has an underwater crash simulator at Groton, CT, but that's the only one I know of.

A couple of months ago I was sitting in an exit row, and the UAL FA came up to us (before the door was closed) and asked us to read the instructions. She said she would be back for "questions and answers".

A few minutes later she came back and said to the three of us in the exit row "I'm going to give a little test to see if you read it". She proceeded to ask:

FA: "What's the first thing you do if you think you may have to evacuate the plane?"

Me, instantly and rather loudly (Without ever looking up at her, and I certainly had not bothered to pick up the pamphlet): "Look out the window".

FA, curtly (probably irritated that I didn't find her little childish game of much interest): "Correct"... and she went away quickly

I don't see this happening for many reasons:

1. How do you ensure you have "certified door openers" on each flight?
2. Liability if the trained person acts or fails to act. More lawsuits. It goes from a good samaritin helping to a "professional" failing if someone gets hurt.

I'm usually in an exit row. A few FAs will give the full instruction (CRJ - Remove plastic panel, pull handle, throw door aft....) others just ask "are you willing to help."

Why not have the FA ask "How do you open the door" after someone reads the instruction card. If they don't know, they get moved. Might make people pay attention.

I train paramedics and emergency physicians, and believe me even they sometimes have trouble dealing with a life and death emergency when THEY ARE INVOLVED.

Therefore, although I see the rationale for an Exit Row certification, I wouldn't support it given that you just never know how people will react in a true emergency, trained or not!

I have mixed feelings about this. I have had my share of experiences with passengers in the exit row who just don't care. Several times I have had an aisle and the guy at the window is talking about how it is his first time on a plane... yet he doesn't check the safety instructions. May or may not be a problem but it certainly doesn't inspire confidence. On one flight the guy sitting next to me (he had the window and I had the aisle over a wing as I recall) had never flown before. This became even more apparent when he opened the exit door just as we were starting pushback. I shut it and informed an FA. The pilot came over and did a thorough check of the exit door before we continued with our flight. They didn't even re-seat the guy who opened it!

just yesterday on ua 71 (jfk-sfo), i was sitting in the exit row in c and was quizzed-not just with the std "are you willing and able, etc" but with the following questions....."what's the first thing you do before opening the exit door?" (look outside for fire or water), "can you lift more than 60 poounds?", and "what do you do with the door after you've opened it?" (put it across the seats).

...debris, too. (I was just quizzed on that recently)

[QUOTE=last2board]...however, my sister says he would open the door but would just be the first one out. So you can never tell what type of person would be sitting at the exits in an actual emergency.
QUOTE]

I'd think being the first one out would be necessary - by that time there's going to be a line of people trying to charge out the exit, so the most constructive thing to do is probably get out.

Just my two cents worth.

And on that note, wouldn't it just be in the way there? If it get's knocked off the seat ppl will be tripping over it. My first instinct would be to get it out of the plane.

I think I could do it. The only time I have been in the exit row I memorized the safety and evacuation card -- I have never read that card so many times before.

I think I calm when in an emergency also. When I went to Phoenix to watch the Fiesta Bowl with my Dad, it was only my 11 year old step-brother and myself in our hotel room. We were watching another game and then the fire alarm rang, I picked up my step-brother and ran out. He wanted to take the elevator and I said, "You never take the elevator during a fire." I practically carried him down three floors and dropped him off. Then I went back to the second floor to get a girl that was crying. There was no fire, luckily. But I remained calm during it all.

When we got back to our room, I made him read the Constitution. ^ My parents thought that was very weird.