[Unconfirmed] Flight Schedules for UA's 747-400 With New First and Business Seats
Mar 30, 2008, 6:02 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SFO
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I sincerely hope you're right....I'm booked on that flight on 4/7.....not going to hold my breath though!
Mar 30, 2008, 6:39 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IL
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The 747 failed th evacuation test, so now they(the design team) have to decide how to fix the problem.
Mar 30, 2008, 7:18 pm
#33
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
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Uh, that is a BIG issue, no? I wonder if it is because of the VERY narrow aisles in the 8 across C class?? I get claustrophobic every time I just LOOK at the 747 C class new config.
Mar 30, 2008, 7:21 pm
#34
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Mar 30, 2008, 7:39 pm
#35
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Good decision. The 744 flights in early April SFO-LHR just opened up a lot more seats, so they aren't planning on using the new config on those. Likely something to do with the plane failing the evac test. So no London flights for now.
Mar 30, 2008, 7:41 pm
#37
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Likely the new seats with the narrower aisle reduce the speed of evacuation. The seat layout is determined by the airlines, but the maximum evac times are set in stone. Can't exceed them or you don't fly.
Mar 30, 2008, 7:43 pm
#38
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Mar 30, 2008, 7:52 pm
#39
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I don't understand how people could fail the evacuation test when it is only a test. It is not like their is some type of shock-delay reaction or anything. If this did happen, that's a huge blunder for UA. Even with narrower aisles, this should only effect the B zone and there still aren't that many people seated there with doors forward and aft to escape from. Hope the news is less serious than it sounds.
Mar 30, 2008, 8:49 pm
#40
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I don't understand how people could fail the evacuation test when it is only a test. It is not like their is some type of shock-delay reaction or anything. If this did happen, that's a huge blunder for UA. Even with narrower aisles, this should only effect the B zone and there still aren't that many people seated there with doors forward and aft to escape from. Hope the news is less serious than it sounds.
Mar 30, 2008, 11:09 pm
#41
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Mar 31, 2008, 12:52 am
#42
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Mar 31, 2008, 2:17 am
#43
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I would somehow guess that it's because the upper deck is losing one emergency exit, leaving it with one. If, during the test, it was ruled that the upper deck exit were inoperable, I think it would be fairly easy to fail the evacuation test.
Mar 31, 2008, 4:10 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicago
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Believe you're right about meeting a fixed time with up to half the exits blocked. Actually participated in such an exercise many years ago. Looks like UA needs to be more selective when it chooses the "volunteers".
Also best to use junior flight attendants as that will speed up both the FA assistance part as well as the evac of the FAs themselves.
What's really interesting is I can't remember the last time anyone flunked an evac test.