Safety Recommendation A-00-074

The Safety Board notes that the FAA completed an extensive research program on the effects of different exit row widths on exit hatch removal and egress at Type III exits, and described the research and results in an August 2002 report titled Access-To-Egress: Interactive Effects of Factors That Control the Emergency Evacuation of Naive Passengers Through the Transport Airplane Type-III Overwing Exit (DOT/FAA/AM 02/16). The report's findings replicate prior research that showed passageway configuration had only minimal effects on emergency egress as long as ergonomic minimums were respected.

The study further found that differences in the physical characteristics of individual research subjects, as well as a subject's knowledge and experience evacuating through a Type III exit, produced significant differences in emergency evacuation performance. Issuance of the report completes the work recommended in Safety Recommendation A-00-74, which is classified "Closed-Acceptable Action."

Letter Mail Controlled 2/3/2006 9:16:09 AM MC# 2060066 Marion C. Blakey, Administrator, FAA, 1/23/06 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed the research on the effects of different exit row widths on exit hatch removal and egress at Type III exits. The results are documented in a report entitled "Access-To-Egress: Interactive Effects of Factors That Control the Emergency Evacuation of Naive Passengers Through the Transport Airplane Type-III Overwing Exit." A copy of the report can be found at the following FAA Web site under Technical Reports, 2002, report number 2-16: www.cami.jccbi.gov/aam-400a/

I believe that the FAA has satisfactorily responded to this safety recommendation, and I look forward to your response.

Pending submission to the Safety Board of a copy of the report describing the research program and its results, Safety Recommendation A-00-74 remains classified "Open--Acceptable Response."

Letter Mail Controlled 05/08/2002 1:07:59 PM MC# 2020469 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed its research on access to Type III overwing exits, and a report is scheduled to be published next month. The Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Cabin Safety Harmonization Working Group met the week of April 8 to discuss the data generated from the research. The ARAC working group. plans to complete the harmonization effort and submit its recommendations to the FAA by the end of 2002.

The FAA reports that it completed its study of all research testing on evacuations leading from the center aisle to Type III overwing exits, and has concluded that additional testing is needed. The FAA further reports that it developed an extensive test program on this subject and has begun the testing. The FAA expects that the program will take approximately 8 to 10 months to complete. The Safety Board believes that the research described by the FAA is responsive to Safety Recommendation A-00-74.

Pending completion of that program, and submission to the Board of any reports describing the research program and results, Safety Recommendation A-00-74 remains classified "Open--Acceptable Response."

The Safety Board notes that a member of its staff recently attended a meeting of the FAA's Emergency Evacuation Issues Group. At that meeting, staff from the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) reviewed an extensive proposed program of research on evacuation through Type III exits. The proposed program will conduct experiments on major issues associated with Type III exit usage. The Safety Board would appreciate receiving copies of the results of the study of completed research on Type III exits. Pending completion of the recommended action, Safety Recommendation A-00-74 is classified "Open--Acceptable Response."

Letter Mail Controlled 06/08/2001 7:19:13 PM MC# 2010481: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed its study of all research testing that has been completed on evacuations leading from the center aisle to the Type III overwing exits and has concluded that additional testing is needed. The FM has developed an extensive test program on evacuations leading from the center aisle to Type III overwing exits. The Type III overwing exit testing will consist of the following conditions: ·Exit row widths of 20 inches, 13 inches, and 10 inches. ·Dual 6-inch passageway widths with outboard seat removed. ·Three test groups of 30, 50, and 70 test subjects.

·Two levels of passenger motivation (low and high). ·Two exit hatch (plug) removal and disposal locations (inside and outside the airplane). ·The test matrix will consist of 48 groups of test subjects that will be using approximately 2,400 test subjects. ·Each group of test subjects will conduct four tests of the same configuration.

The testing has begun and is expected to take approximately 8 to 10 months to complete. I will keep the Board informed of the FAA's progress on this safety recommendation.

Letter Mail Controlled 11/14/2000 4:39:44 PM MC# 2001688 The FAA is studying all research testing that has been completed on evacuations leading from the center aisle to the Type III overwing exits. The study will include research conducted by the FAA and the Cranfield Aviation Safety Centre. It is anticipated that the study will be completed by March 31, 2001. The FAA will determine if additional research testing is needed upon completion of the study. I will inform the Board of the FAA's course of action to address this safety recommendation as soon as the study is completed.