Empty exit row question.

[Denali]

Hi and thanks for reading.

Last year I was flying HBA-SYD and there was a QF announcement that they needed a volunteer to sit in the exit row because by law, someone had to sit there for them to be allowed to fly and the exit row would be free. They actually made this announcement a couple of times, which blew my mind that they were looking for people to have extra leg room but no takers (we were waiting for our VA flight).

Anyway, I notice on the VA facebook site that people are complaining about exit rows being empty unless paid for.

So my question, can they fly with empty exit rows and if yes, hypothetically, if a FA cant get to the exit door what does this mean if no one is sitting there, having read the emergency card to remove the door?

Was the QF staff telling porkies about the row had to have someone seated in it by law?

Just curious and thanks.

 

[equus]

I believe it depends on whether or not the aircraft it being operated under 1:36 cabin crew to pax seating arrangements, in which case there is no actual legally mandated requirement, or whether the aircraft is being operated under a 1:50 ratio authorised by CASA, under which conditions of a demonstrated Safety Risk Management Plan may have to be complied with (which may include the need to have the exit rows occupied).

As any CASA authorisation and Safety Risk Management Plan is particular to each airline (and potentially aircraft type), they actual plan requirements - including numbers of passengers required, could well be different between QF and VA - and could even vary by flight. If the 1:36 ratio (cabin crew to seats, not passengers) is complied with, then there may be no need to rely on an authorisation and the need to seat passengers.

Interesting to note, that the regulations do state that only able bodied pax can be seated in exits rows - so either able bodied or possibly nobody.

Others may well know more detail.....

 

[RooFlyer]

Good question - the situation in the US was discussed in another thread just the other day. its not mandated there, but strongly encouraged by the regulator, citing studies involving having pax at exits who have received instructions on how to operate the exit.

If the answer is about the number of FAs, then that's bizarre. Even with the 'extra' FAs, they would still be sitting at the front or back, or at a bulkhead. In an emergency, requiring an over-wing exit, there is no way they would be able to reach the exit rows from their stations ... the aisles would be completely blocked, even with the most strident calls to 'sit down'.

 

[Austman]

Was the QF staff telling porkies about the row had to have someone seated in it by law?

I'll leave the law bit for others.

But an interesting observation for me this week:

Flying MEL-CBR on a QantasLink 717. It was 2 of us flying. I selected (as a WP) an exit row, seats AC (the 2 seats together on the 717).

On the day of the flight we had to cancel one pax (due to illness). That was only about 3 hours before the flight. So it was just me in the C seat.

But on-board, a fairly lightly loaded plane, there was someone in the A seat. No-one was in the AC seats in front of us - for 2 or 3 rows in front. At final door closing, I asked the FA if I could move a row forward as there was a pax in the exit row seat A. I was told no because they needed 2 pax at each exit door. After takeoff I moved but was reminded by the crew that I'd have to move back again before landing. Which, of course, I did.

So 2 pax per door in the exit rows.

 

[donovan301]

I'll leave the law bit for others.


So 2 pax per door in the exit rows.

Probably a redundancy factor.

Incase the first pax freaks out or is unable to perform under duress, atleast they have a back up pax.