Imperial measurements

[Hermes]

I am having a running argument with Fairfax Media over their continued use of imperial measurements for the internal fittings of civil aircraft.
They give weights for baggage in metric (35kg) and, where relevant, altitude (10,000m) -- although airlines seem to use a mixture of imperial and metric.
But when it comes to the interiors we are told about seat pitch 38 inches (96.5cm), width 19.5 inches (49.5cm); we get an 8-inch recline (20.3cm); and the LCD monitor is 13.3 inches (33.8cm).
As far as I know only the US, Burma and Liberia use imperial units. The rest of the world is metric.
Fairfax tells me they are using the "industry standard". Set by whom? Does the US control the way fittings are measured? Why?
Can anyone enlighten me please?
Thanks and cheers

 

[Punky]

As I sit at my laptop, with its 15 inch screen, while watching my 46 inch TV, I agree with you

 

[Isochronous]

We should abolish metric and embrace out imperial roots.

 

[prozac]

I can understand the use of Imperial measurement by Boeing of Seattle USA, and can only guess that Airbus quote similarly on their own site (even when a European language is selected) due to industry standard.

 

[under the radar]

doesn't bother me because the internet allows me to look up on a conversion tool if need be. I choose to use the internet in a useful way

 

[Hermes]

doesn't bother me because the internet allows me to look up on a conversion tool if need be. I choose to use the internet in a useful way

Internet shminternet! Of course we can convert. As my OP said, Fairfax does the conversion in brackets. But why persist with a measuring system that only three countries use? Boeing may well be following what is spuriously called the internet standard, but (a) they do not make all the world's aircraft and (b) why does Fairfax slavishly follow it in a metric country?

 

[Homer]

I can understand the use of Imperial measurement by Boeing of Seattle USA, and can only guess that Airbus quote similarly on their own site (even when a European language is selected) due to industry standard.

My understanding is that aerospace measurements in the US, e.g. at NASA, and scientific measurements generally, are in metric. So I'd be interested to know if this is indeed Boeing-originated because, given this, it does not seem logical to me that Boeing would be measuring aircraft components in inches, feet and yards.

 

[Daver6]

My understanding is that aerospace measurements in the US, e.g. at NASA, and scientific measurements generally, are in metric. So I'd be interested to know if this is indeed Boeing-originated because, given this, it does not seem logical to me that Boeing would be measuring aircraft components in inches, feet and yards.

Not sure NASA is a great example. They lost a probe to Mars due to sending an imperial values to the probe when it was expecting metric values

 

[bsb]

ROTFLMAO. Life is too short.

 

[Homer]

Not sure NASA is a great example. They lost a probe to Mars due to sending an imperial values to the probe when it was expecting metric values

Interesting. The top hit on a Google search reveals it wasn't NASA but rather Lockheed Martin that sent the imperial values to the orbiter. That same article states that NASA has been using metric since 1990. I'm still interested to know, for certain, whether aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing build aircraft using metric or imperial measurements though.

 

[Foreigner]

I flew BNE-SYD on QF today. The captain informed passengers we would climb to 39,000 feet cruise level.

I think i can live with both imperial and metric measurements. My 2016 resolution is to reduce weight to 76 kg and waist to 34 in.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Internet shminternet! Of course we can convert. As my OP said, Fairfax does the conversion in brackets. But why persist with a measuring system that only three countries use? Boeing may well be following what is spuriously called the internet standard, but (a) they do not make all the world's aircraft and (b) why does Fairfax slavishly follow it in a metric country?

We use imperial for lots of things here - height of a person in feet, weight of a baby in pounds, height of an aircraft in feet, monitor and screen sizes in inches, gold in ounces, engine horsepower, pounds of thrust.

I guess people have an inherent idea of what these 'represent' and so we continue to use them for purposes of comparison and measurement.

 

[TonyHancock]

What is this "metric" people speak of? I'll bet 5 shillings it is just a passing fad.

 

[prozac]

...
I think i can live with both imperial and metric measurements. My 2016 resolution is to reduce weight to 76 kg and waist to 34 in.

I've been saying that for years.

What is this "metric" people speak of? I'll bet 5 shillings it is just a passing fad.

The system we use is called SI Units an abbreviation of Le Système International d'Unités.

 

[Foreigner]

What is this "metric" people speak of? I'll bet 5 shillings it is just a passing fad.

Well, I've given my two-bobs worth.

 

[Hvr]

What is this "metric" people speak of? I'll bet 5 shillings it is just a passing fad.

That makes sense to me. The trouble with these new fangled things is that if you give them an inch they'll take a mile.

 

[TonyHancock]

Well, I've given my two-bobs worth.

...about 12 stone then!

 

[Foreigner]

Thankfully medicines use metric system...even in the US. That reminds me it's time to take my statin 5mg for cholesterol.

 

[RooFlyer]

Canada is a metric country, right?

Well, only so far. I have been involved in the design and engineering of an industrial plant in Canada - designed by a Canadian engineering firm, for a Canadian client, in Canada.

Yet, the plant has been largely specced in imperial units.

No prizes for guessing why - many of the components are sourced from the USA, including most of the internal machines and equipment. These are all designated in imperial, and warranties are only given if everything that supports and interacts with them are also specced imperial (American suppliers can't be bothered trying to convert and adjust for a relatively small market). So its easier to just design the whole thing in imperial.

Do you know how much dust is in 50 grains per cubic foot per second ? $%**##@??!!

 

[Foreigner]

Grain is measurement of mass. Apparently Aspirin used to be measured as 5 grains. Now, standard is 300mg