Abstract:
Accident reports and experimental research have documented difficulties when
operating and evacuating through overwing emergency exits. The factors influencing
exit operation and evacuation from smaller regional transport aircraft are less
understood as previous studies have focussed solely on large single aisle aircraft.
Experiment One examined the influence of a smaller interior configuration and the
seating configuration close to the exit on evacuation rates. The results indicated no
effect for interior configuration or vertical projection. Experiment Two investigated the
influence of interior configuration, a modification to the exit operating handle and the
exit operator’s briefing on exit operation time. The results showed the exit was operated
significantly faster when an in-depth briefing was delivered. No significant differences
were attributable to the operating handle mechanism or the interior configuration.
Experiment Three investigated a major modification to the overwing exit mechanism on
exit operation time. The results showed the exit was operated faster when an
automatically opening hatch was installed compared to the traditional plug exit.
Experiment Four examined the effect of the placement of the disposed traditional exit
hatch on evacuation. The results showed the evacuation rate was significantly slower
when the hatch was placed inside the cabin.
The experiments have contributed to knowledge regarding exit operation and evacuation
from smaller transport aircraft. The benefits of an automatically disposed hatch exit
mechanism on a smaller transport aircraft and an in-depth exit operator’s briefing in
both large and small aircraft interior configurations have been shown. The work has
highlighted that the interior configuration of the smaller transport aircraft, in particular
the restricted headroom, is perceived as a hindrance. Finally the work has quantified the
negative impact of an inappropriately placed exit hatch inside a smaller transport
aircraft cabin. Recommendations for further research in evacuation and exit operation
from smaller transport aircraft are suggested.
