Scientific research shows what the priorities are if you want to improve the aircraft interior. In improving the cabin interior the seat and noise are important elements. The priorities in the cabin interior are is based on the following studies published in the literature.
The most important one is: Vink, P., Vledder, G., Song, Y., Herbig, B., Reichherzer, A. S., & Mansfield, N. (2022). Aircraft interior and seat design: priorities based on passengers’ opinions. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 9(1), 3.
For educational purposes Peter Vink made a video on ‘priorities in the cabin interior based on scientific research’.
Scientific research shows what the priorities are if you want to improve the aircraft interior. This video is a summary of this research. In improving the cabin interior the seat and noise are important elements. The priorities in the cabin interior are is based on the following studies published in the literature. The most important one is: Vink, P., Vledder, G., Song, Y., Herbig, B., Reichherzer, A. S., & Mansfield, N. (2022). Aircraft interior and seat design: priorities based on passengers’ opinions. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 9(1), 3. It is free downloadable at : https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcont…
Other references
– Anjani, S., Song, Y., Hou, T., Ruiter, I. A., & Vink, P. (2021). The effect of 17-inch-wide and 18-inch-wide airplane passenger seats on comfort. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 82, 103097.
– Bouwens, J., Fasulo, L., Hiemstra-van Mastrigt, S., Schultheis, U. W., Naddeo, A., & Vink, P. (2021). Being in control of noise levels improves the perception of airplane seat comfort. Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors.
– Bouwens, J., Hiemstra-van Mastrigt, S., & Vink, P. (2018). Ranking of human senses in relation to different in-flight activities contributing to the comfort experience of airplane passengers. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 5(2), 9.
– Fiorillo, I., Song, Y., Vink, P., & Naddeo, A. (2021). Designing a shaped seat-pan cushion to improve postural (dis) comfort reducing pressure distribution and increasing contact area at the interface. Proceedings of the Design Society, 1, 1113-1122.
– Vink, P., & Lips, D. (2017). Sensitivity of the human back and buttocks: The missing link in comfort seat design. Applied ergonomics, 58, 287-292. – Wegner, M. B. (2020). Seat Comfort Objectification: A new approach to objectify the seat comfort (Doctoral dissertation, Delft University of Technology).
– Yao, X., He, Y., Hessenberger, N., Song, Y., & Vink, P. (2021). Use pressure data below seat cushions to evaluate comfort. In 3rd International Comfort Congress 2021.
P. Vink, G. Vledder, Song, B. Herbig, A. S. Reichherzer, N. Mansfield published their article “Aircraft interior and seat design: priorities based on passengers’ opinions”
Abstract
Comfort is an important factor for passengers in the selection of airlines, and electric propeller aircraft will be an important element of future sustainable aviation. In this paper, we studied the order of importance of different (dis)comfort factors regarding traveling with propeller aircraft. Two experiments were conducted, one was a simulation flight on the ground with 33 participants and the other were two real flights with 97 participants. All participants were asked to rank the importance of different (dis)comfort factors in different phases of flights. Results indicated that though there are differences between the simulation and the real flights, noise, vibration and the seat are among the most important factors regarding discomfort, and space, lighting, temperature and seat are the most important factors of comfort. The results are different to those reported from previous studies on travelling by jet, where anthropometry is the most important factor. This finding suggests a difference in passenger perception between travelling by propeller propulsion and jet engines, and casts new requirements on the aircraft interior and service design for future sustainable aviation.
During the research flight on November 3, an observation of the flight attendants was also made during each flight. During data collection, the focus was on:
Ergonomics: Working heights in the galleys, pushing/pulling forces in the galley and from the trolleys, trolley maneuvering.
Environmental aspects: temperature, vibration and noise.
We have learned very much from this observation. Respect for the work these two flight attendants do. Working together in a very small space and being so friendly and helpful to the passengers. We will share the results with you later.
In the EU COMFDEMO project, we aim at building the digital twin regarding the comfort experience of passengers in the cabin demonstrator. For this, we will conduct a study during a real-flight to collect data on the comfort of passengers. This happend on Nov.3, 2021. We had a super good research day! All researchers were present and a total of almost 100 participants. All participants had an air travel for 70 minutes whereby data was collected regarding the basic anthropometry and their experience on comfort. The flight was from and to Rotterdam airport.
