DeltaMD11 From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 1698 posts, RR: 38 Posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2968 times:
In this months edition of Popular Science (February 2005) the magazine compiled an interesting set of statistics from the BTS, US DOT, CDC, FAA, Hardee's, National Academy of Sciences, and the National Research Council. The small blurb on page 39 states that the FAA has a few concerns about the increasing weight of the average U.S. male domestic passenger. Some statstics:
8.5 -- Pounds the average U.S. adult male weight increased, 1991 to 2000
170 -- Pounds the FAA assumed an average male passenger weighed, 1938 to 2003
184 -- Pounds the FAA currently expects an average male passenger to weigh, according to an August 2004 revision of weight assumptions
14.8-- Billion gallons of jet fuel consumed by domestic air travel in 2000
350 -- Million Gallons that could have been spared in 2000 if the average U.S. adult weight remained at the 1991 average
3.8 -- Million tons of carbon dioxide emissions generated by burning 350 million gallons of jet fuel
$275 -- Million cost of 350 million gallons of jet fuel in 2000
23.5 -- Million additional gallons of jet fuel required if every domestic flight passenger in 2000 was served the Hardee's 2/3-pound Monster Thickburger en route
Please note that the above statistics were taken directly from the article. I found this to be both interesting and somewhat concerning at the same time. I want to make it clear that I'm not trying to single out anyone in this post and have brought it to your attention for intellectual reasons. I, myself, had never really thought about the potential environmental and fiscal implications as they relate to passenger weight increases. Just food for thought....(no pun intended)
Too often we ... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
David b. From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 3148 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2906 times:
Pounds the FAA assumed an average male passenger weighed, 1938 to 2003
CaptainGomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 59 Reply 2, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2857 times:
This is an on-going concern. Just over a year ago, a Georgian Express Cessna Caravan crashed near the southern edge of Ontario by Pelee Island National Park. The Caravan crashed after encountering icing conditions. Part of the blame for the accident was the fact that the aircraft was overweight, and the passengers were heavier than the averages used.
"Males over 12 years of age = 206 lbs in winter and 200 lbs in summer (13 lb increase)
Females over 12 years of age = 171 lbs in winter and 165 lbs in summer (25 lb increase)
These weight changes include a 5 lb increase per passenger for carry-on baggage."
The big deal for airlines is the fact that this causes a serious effect on aircraft performance and range, or usable load. This costs big bucks to airlines, especially those operating in high density configurations, or those flying very long range flights, or near the range limits of the aircraft used. The good news is that these measures have been pushed back one year, giving airlines in Canada more time to make necessary changes.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Ozglobal From France, joined Nov 2004, 2593 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2739 times:
Time to treat obesity like smoking: a disease that harms yourself and the enviornment in which you live.
Response: Earlier posts mooted the introduction of an excess levy on passengers over a certain weight (Ryanair), as for baggage (nothing unjust about this, if you follow a 'user pays' argument - as we do for baggage); fine those businesses who promote over-comsumption - This is particularly a problem in the US, where food has been 'commoditized' and the value proposition is often quantity-based.
P.S QM II is currently refitting to replace hundreds of chairs. The ship, built in France, had chairs designed for 'average' weight adults. However, as there is a very high proportion of very obese passengers, hundreds of bent and broken chairs have had to be replaced with larger and stronger models throughout the ship.
When all's said and done, there'll be more said than done.
Dayflyer From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 3807 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2704 times:
23.5 million gallons of fuel is a drop in the proverbial bucket when compared with 14.8 BILLION gallons of fuel used. Thats like complaining that your neighbors car gets .001 MPG than your car does, so he uses one tank of gas a year less than you do.
Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 15989 posts, RR: 59 Reply 5, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2684 times:
23.5 million gallons of fuel is a drop in the proverbial bucket when compared with 14.8 BILLION gallons of fuel used.
Exactly. By the same arugment, obesity could be said to be good for the economy since these fatties are fueling growth in the fast food and beef/pork industries. Of course, gym equipment wholesalers are hurting. Really, the economic impact of a fat person is likely nil, other than health care.
The answer to obesity really is to charge all passengers by body/luggage weight, in an ideal world. While not practical, any move to charge excess weight is the right way to go.
Panam, TWA, Ansett, Eastern.......AC next? Might be good for Canada.
Slawko From Canada, joined May 1999, 3799 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2640 times:
" The good news is that these measures have been pushed back one year, giving airlines in Canada more time to make necessary changes. "
Actually no Nuno, the airlines have been given a year to do their own study and must conduct 4 random weighings per year of random pax on random flights. The averages of all these weighings will be used to generate average pax weights to be used for the airline, if the averages are higher then the ones that transport is mandating (which is likely) then those higher weights must be used, which could cause even more problems....
"Clive Beddoe says he favours competition, but his actions do not support that idea." Robert Milton - CEO Air Canada
Killjoy From Finland, joined Dec 1999, 646 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2553 times:
"By the same arugment, obesity could be said to be good for the economy since these fatties are fueling growth in the fast food and beef/pork industries."
Sorry, that's not how it works. It's just yet another form of the classic (bad) argument about how breaking windows would help the economy, since it gives window repairmen more work.
Jfernandez From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 301 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2505 times:
I'm sure I weigh less, total than some of these skinny people who bring 6 bags of crap onto the plane, though.
Now - think about the increase in passenger weight along with the increase in passenger luggage/carry-ons. Yikes.
Supa7E7 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2414 times:
Actually this has a big impact. Since the FAA recalculated weight allowances based on heavier average pax, certain aircraft can take fewer pax. ERJ-145 for example are very often restricted to 45 out of 50. That's like a 10% higher fuel burn.
L410Turbolet From Czech Republic, joined May 2004, 5392 posts, RR: 19 Reply 10, posted (8 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 2162 times:
Why there are no scales for the pax just in front of the check-in desk? Your weight would be chceked just as your luggage is. It would provide the airlines with more accurate data on actual weigh of the pax on board?
Would you find it offensive being weighed during check-in?
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