UPDATE – The FAA has released an additional set of special conditions for sideways-facing seats on the Boeing MAX 10. The document, which is open for comment until September 29, identifies new safety hazards to passengers from recent research. Additional safety measures might be considered. FAA: sideways facing seats Boeing MAX 10 could pose safety hazard.
In recent years, the FAA has filed various special conditions for oblique seats, including that for the Boeing 787 and Airbus A321neo with Airbus Cabin Flex (ACF) configuration. In January 2019, Boeing requested a change of the type certificate of the MAX 10 to install side-facing seats at an angle of 49 degrees to the centerline. This arrangement is in use on some Boeing 787s, but the special conditions for this aircraft no longer apply as the criteria were changed in July 2018.
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
