Bill Overview
Title: Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin Act
Description: This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a final rule establishing evacuation standards for transport category airplanes that accounts for certain factors, including the ability of passengers of different ages (e.g., infants, children, and senior citizens) to safely and efficiently evacuate an airplane.
Sponsors: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Target Audience
Population: People who travel using transport category airplanes
Estimated Size: 80000000
- The bill concerns the safety procedures during the evacuation of transport category airplanes.
- This impacts all passengers who travel using transport category airplanes, which are primarily commercial aircraft used for passenger transport.
- Air travel is a global method of transportation, impacting people worldwide.
- Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that billions of passenger flights occur each year globally.
Reasoning
- The target population in the U.S. comprises approximately 80,000,000 people, consisting of regular passengers who use commercial air transport.
- The budget constraints suggest a focus on optimizing existing procedures rather than creating new infrastructures, impacting training and retrofitting efforts predominantly.
- People with specific vulnerabilities during evacuations - such as children and the elderly - are more likely to be impacted by this policy.
- The diversity in passenger demographics implies varying levels of impact; for instance, frequent travelers might gain more peace of mind, whereas infrequent travelers might see less direct benefit.
- The policy, while operationally significant, might not increase day-to-day wellbeing except in perception of safety during an evacuation.
- Based on the budget, the implementation would likely involve regulatory changes, safety drills, and minimal physical changes to airplanes, affecting up to 80 million American air travelers.
- For practical interviews, individuals with different perspectives on air travel safety are considered, from frequent flyers to those with mobility challenges.
Simulated Interviews
Business Analyst (New York City, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel reasonably safe flying for work, but knowing evacuations might become more efficient sounds beneficial.
- I hope the changes do not result in significant fare increases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Pilot (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This seems like a necessary update to ensure passenger safety.
- I hope the implementation aligns smoothly with our existing training procedures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad the FAA is considering people like me in safety procedures.
- I feel more assured traveling with my grandkids if evacuations are improved.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Safety is crucial, but I hope this doesn't divert attention from environmental concerns in aviation.
- I'm curious how this will be executed across different airlines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Part-time Lecturer (Miami, FL)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved evacuation standards could greatly improve my flying experience.
- Safety improvements should consider both efficiency and comfort.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Medical Doctor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm optimistic about changes that enhance safety, especially when traveling with my family.
- Ensuring that both young and older passengers can evacuate swiftly is vital.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired Air Force (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Safety is always a priority, though I don't fly often anymore.
- These changes sound like they could help many passengers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Travel Blogger (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m interested in anything that improves passenger comfort and safety.
- It’d be great if these improvements could be made without major disruptions or cost increases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Graduate Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see improvements in passenger safety, though my main concern is environmental.
- I wonder how these changes would be economically feasible without ticket prices increasing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Airport Staff (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhancing evacuation procedures might mean revising current staff training, which I'm prepared for.
- Passenger safety is always top of mind with my work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $7000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $7000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness and efficiency of new procedures depend on successful training and communication.
- Timeline for compliance will be crucial to minimize disruption in the aviation sector.