It has been revealed this week that Airbus has introduced an extra facility on board its A340-500 long-range airliner, although it is certain that no regular traveller would like to sample it. With the aircraft designed to operate on long flights the European manufacturer is offering a number of customised solutions to meet the needs of its various customers. It appears that Singapore Airlines is the first to reveal one interesting new feature, a special storage area capable of storing a human body, complete with special straps to prevent movement even during the bumpiest of flights and landings. With security in aviation being highlighted since the September 11 terrorist atrocities, and the number of air rage incidents increasing, it could be suggested that this area could be used to lock away unruly passengers. However, this is not the case and the simple answer is that it is to be used to store a body should there be a passenger during a flight. In current circumstances, airline crew normally look to move the deceased passenger to an empty row of seats where they can be placed and covered in a dignified manner, while the aircraft diverts to the nearest airport. However, this is not always possible and although a rare occurrence, it can cause tremendous problems for crews and airlines.
There has been a mixed response to the news of this new feature on board the Singapore Airlines A345LeaderShip but both the airline and the manufacturer should be congratulated for their foresight in incorporating the storage area onto the aircraft. Yes, it is a morbid subject to consider but unfortunately passengers do die in the air and it can be an enormous trauma to everyone on board, particularly for those sitting around the fatality. Last week a Jamaican man travelling with North American Airlines collapsed on board a flight from Guyana to New York, clearly highlighting this fact. This special storage area, located close to one of the aircraft's exits, will ease at least part of the trauma of such a tragedy, a fact that Singapore Airlines has closely addressed with its new medical emergency procedures.
Singapore Airlines is utilising the 180-seat aircraft on new non-stop services from Singapore to Los Angeles and will shortly introduce the type into service on flights to New York. These flights are the longest non-stop scheduled commercial services currently available and operate long sectors across the Pacific Ocean, offering very little scope for an unscheduled emergency landing. If the flight was full, a passenger fatality could cause many problems during the flight and it as a result of this that the new feature has been introduced.
The next time you arrive at check-in and are told that the flight is overbooked, perhaps you should ask the agent if you are flying on an A340-500 and if you are looking to sleep for the entire flight, you could always try to request the extra seat.