FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
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AVIATION MEDICINE REPORTS

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-97/18

Title and Subtitle: A Flexible Cabin Simulator

Report Date: August 1997

Authors: Marcus, J.H.

Abstract: Experimental research on issues related to emergency evacuation of a passenger aircraft cabin have tended to use existing aircraft cabins. While a great deal of useful information has been collected, these facilities have limited capabilities to be configured to investigate new or unusual cabin arrangements. A concept design for a flexible cabin simulator has been completed and is described. The proposed facility can simulate any aircraft cabin from a small, commuter category aircraft through a multi-aisle, multi-deck mega-jumbo transport. The simulator allows full flexibility in terms of exit type and placement, location and design of interior monuments, and the size and layout of the passenger cabin. Experimental control is possible of interior and exterior illumination levels, the presence of vision obscuring smoke, and the door sill height when using evacuation slides. Built from modular sections, it might be used in the future to investigate new and unusual cabin designs, such as the flying wing. The proposed simulator is described to illustrate its versatility. The associated building and project costs are also discussed.

Key Words: Passenger aircraft evacuation, Evacuation, Experimental cabin simulator

No. of Pages: 19