Sturdier, Safer Seats on Airliners Debated

WASHINGTON — Commercial airlines will have to retrofit their aircraft with new, sturdier seats to protect passengers better during crashes under a regulation proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The regulation, unveiled Thursday, is the result of a five-year joint FAA-NASA study that found that existing seats do not absorb much of the shock of a crash or hard landing and sometimes become dislodged during crashes, blocking escape routes.

“The proposal would require passenger seats on existing aircraft to meet new dynamic test standards that simulate actual crash loads and are consistent with current floor strength levels,” FAA Administrator Allan McArtor said in a statement.