Regional Jet Assault on Passenger Dignity

Economic advantages of small regional jets (airlines):

  1. Cost efficient hub-to-hub connectivity.
  2. High fuel efficiency.
  3. Vague ventilation requirements.

Disadvantages of small regional jets (passengers):

  1. Lack of boundary layer personal space.
  2. Passengers almost sit on top of one another.
  3. Small window-lets aren’t even eye level.
  4. Vague air-flow requirements while grounded.

Air exchange rates of 40 cfm per person are recommended for extremely crowded spaces. According to this rule, air-flow on a densely packed regional jet should be a whirl wind compared to a more spacious jetliner where there is more cabin space per passenger. Yet, air-flow on a packed regional jet is equivalent to the standard larger jetliner.

Does the FAA have different air-flow standards for passengers packed in a regional jet vs. passengers on a larger jetliner?

Requests for bigger & wider jets abound. Corporations, governments, and the wealthy continue to order custom designed wide body jets replete with health clubs, massage parlors, and luxurious state-rooms. Competition is fierce amongst Boeing and Airbus for market share of these elite fliers. This seems puzzling in an era of escalating fuel costs. While the ticket paying passenger pays fuel surcharges, the flying elite treat themselves to luxuriously furnished jets with spacious room and fresh air-flow.