Airline passengers could be weighed before flights

• To ensure flight safety, airline passengers may have to report their weight or step on a scale before a flight.
• The weighing is part of a survey to determine the updated average passenger weight since the obesity rate in the U.S. has increased.
• The reported guideline states that a passenger can decline to participate in the survey, after which the airline officials will select another passenger at random.

A new guideline may soon require airline passengers to report their weight or step on the scale before boarding a flight.

The data will then be used to update the current record of average passenger weight, which may be outdated due to the increase in the obesity rate in the U.S.

Citing a circular advisory sent out by the Federal Aviation Administration, airline blog View from the Wing stated that air carriers will have to update this data to ensure flight safety.

Airline industry publication AirInsightGroup reviewed the new pending requirements. These would mandate airlines to use random sampling and call on passengers to participate in surveys that will determine the “standard average passenger weights” for crew members, baggage, and passengers.

While operators can choose to survey each passenger and bag before boarding, passengers still have “the right to decline to participate in any passenger or weight survey,” the guidance says, cited by AirInsightGroup.

As the survey is voluntary, the airline will have to select another passenger at random in the event that a passenger refuses to participate.

According to the new FAA standards, the average weight of an adult passenger and carry-on bag will be increased to 190 pounds in the summer and 195 pounds in the winter – which is a 12% increase from the previous 170 pounds and 175 pounds.

For female passengers and carry-ons, the average weight will be increased from 145 pounds to 179 pounds in the summer and from 150 pounds to 184 pounds in the winter. For males with carry-ons, the average weight will be increased from 185 pounds to 200 pounds in the summer and from 190 pounds to 205 pounds in the winter.

Air carriers are advised to complete the surveys every 36 calendar months, according to the FAA’s advisory. The passengers’ weights will remain confidential, the FAA guidance assured.

It is still not clear whether passengers will be asked to report their weight or step on a scale at the airport.

Source: FOX Business