The latest potential United Airlines’ single-aisle Polaris cabin offers up a unique design to increase cabin density while maintaining space for passengers. But it also presents a challenge for those traveling in a wheelchair. A second patent associated with the seating concept addresses that issue.
By providing an access opening that can be widened to a second width, a relatively space-efficient seating arrangement can be provided, whilst still enabling access for disabled passengers when required. The disabled access configuration allows a disabled passenger access to the seat unit in a dignified manner.
– Patent US11655037B2
The narrow gap for entry to the seat – as low as 12″ at floor level in some of the renderings – is simply untenable for passengers transferring from a wheelchair. To address this issue, the team at Acumen Design Agency came up with a series of options. Various components of the foot portion of the monument can pivot or shift, allowing access to the space with much more generous spacing. Indeed, in several of the designs it is expected that the opening will be wider than the aisle, meaning a passenger can transfer directly between the aircraft seat and a wheelchair.
Accessibility Options for United’s single-aisle Polaris design
One option has the shell which surrounds the footwell lowered, enabling the associated table to become part of the transfer path. The seat slides forward in its “shell” to meet the table and become part of the transfer process. This increases the access space to 25.5″ from the 12″ baseline.
Another option shows the monument containing the foot well sliding to the rear with the seats in the upright position. This temporarily blocks in the row behind, of course, but it does increase the access space to 22″ at the floor and 25.5″ at seat level.
A similar option sees the entire footwell and IFE screen portion of the monument pivot to the rear. Again, this temporarily impacts the adjacent seat.
A variation on the pivot design sees only the bottom of the monument pivot; the IFE screen remains in place. But access is similarly widened.
Other designs see the seat slide forward with the leg rest portion extended, This expands the area for direct transfer between the seat and a wheelchair. This is facilitated with either the full footrest monument pivoting or only the bottom portion, with the IFE screen remaining in place.
There is also a design option shown where the footwell has what appears to be a removable cover, allowing the lower gap to extend from 12-13″ inches to 22″. The panel separating the footwell from the aisle is either removed or slides away.
A variation on this design sees the monitor also pivot slightly, further expanding the access area, albeit by slightly interfering with the space of the passenger in the row ahead.
With so many options available it is unclear which will fly with United. But the carrier has clearly worked closely with Acumen to make sure options are available to allow for that transfer. They have undoubtedly also worked with the seat manufacturer to determine which makes the most sense to build and fly.
The patent referenced in this report is US11655037 (specific to the accessibility features).
With thanks to the eagle-eyed B.B. for the tip on this patent.
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Wow, United is really dropping the ball by not installing doors on their new seats. I can’t believe it. The product is outdated before it even launches.
As noted in the other story about the seats, the lack of doors in these diagrams should not be seen as confirmation that doors cannot or will not be installed on seats with these design elements. Most of these can still work, even with doors added on.