Fermilab Physicist Develops More Efficient Airliner Boarding Procedure - Neatorama

(Video Link)

Jason Steffen is a particle physicist who works at Fermliab. He's used his knowledge of complex systems and motion to develop an airplane boarding procedure that is more efficient than those currently in use:

In his method, first, alternate rows on one side of the plane board, but just the window seats. Then the other side boards, in alternate rows with one row between each passenger. Again, window seats only. Then back to the other side, with the middle seats this time. And so on. The result is a beautiful choreography as rows of passengers simultaneously stow their luggage and take their seats in tandem.

Link -via Popular Science

Comments (13)

Newest 5

Newest 5 Comments

So the people with the windows seats get the luggage space as well!! They should raise their ticket price! ;)

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1. This is how some militaries embark and disembark.

2. Efficiency is not an issue and therefore should not be a consideration.

3. A significant number of people do not follow the current boarding rules. They will be no more likely to follow this system.

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"...cuts almost *beeeep* from traditional boarding methods." ???

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Also, can everyone bring more carry-on, please? People aren't bringing enough carry-on.

:P

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I think the old way is much more exciting. Where's the arguing? The fighting? The madness? Must we dissect and organize every aspect of our lives? I say let chaos rule!

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Young Audio techs ALWAYS think they know more than us old guys.

Fact is Audio Designers are always better with age unless they studied the old guys and their methods from a young age.

Why should it be different in ancient Memphis than in Modern Memphis?

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The ancient architechs obviously knew what they were doing - even if we don't understand how they did it.

For some stupid reason, modern man is so arrogant that he thinks if he can't figure something out then his predecessors just got lucky...

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...and yet science still can't figure out why I'm so damn secksy! :x

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Ancient engineers and inventors were in a situation where there was no 'status quo' or solidly set assumptions to prevent the creative process. Some good ideas come from trial and error, and usually the best ones become known due to the error. I've also found that technological breakthroughs happen not from the constant improvement of the leading technology, but the stepping back and looking at something in the past and making it better with currant resources.

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Reading through these I have a feeling that even though these mysteries are scientifically proven like the face on mars, people will still cling to delusional beliefs that it's just a cover-up to keep the truth from coming out. One of those strange quirks of human nature I guess.

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Looks like I just received insight to clarifly my confusion. Go internet!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227021.600-on-the-trail-of-mythical-beasts.html

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@ DaveL

Hahahaha! Well played, sir!

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