Kip Powick Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 Airline's new fleet includes a cupboard for corpses It is always inconvenient when a passenger dies on an aeroplane - not least for the person sitting in the next seat. So Singapore Airlines has attempted to take the trauma out of such tragedies by introducing a special cupboard to store any unexpected corpse. The airline's new fleet of Airbus A340-500 aircraft boasts a discreet locker next to one of the plane's exit doors which is long enough to store an average-sized body, with special straps to prevent any movement during a bumpy landing. Cabin crew have been instructed to use the locker in the event of a death on a long-haul flight - particularly if the aircraft is busy, with no free seats on which to lay out the deceased. The aircraft came into use in February, operating the longest non-stop route in the world: a 17-hour, 7,900-mile journey between Singapore and Los Angeles. The length of the flight has forced Singapore Airlines to think carefully about its handling of any medical emergencies - particularly because the route spans the Pacific Ocean, with little opportunity for an unscheduled landing. An airline spokeswoman said: "On the rare occasion when a passenger passes away during a flight the crew do all that is possible to manage the situation with sensitivity and respect. "Unfortunately given the space constraints in an aircraft cabin, it is not always possible to find a row of seats where the deceased passenger can be placed and covered in a dignified manner, although this is always the preferred option. "The compartment will be used only if no suitable space can be found elsewhere in the cabin." The airline intends to begin a second route next month using the same long-range aircraft - the flight between Singapore and New York will skirt the north pole, offering equally little scope for diversion. Richard Maslen, the assistant editor of Airliner World magazine, said the compartment was an interesting feature of the new aircraft, which seats 180 people. "As far as I'm aware, this is not something that's been thought of in other aircraft designs in the past," he said. "Obviously, these things do unfortunately happen in the air and it's good to see that they have been thought about in advance." Photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 Could lead to an interesting "experience" for someone raiding the galley and not knowing what's behind DOOR NUMBER 3!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RKM Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 Looks like an autopsy table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky High Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 It would definitely make for an interesting time for the cabin crew who would be working right next to the compartment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 New "Crew Rest" facility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CFV2 Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 Opens up a new realm of practical jokes for the cabin crew, I'm sure.... just need a battery-powered tape recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super 80 Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 So is this the "KrisTomb"? who the hell is Kris anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steam Driven Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 "Richard Maslen, the assistant editor of Airliner World magazine, said the compartment was an interesting feature of the new aircraft, which seats 180 people." Is that correct? 180 people on the Singapore A340-500's? Must be some comfortable ride with lots of leg room... Provided you're not laid out flat on the steel tray... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CFV2 Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 Is that correct? 180 people on the Singapore A340-500's? Must be some comfortable ride with lots of leg room... Provided you're not laid out flat on the steel tray... On the other hand.... Maybe they could stack and really pack the folks in there. Diagram of Possible Cabin Configuration And you thought Canada 3000 was uncomfortable..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W5 Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 There is an article in the June issue of "Airways" magazine on Singapore Airlines' A-340-500 (called Leadership by them) and it gives the seating as 64 in Raffles Class (64" pitch) and 117 in Executive Economy (37" pitch). http://www.airwaysmag.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steam Driven Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 I guess it's correct. 181 seats in the A340-500. Half the Airplane is "Raffles" Class. They must expect a lot of Premium traffic on the Ultra long haul flights. Singapore A340-500 Layout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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