Narrative:

While I am certain that this aircraft has FAA certification; I believe that the confign of the exit row (row 12) makes it almost impossible for people to egress the aircraft in all but a very controled situation. It sets up departing emergency passenger for failure and panic by: 1) placing a row of seats in direct line with the emergency exit. 2) creating 2 egress rtes that end at the cabin wall and not the exit; requiring passenger to merge in an area approximately 18 inches by 18 inches while hunched over to get out of the airplane. 3) having a seat card that does not depict the exits as installed. Attached is a diagram of the B737-700 from seatguru.communication and it shows what I would feel to be a correct exit row egress route. The aircraft I was on has row 12 directly blocking the exit with only 2 seats in the row on each side. Again; I am sure that the aircraft met certification standards but in this case I think it should be reviewed in the light that when used it will most likely be in an emergent and possible panic situation. Normally; I comment on ATC safety issues; but I honestly feel that this warrants looking into even if only to have one of you take a look at the aircraft and see if you agree with me or not. Trust me; as we all know getting out of an emergency egress is critical at best; but in this case I am sure someone or many will be hurt -- or worse.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR TFC CTLR FLYING AS PAX ON B737-700 FEELS OVERWING EMER EGRESS IS COMPROMISED BY PAX SEATS ADJACENT TO THEM.

Narrative: WHILE I AM CERTAIN THAT THIS ACFT HAS FAA CERTIFICATION; I BELIEVE THAT THE CONFIGN OF THE EXIT ROW (ROW 12) MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO EGRESS THE ACFT IN ALL BUT A VERY CTLED SIT. IT SETS UP DEPARTING EMER PAX FOR FAILURE AND PANIC BY: 1) PLACING A ROW OF SEATS IN DIRECT LINE WITH THE EMER EXIT. 2) CREATING 2 EGRESS RTES THAT END AT THE CABIN WALL AND NOT THE EXIT; REQUIRING PAX TO MERGE IN AN AREA APPROX 18 INCHES BY 18 INCHES WHILE HUNCHED OVER TO GET OUT OF THE AIRPLANE. 3) HAVING A SEAT CARD THAT DOES NOT DEPICT THE EXITS AS INSTALLED. ATTACHED IS A DIAGRAM OF THE B737-700 FROM SEATGURU.COM AND IT SHOWS WHAT I WOULD FEEL TO BE A CORRECT EXIT ROW EGRESS RTE. THE ACFT I WAS ON HAS ROW 12 DIRECTLY BLOCKING THE EXIT WITH ONLY 2 SEATS IN THE ROW ON EACH SIDE. AGAIN; I AM SURE THAT THE ACFT MET CERTIFICATION STANDARDS BUT IN THIS CASE I THINK IT SHOULD BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT THAT WHEN USED IT WILL MOST LIKELY BE IN AN EMERGENT AND POSSIBLE PANIC SIT. NORMALLY; I COMMENT ON ATC SAFETY ISSUES; BUT I HONESTLY FEEL THAT THIS WARRANTS LOOKING INTO EVEN IF ONLY TO HAVE ONE OF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE ACFT AND SEE IF YOU AGREE WITH ME OR NOT. TRUST ME; AS WE ALL KNOW GETTING OUT OF AN EMER EGRESS IS CRITICAL AT BEST; BUT IN THIS CASE I AM SURE SOMEONE OR MANY WILL BE HURT -- OR WORSE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.