Oliver Explains: How Are Plane Seats Created?

Summary

In this episode Oliver walks listeners through the five-stage process airlines use to turn a seat concept into a certified, flight‑ready product, drawing on his firsthand experience at Qatar Airways. He explains the Initial Technical Co‑ordination Meeting (ITCM) where stakeholders set decision‑making authority, the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) that refines computer models, the Critical Design Review (CDR) that produces a physical prototype, and the Test Seat Review (TSR) where functional seats are built and tested. Throughout, Oliver highlights the clash between engineering constraints, safety requirements, and commercial considerations such as passenger comfort and revenue management, illustrating how even tiny details like foot‑rest storage can impact the final design.