Abstract: A seat for use in an aircraft providing improved user lumbar load characteristics during a crash event, the seat having a pair of spaced apart front and rear legs, the front and rear legs each being formed of a metallic curved beam having high plastic and low elastic deformation characteristics. First and second chair beams are connected between the front and rear legs. A seat pan is supported between the chair beams, the seat pan being configured to plastically and telescopically deform downwardly between the front and rear legs during a crash event. An energy absorbing seat cushion is positioned on the seat pan. Drag links limit the forward displacement of the front legs upper ends and thereby the seat pan during a crash event. The plasticity of the chair legs, the seat pan and the seat cushion being selected such that in the event of a crash a substantial portion of the load that would otherwise be imparted to a passenger's lower back is absorbed.