Special Report
Are you sitting safely?
When did you last check your airline seatbelt? Jo Austin talks to Herb Mardany, svp of AmSafe, following the 10th anniversary of the American seatbelt airbag
Safety in the air is probably something we would rather not think about. But AmSafe has made it its business to do nothing else. Designer and maker of the
seatbelt airbag, AmSafe has spent over US$10 million on getting it right and compliant with FAA safety regulations. The seatbelt airbag has become the standard
solution for meeting seat certification and AmSafe’s next generation product to be launched later this year promises to be lighter, sleeker and more intelligent. The new belt bag will feature a lightweight buckle as an added option. It will be 30 per cent lighter in weight and have an increased service life of more than 40 per cent. Wireless onboard diagnostics will enable airlines to check the equipment.
OBH: Are airline crashes survivable? HM: According to the National Transportation and Safety Board, more than 80 percent of all commercial airline accidents are survivable. The reason: most commercial aviation accidents occur on take-off or landing—when aircraft are closer to the ground flying at relatively low speeds. The key here is to survive the initial impact and have the ability to exit the aircraft in 90 seconds to avoid smoke inhalation and fire. Both elements are significantly enhanced with the use of a seatbelt airbag.
How does the seatbelt airbag work? In a survivable impact, the seatbelt airbag, packaged in the lap belt portion of the passenger’s seatbelt, inflates in less than 90 milliseconds using air from a canister under the seat. The bag inflates away from the seated passenger to fill the space in front of them, protecting their head and body. The seatbelt airbag is designed to minimise
head impact and injuries that lead to a loss of consciousness. Being conscious with minimal
The seatbelt airbag is designed to deploy away from the passenger and minimise head impact and injuries that lead to loss of consciousness
head trauma makes it possible for passengers to evacuate the aircraft before succumbing to fire or smoke inhalation.
Is the seatbelt airbag safe for children to use? It is approved for all passengers aged two and above not requiring a child seat. The AmSafe seatbelt airbag deploys up and away from the passenger, filling the empty space in front to give passengers of all sizes protection.
Could the seatbelt airbag ever deploy accidentally? It is engineered to deploy only in the event of an actual impact. The up-and-down and side-to-side movements associated with turbulence will not
trigger an inadvertent deployment. Since the seatbelt airbag was first installed in 2001, there have been over 350 million flight hours recorded with trouble-free operation.
How many of your seatbelt airbags are installed on commercial planes today? Fifty thousand seatbelt airbags are currently in commercial service with 70 airlines worldwide.
www.amsafe.com
www.onboardhospitality.com 59
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