Light Aircraft Rescue - airbags

[drgripsthrowawaytowel 72]

A while back I had emailed the company AmSafe (number 1 supplier for aircraft airbags) for literature on their airbags for light and general aviation (GA) aircraft. It took them a few months, but they finally got back to me with some paperwork.

Many aircraft today (almost 80% since 2001) are being retrofitted with airbags in the seat belts for the pilots and passengers. From their website (http://www.amsafe.com):

Designed to protect occupants from impact with glare shields, instrument panels, and control yokes, the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag looks and operates like a standard seatbelt. The airbag is stored in the lap belt portion of the 2- and 3-point restraints and in the torso section of the 4- and 5-point systems.

When the sensors detect an impending incident, the airbag deploys up and away from the seated passenger – adults and children, large and small – and provides protection to the head, neck and torso. The AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag meets the FAR 23.562 26g requirements in pilot / co-pilot seats and provides the additional safety needed in a survivable impact.

They also sent me the following literature for first responders:

ARFF_News_2010_MayJun_proof.pdf

E509944 Rev E_First Responders Reference Guide.pdf

Instructions for Client Site Access_110411_First Responder.pdf

Part 23 Technical Overview, E508428 Rev M.pdf

The area we live in is saturated with GA aircraft, and while the possibility of one landing in your district during an emergency is relatively low, it still could happen. And with every other type of incident we really need to know the hazards to ourselves and how to properly protect ourselves from them.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Pretty interesting, I had no idea this something they did. Thanks for the info, I'll be sure to pass it along!

[ny10570 745]

Auto manufacturers began using seatbelt airbags a few years ago as well. In this day you don't cut ANYTHING until you've looked it over.

[dwcfireman 656]

I do recurrent training on these airbags every year as part of my ARFF recertification, and they're quite impressive. just want to bring up a few points for everyone:

1) They operate in the same fashion as airbags in cars.

2) Aircraft manufacturers are starting to move towards 3-point harness style seatbelts. Cirrus Aircraft has been doing this for years, and the rest of the industry is starting to follow suit. Newer aircraft will have these belts, however, there is a lot of older planes out there that are still airworthy, and there is no mandate to retrofit them with harness style seat belts or airbags.

3) Airbags on the harness style belts are installed on the 2 shoulder straps, whereas airbags retorfitted to "car" style seatbelts have 1 bag on the shoulder strap.

Another thing to be weary of is ballistic parachute deployment systems. All Cirrus aircraft are equipped with this system, and many planes are retrofitted the parachutes. You can go to the website http://www.cirruspilots.org/Content/CAPSHistory.aspx to learn more about this system.

Cirrus also has it's website, http://cirrusaircraft.com/innovation/?item=parachute#products, where you can view many of the new safety systems that aircraft manufacturers are using.

[SOUSGT 357]

I do recurrent training on these airbags every year as part of my ARFF recertification, and they're quite impressive. just want to bring up a few points for everyone:

1) They operate in the same fashion as airbags in cars.

2) Aircraft manufacturers are starting to move towards 3-point harness style seatbelts. Cirrus Aircraft has been doing this for years, and the rest of the industry is starting to follow suit. Newer aircraft will have these belts, however, there is a lot of older planes out there that are still airworthy, and there is no mandate to retrofit them with harness style seat belts or airbags.

3) Airbags on the harness style belts are installed on the 2 shoulder straps, whereas airbags retorfitted to "car" style seatbelts have 1 bag on the shoulder strap.

Another thing to be weary of is ballistic parachute deployment systems. All Cirrus aircraft are equipped with this system, and many planes are retrofitted the parachutes. You can go to the website http://www.cirruspil...APSHistory.aspx to learn more about this system.

Cirrus also has it's website, http://cirrusaircraf...achute#products, where you can view many of the new safety systems that aircraft manufacturers are using.

BRS Ballistic Parachutes makes parachute deployment system (Ballistic parachute system) that can be installed new or retrofitted into older aircraft. Currently they provide units for Cessna and Cirrus. They have a website for first responders:

http://brsparachutes.com/first_responders.aspx

In Cessna’s, when activated, the parachute is deployed by a rocket and blows out the rear window. An un-deployed rocket can be dangerous if disturbed or found at a crash site.

They also have a guide for emergency responders

http://brsparachutes.com/files/brsparachutes/files/First%20Responders.pdf

[dwcfireman 656]

In Cessna’s, when activated, the parachute is deployed by a rocket and blows out the rear window. An un-deployed rocket can be dangerous if disturbed or found at a crash site.

They also have a guide for emergency responders

http://brsparachutes.com/files/brsparachutes/files/First%20Responders.pdf

I'm glad you brought this up....Cirrus' CAPS ballistic parachute actually penatrates the skin of the aircraft when deployed. And, to make it more interesting/fun, Cirrus aircraft are all composite materials. Therefore, when the parachute deploys, now you have shards of carbon fiber and other composite materials everywhere. COMPOSITE SHARDS ARE EXTREMELY SHARP!!!!!!

Another thing, too, and the training videos usually cover this, but if the parachute is deployed it can be flattened to the ground by spraying a wide fog stream on the chute itself (spraying from the top of the canopy towards the aircraft). The weight of the water will lay down the chute and prevent a wind gust from dragging the plane and everyone around it away.