Hawker Beechcraft Announces Availability of Seatbelt Airbags for Baron and Bonanza

TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 5, 2009) – Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced the availability of AmSafe Seatbelt Airbags for the pilot and co-pilot seats on its Baron and Bonanza aircraft. HBC’s parts and distribution organization, RAPID, is taking orders for the Airbags, which can be installed at any AmSafe approved service center. HBC will be holding a drawing for a free airbag safety system during the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Aviation Summit Nov. 5-7 in Tampa, Fla. Attendees can register by visiting the HBC exhibit #5016 at Peter O. Knight Airport.

“We are continually looking for ways to improve the safety features of our aircraft,” said Christi Tannahill, vice president, Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Service and Support. “We are pleased to offer the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag upgrade, which will help protect occupants should an accident occur.”

Statistics show that most crash events are survivable, especially when head and neck injuries are minimized. The AmSafe Seatbelt Airbags for the Baron and Bonanza are self-contained, modular restraints designed to protect occupants from serious head-impact injury and enhance one's ability to exit an aircraft following a survivable accident. Integrated into the lap belt portion of the seatbelt, the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag inflates in less than 90 milliseconds and, unlike automotive airbags, safely deploys up and away from the occupant, making it a safe restraint for passengers of all ages.

The seatbelt airbags are available through HBC’s RAPID parts distribution and can be installed at more than 500 AmSafe authorized service facilities worldwide, including Hawker Beechcraft’s factory-owned locations. For pricing and installation information, contact RAPID at 888.727.4344.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.