A new FAA regulation takes effect today requiring the airframe and seat structure of all commercial airliners flying in the United States to safely absorb a crash of up to 16Gs (16 times the force of gravity). This is an update to the current 9G standard that has been in effect since the 1950's.
Airlines can meet this improved safety standard by increasing the space between the seats (known as seat pitch); removing seats, which will cost millions of dollars in lost revenue; or equipping them with an AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag, an airbag located in the lap belt of a standard aviation restraint. In a survivable impact, the airbag inflates in less than 90 milliseconds, moving away from the passenger to fill the space in front of them, protecting their head and torso. Seatbelt Airbags are designed to protect against head injuries; if passengers remain conscious, they have a greater chance of exiting the aircraft during the critical 90 seconds immediately following impact. In a survivable crash, fatalities occur not only from the impact of the aircraft hitting the ground, but more frequently from smoke inhalation and fire when passengers cannot escape the aircraft quickly.
Keywords: AmSafe Aviation, Travel, Transportation, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Transportation, Airlines, Aviation.
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