PHOENIX – Oct. 19, 2010 – AmSafe® Industries, Inc., the leading provider of engineered restraint systems, today announced that B/E Aerospace, the world’s leading manufacturer of cabin interior products for the commercial and business jet aircraft markets, will offer side-facing divans equipped with the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag to the business jet market.
Current cabin interior arrangements for business jets do not allow full occupancy of the side-facing divans for take-off and landing when a monument is installed forward of the divan. At least one seat position must remain vacant for occupant head protection and body contact avoidance. These divans are installed on a large number of mid- and large-sized business aircraft. B/E Aerospace and AmSafe jointly performed developmental tests on side-facing divans equipped with the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag. This testing proved that the use of the airbag minimized occupant injury in the event of a survivable accident with all divan positions occupied.
“The Seatbelt Airbag is the most practical and cost-effective solution to reduce neck loading and provide head and body-to-body contact protection for side-facing divan occupants. It allows for more flexibility in cabin layouts and demonstrates our proactive commitment to address side-facing occupant protection,” says Chuck Barresi, vice president/general manager, B/E Aerospace, Business Jet Group.
“By equipping side-facing divans with the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag, business jet passengers will enjoy an additional level of protection that is offered on nearly 50,000 seats on commercial and general aviation aircraft around the world,” said Bill Hagan, president of AmSafe Industries. “The AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag enables all positions on the divan to be occupied for take-off and landing. With every major manufacturer offering aircraft models that include side-facing divans, we anticipate a rapid adoption industry-wide.”
In service since 2001, the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag is a self-contained, modular restraint system 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 shoulder harness for side-facing seats and the lap belt portion of the seatbelt for many forward-facing applications, the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag inflates in less than 90 milliseconds and, unlike automotive airbags, safely deploys up and away from the occupant, ensuring safety for passengers of all ages.
In general aviation applications, AmSafe Seatbelt Airbags have saved lives and prevented serious injuries. The increased protection afforded to passengers is made possible through mature technology adopted from the automotive industry. The Seatbelt Airbag system is now standard equipment on 80 percent of new single engine general aviation aircraft and available as an aftermarket option for many models.
A video of the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag deployed in a simulated crash test can be found at: www.amsafe.com/products/document.php?id=237&pid=10&type=categories.
