Hawker Beechcraft is now offering the AmSafe aviation inflatable restraint (AAIR) system as an aftermarket safety option certified for all pilot and co-pilot seats in 1984 and newer Beechcraft Baron and Bonanza aircraft.
The product is a sophisticated aviation airbag system designed further to protect a pilot’s head, neck and torso during survivable aircraft accidents.
In the event of severe aircraft deceleration, the AmSafe aviation airbag sensors recognize crash pulses and begin the activation sequence. An airbag stored in a lap belt is designed to deploy up and away from the occupant’s seat, providing critical protection to the head, neck and torso.
Relatively light and inexpensive, the self-contained and self-powered airbag adds only 2.8 lbs. (1.27 kg) to existing pilot and co-pilot restraint systems and costs around $3,600 for a kit containing two, three-point restraints. For purchase and installation, customers should go to a majority of the factory-owned Hawker Beechcraft Services facilities.
The AmSafe aviation airbag system, developed in 1997 and installed first on aircraft in 2001, has undergone extensive product research and has been rigorously tested to meet and exceed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) requirements.
Source: Flight International
