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  #1  
Old 01-11-2011, 03:52 PM
Smilin' Jack Smilin' Jack is offline
 
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Location: Cumming, Georgia
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Default Air Bags coming?

Here is a link to an AOPA article on Airbags that the NTSB is looking to require for all new and used aircraft.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...011007180.html

Smilin' Jack

Last edited by craigvince : 01-11-2011 at 04:29 PM.
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  #2  
Old 01-11-2011, 04:51 PM
Kyle Boatright Kyle Boatright is offline
 
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Location: Atlanta, GA
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Default

The NTSB can't require anything in the aviation arena. The FAA has that responsibility, and doesn't tend to jump when the NTSB yells froggie.

There are a blue million NTSB recommendations out there that the FAA has considered and not enacted. There is a 99.9% chance the airbag recommendation ends up with the same fate.
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  #3  
Old 01-11-2011, 05:39 PM
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N713R N713R is offline
 
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Default misunderstood...

I thought the NTSB was the airbags.
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  #4  
Old 01-11-2011, 06:11 PM
terrye terrye is offline
 
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Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Default Sodium Azide Bags

I wish "air bags" hadn't come into popular use. The propellant is sodium azide or something similar which is a pyrotechnic device. "Air Bags" are not powered by compressed air! I surely don't want a pyrotechnic device in my cockpit. Hope the FAA (and Transport Canada) don't succumb to this dumb idea.
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  #5  
Old 01-11-2011, 07:28 PM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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Location: SC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by terrye View Post
I wish "air bags" hadn't come into popular use. The propellant is sodium azide or something similar which is a pyrotechnic device. "Air Bags" are not powered by compressed air! I surely don't want a pyrotechnic device in my cockpit. Hope the FAA (and Transport Canada) don't succumb to this dumb idea.
Exactly why I replaced the steering wheel in my car (since sold) with one that didn?t have an air bomb in the center.

The thought of having a pyrotechnic device a few inches from my face has never made me feel safe. No way would I wear a seatbelt with a built in pyrotechnic device.

Wear your seatbelts.

No way will they ever be required on old airplanes. Like transponders, not all aircraft have the required electrical system to trigger them. Also, many aircraft only have lap belts and limited hard points to add a shoulder harness.
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  #6  
Old 01-11-2011, 07:41 PM
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Ron Lee Ron Lee is offline
 
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If the NTSB ever came up with a way to fix stupid/poor judgment, then they would save lives. Since that is unlikely, just accept TBD deaths per year.
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  #7  
Old 01-11-2011, 08:47 PM
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Mike D Mike D is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 456
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Terrye said it. I would hate to have an explosive in my plane that was not used for making my propeller turn.

Planes, boats, trains, etc. are not cars and do not operate in the same environment or under the same forces. They don?t crash the same. Planes can have multiple impacts during one accident.

Just as a scenario. Say you lose an engine and are forced to do your best to aim for the best crash site available. You are going down in the trees. You aim for the space between the trees and your wings hit the trees. But now the air bags have already gone off and you are still several hundred feet from the true impact zone. Hey, at least the air bag knocked you unconscious before the impact.

I am all for safety. But I don?t really see the advantage of an airbag over a 5-point harness in an airplane.

Planes are already expensive. Not sure adding an airbag will help any.

Then there is the whole disarming the airbag before maintenance accidents.

Well, there is my opinion. I would love to hear from someone for them in aircraft. There must be some reason the NTSB wants them in all aircraft.
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  #8  
Old 01-12-2011, 05:15 AM
hendrik hendrik is offline
 
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Location: Heidelberg, Germany
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by N941WR View Post
No way would I wear a seatbelt with a built in pyrotechnic device.
Chances are high you do in your car:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seat_be..._and_webclamps
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  #9  
Old 01-12-2011, 05:23 AM
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pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
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Default We already have them for our ag aircraft...

...mainly the Air Tractors. They're not the airbag we're used to but instead, are connected to the shoulder harnesses behind us and inflate, tightening the harness. IIRC, they're going to be an option.

We have an Air Tractor employee on here and he'll probably chime in and set things straight.

Best,
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  #10  
Old 01-12-2011, 09:35 AM
dick seiders dick seiders is offline
 
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This proposal likely comes from a person who does not fly an aircraft.
Dick Seiders
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