Airlines increase use of passenger airbags
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Major airlines including Cathay Pacific and the Air France-KLM Group have begun introducing seatbelt-mounted airbags in their economy class cabins as authorities tighten safety regulations. According to a Bloomberg report, all aircraft built in the US since October must conform to standards designed to keep passengers conscious through an impact involving deceleration at 16 times the force of gravity. The same rules will be introduced in Europe by the end of next year, the European Aviation Safety Agency has confirmed. While many seats comply with the so-called ’16g’ rule without needing airbags, airlines are installing them as safety concerns rise.
Cathay Pacific became the first carrier to equip entire planes – Airbus A340s and Boeing 777s – with airbags. Air France-KLM has also fitted airbags after installing the same seats in the premium-economy cabins of its B777s. Approximately 2,200 seats were deployed with the safety mechanism, the report stated, citing Bill Hagan, President of the aviation unit of airbag manufacturer, AmSafe. SWISS was also required to fit airbags in the business-class seats of its A330-300s, which entered service in April last year, the report stated. The carrier will have 10 of the planes by March.
“The real driver until now has been the premium segment,” Bloomberg quoted Hagan as saying. “But at a certain point you gain a critical footprint where airlines consider extending airbag use across the plane. I believe this point will be reached next year.”
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