Douglas DC-9 From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 303 posts, RR: 2 Posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1109 times:
On Friday, March 28, 2003 Paul Harvey made an announcement durning his Noon program that airliners are expected to have airbags in them to make the passenger feel safer. Is this really true? And would an airbag really help at all? What aircraft will have them if any at all? I mean I love listening to Paul Harvey and I trust what he says, but I really don't know this time.
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 2, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1044 times:
I don't think airbags will help, unless it's in a small aircraft. In cars, airbags are beneficial because of the small area and the proximity to objects such as the door, dashboard, steering wheel, windshield, etc. In an airliner, that is not the case, while the seats in front of you will somewhat soften the blow. Beyond that, there are issues of evacuation, which will surely be more difficult with all those airbags dangling out of the seats, bulkheads, etc. I don't think they'd help at all. This idea sounds about at dumb as seatbelts on a motorcycle (which I've heard people say they should have!!!)
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Arsenal@LHR From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 7791 posts, RR: 23 Reply 3, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 998 times:
How do airbags in any way help a passenger in the event of an accident? Plane crashes are a 1000 times more violent than a car crash, the impact a pax is subjected to when a plane crashes at 400 mph is not something you defend against.
NOTAM-J From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 82 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 970 times:
WOW... now that guy was really thinking. When I'm in an airliner hurdling towards the ground at terminal velocity, nothing would be more comforting than to know the aircraft is equipped with airbags. I'll be sure to book my next flight with that airline!
This makes about as much sense as wearing a helmet while skydiving and you're parachute doesn't deploy. Any other bright ideas Paul?!?!
If only I had a nickel for every Boeing vs Airbus posting...
ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 959 times:
off subject and just FYI... the purpose of a helmet when skydiving is to protect against concussion should the diver fail to properly clear the diving platform/aircraft or in the event of a hard/improperly-angled landing......... obviously not against failure of parachute deployment.
MxCtrlr From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 2485 posts, RR: 40 Reply 7, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 913 times:
Actually, there is one company (I forget the name of them or their product) that does offer an airbag that deploys from the seat belt buckle. This actually could save some lives as the deploying airbag, unlike in a car, would not be hurtling towards you as you hurtled towards it. It would deploy in front of you and help keep you from impacting the seat in front of you and also help lessen the effects of inertia (rapid deceleration trauma - something that kills many airline crash victims). This all, of course, assumes that the aircraft stays relatively in one piece (which many air crashes do not). Something along the lines of the ValuJet crash, or Swissair or TWA 800, would not have benefitted from these airbags but a crash like UAL in SUX, airbags may have saved many additional lives.
MxCtrlr
Freight Dogs Anonymous - O.O.T.S.K.
DAMN! This SUCKS! I just had to go to the next higher age bracket in my profile! :-(
JBirdAV8r From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 4459 posts, RR: 22 Reply 8, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 903 times:
FltMech9 From United States of America, joined May 2001, 57 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 903 times:
I was reading an article in Popular Mechanics about the use of airbags in airliners. I agree there are times when it wouldn't make an ounce of difference but could save lives in other crashes. I think the article said the seat belt airbag device was around $1,000 each. I don't know too many airlines that are gonna rush right out and install these things. I am sure there will be more testing and research done before you see it on your commercial flight.
CcrlR From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 2203 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 896 times:
They did a test about this on helicopters but this may be good for small planes just like Cirrus and the Parachute. The Discovery channel was talking about this one time before.
"He was right, it is a screaming metal deathtrap!"-Cosmo (from the Fairly Oddparents)
UALPHLCS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 891 times:
ACA J-41's have air bags in the lap belts in row 1. The bag makes te belt totally unadjustable and if you are a person larger than a petite female your not going to be comfortable, if you are lucky enough to get the thing around you waist. I was lucky enough to be moved when I couldn't get the belt fastened.
Kramri From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 74 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 883 times:
Although an interesting idea, you would be hard pressed to find an airline in the financial position to introduce this gadget. Additionally, I don't think I would like a device like this so low on my lap!
Thrawn From British Virgin Islands, joined Mar 2002, 53 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (10 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 863 times:
Virgin already have lap belt airbags on the A340-600 they are fitted to the bulkhead seats. They open up just in front of the pax to stop them going into the bulkhead.
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