If you’re flying Air France, KLM, or Cathay Pacific in economy class, you’ll soon notice a little extra padding on your seatbelt. The padding? An airbag.
The seatbelt airbag, designed to deploy within 90 milliseconds after a crash, will be required when the seat in front of you is rigid, and risk of a “head-strike” is high. Since most airlines don’t feature the self-contained “pod” hard-shell seats a la Cathay in economy, you won’t see this on many airlines. But it will be required:
All aircraft built in the U.S. since October must conform to standards designed to keep passengers conscious through an impact involving deceleration at 16 times the force of gravity so that they can escape any subsequent fire. The same rules will be introduced in Europe by the end of next year, European Aviation Safety Agency spokesman Jeremie Teahan said.
While many seats comply with the so-called 16g rule without needing airbags, which are installed in about 2 percent of seats, manufacturer AmSafe Inc. predicts they’ll become standard by 2020 amid heightened awareness of safety issues. The devices cost about $1,200 apiece, versus $25 for a regular seatbelt.
I haven’t encountered one of these seatbelts yet, but if anyone out there has taken them for a spin, hit the comments. Is the extra thickness noticeable? Comfortable?
For a video of the seatbelt airbags in action, see below:
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June 8th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Hi Mark,
I’m a bit confused because these airbag components were standard on the seatbelts on the Cathay Pacific flight I flew transpacific 14 months ago. Maybe what’s new is the requirement rather than their existence?
The extra seatbelt girth is definitely noticeable and irritating unless you have a really compelling novel to read or DVD to watch.
June 9th, 2010 at 2:56 am
Just flew in row one on Alaska today with the new belts. No discomfort at all for me, but I question the cost/benefit analysis. I mean what’s the likelihood of being in a plane crash where you would only live if an airbag inflates? Seems even more unlikely than needing the life vests. I’d rather they spend the money on better wine.
June 9th, 2010 at 3:38 am
I believe that some hard shell seats in J class already have them. Been noticing the presence of airbags in the seatblet on Virgin Atlantic Upper Class and USAirways new Envoy Suite. Don’t know about the others…
Even if they seem totally unuseful (just like life vests, you’re right Richard) I never ever felt any discomfort. The seatbelt even feels more comfy.
June 9th, 2010 at 4:53 am
I’m also of the belief that it’s not the most effective use of money.I don’t think an airbag is going to be of much use in a plane crash.maybe they could invest the same money in parachutes
June 9th, 2010 at 7:55 am
I dunno, man. I have a rule: no explosives to be deployed within three inches of the manly-bits. This video appears to show a violation that rule.
June 9th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
All of the new USAirways A321′s have this in Row 1 and I think Row 5. If anything the seatbelt is more padded than a traditional one which is nicer. My real concern is that a hard jolt will cause it to inflate.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
@ Sean O’, I suppose you’re right, it’s not *new*, but not yet consistently deployed. It’s becoming a requirement, though.
@ Richard Brodie, Beyond the regulatory requirement, think about the liability risk. If the airline doesn’t install these, and someone doesn’t survive a crash due to a head injury, can’t you imagine the lawsuits? Wouldn’t that be worth the $1200, as an insurance policy? Just sayin’.
@ Hawkins, Excellent point. I admire your life rule set, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
@ Bryan, Dang, I was onboard a US Airways A321 just this past Saturday. In row 6. Unfortunately, it didn’t occur to me to look at the seatbelts in the row in front of me.
June 10th, 2010 at 2:31 am
I do think these might be useful. Not during high impact crashes but rather small accidents during landing. Like, overshooting the runway, not properly deployed gear, things like that that will make things _very_ bumpy.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
But lap children are still allowed to become flying objects, yes?
June 18th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Indeed. Bubble-wrapping your children may be recommended…
November 19th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
[...] Originally Posted by global_happy_traveller thanks for concluding the matter….. Q2….. do those seats really have an airbag? Small airbag in the seatbelt – I assume to counteract the angle of the seat and because of extra hard stuff in the pod that your head can hit, vs a traditional seatback that will have some flex. There's a video here: http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2…tbelt-airbags/ [...]