Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) hopes to reduce fatalities during plane accidents, fitting seatbelt mounted airbags in its Economy Class cabins. About 41 of its passenger aircraft already sport the travel aid.
This follows the ?mounting regulations in the US to ensure that all aircraft built there must meet standards designed to keep passengers conscious through an impact involving deleration at 16 times the force of gravity – known as the 16G rule. Aircraft manufacturers in Europe will soon be following suit. This is expected to be the norm by 2020.
The carrier's CEO, Tony Tyler, was quoted by media as saying his airline's Economy seats had "rigid shells", which could create problems in the event of a head impact, and "therefore, we need airbags".
Recent research has shown that 80 percent of plane crashes are survivable, and that stronger seats and restraints could avert fatalities in impact related incidents.
Air France is also incorporating airbags in its Economy seats.
For more about CX, visit www.cathaypacific.com
Margie T Logarta
