Safety Topics: Improved Seat Safety

ABOUT two years ago proposals were issued concerning improved seat standards and dynamic evaluation of transport aircraft seats. The FAA has now issued the final rule based on these proposals and has also taken into account the wide interest shown and comments received from aircraft and seat manufacturers, operators, flightcrew organizations and from US and foreign government agencies. It was proposed to upgrade the static load factors in the upward, downward and sideward direction (which had been unchanged for many years) and add an aft direction requirement. The adoption of a new dynamic test standard was also proposed which would require the demonstration of both occupant response and seat/‐restraint system structural performance. These requirements would apply only to future transport category aircraft and several comments received indicate that they should also apply to current aircraft. This will be the subject of future rulemaking procedures.