Occupant restraint is essential-keeping the full torso restrained to the seat during the impact sequence vastly improves the odds of survival-the FAA says shoulder harnesses cut fatality rates by 20 percent and injury rates by a whopping 80 percent. The more impact load that can be absorbed by a progressively collapsing aircraft structure and not transmitted to the occupants, the better. The longer in time and distance the deceleration can be spread over, the better (airbags use this fact). Simplified, the testing demonstrated that: The slower the impact, the better. Cessna and Piper gave NASA some airplanes for it to crash under varying conditions for the in-depth studies it was doing on impact dynamics and modeling what went on during a given crash sequence to help develop ways to keep aircraft occupants alive. By the 1960s Cessna, Piper and Beech were doing full-scale impact testing. For example, one of the chief causes of death in automobile rollover accidents is that occupants who aren’t wearing seatbelts get thrown out of the vehicle and come to a quick stop against the ground or an obstruction.Īfter World War II there was extensive research into airframe crashworthiness. He or she will either stop instantly or bounce across the surface like a rag doll, suffering repeated impacts that will cause massive trauma to internal organs and the brain that is not survivable. A human being, even in excellent condition, cannot survive hitting the ground at 60 MPH. We’ll start out by pointing out that the “thrown clear and survived” reports that are sometimes made after accidents are nonsense.
The simple reason is that a restraint system that keeps your head and upper torso from smacking into the instrument panel or seat in front of you during an accident sequence is the single most effective mod you can make to your airplane to radically increase the chance of everyone aboard surviving an accident.Īs technology has improved, we’re now strong advocates of a system that goes further to protect occupants during an impact-the airbag seatbelt from AmSafe ( a Phoenix, Arizona, manufacturer that specializes in occupant protection testing and products for cars and aircraft.īefore we go into details of retrofitting airbag seatbelts-they’re now standard features for most seats of nearly all new general aviation aircraft-we’ll take a look at the realities of accident dynamics and how to reduce your risk of injury. Bread® pay-over-time plans are loans made by Comenity Capital Bank.We’ve long urged aircraft owners to retrofit shoulder harnesses for all seats of their airplanes if at all possible. APRs will vary depending on credit qualifications, loan amount, and term. Rates range from 6.99% to 29.99% APR, resulting in, for example, 36 monthly payments of $32.26 at 9.99% APR, per $1,000 borrowed. Subject to approval of credit application. *Example payments are based on the listed product price(s) assuming a 36-month term loan and 9.99% APR. Regardless of your specific needs, is always available to assist you with finding the right size and style. We have a wheelchair stroller here that’s tailor-made to your needs, whether you require portability, lightweight performance, extra trunk support, greater seat depth or many adjustable features so that one chair might serve several needs. These chairs differ from strollers because they can be self-propelled for independent-mobility or pushed. We are also one of the best resources for well-made special needs wheelchairs for children. We also have versatile styles specifically designed to glide with ease over concrete, unpaved surfaces, carpeting and rugs. For applications such as outdoor events or simply running errands around town, we’d recommend a walking stroller with all-terrain wheels and an umbrella-style folding closure system, so that you can toss it in the trunk or store it in the closet when it’s not in use. In fact, many of these styles have five-point harnesses and are crash-tested for the ultimate in safety.
The best part is, the same therapists who select these strollers, wheelchairs and push chairs for children are on hand to help answer questions and guide you toward the appropriate products.Ĭhoosing the Right Adaptive Mobility EquipmentĪ has rider transport strollers designed for safe use on the bus or in the van. At, our team of therapists selects innovative, specialty mobility gear designed to make getting around easier, more comfortable and safer.
But the ability to explore one’s surroundings and environment is extremely important, so finding the right stroller or wheelchair is truly invaluable.