In-Flight Seat Belts

[PAXboy]

What is the deal with this seat belt? It is not like other seat belts. It is a lap belt only, in two pieces, secured by an industrial-feeling flip-flop buckle that sits directly in the center of the lap. Car seat belts are not like this. Even race car seat belts are not like this. In fact no other modern seat belt is like this. This seemed like a reasonable and even innocuous subject to investigate.

The FAA declined an interview request. AmSafe, probably the biggest manufacturer of aircraft seatbelts, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Various air travel safety experts either did not respond, stated that they did not know anything about seat belts, or declined to comment. One prominent manufacturer did agree to an interview; two nice engineers answered my questions, and then insisted that I not use their names in any article.

Decoding The Seat Belt (https://getpocket.com/explore/item/decoding-the-design-of-in-flight-seat-belts?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB)

[Musket90]

Interesting. I do wonder about the rationale of wearing seat belts during take-off and landing which is when you need a quick evacuation, although I suppose in some situations during this phase of flight wearing a seat belt may help prevent injury in the event of sudden forces while seated. Once airborne in the cruise with seat belt sign turned off I always keep mine fastened loosely in case of unexpected mod/severe turbulence risking me leaving the seat out of control and being injured either by the cabin ceiling or being thrown back on the floor.

[tdracer]

Interesting. I do wonder about the rationale of wearing seat belts during take-off and landing which is when you need a quick evacuation, although I suppose in some situations during this phase of flight wearing a seat belt may help prevent injury in the event of sudden forces while seated.
A 16g seat won't help your survival one iota if you're not belted to it. How long does it take to unfasten the seat belt? Maybe a second - probably less. On the other hand, how long will it take you to evacuate if you just smacked your head into the seat in front of you and were knocked silly (or unconscious :eek:).

[Load Toad]

I saw a program the other day advising that most of the deaths when a plane crashes is usually people knocked out banging their heads or people causing log jams because they were trying to get their baggage. Most injuries are caused by people having duty free or baggage falling on their heads from the cabin bins.

[DaveReidUK]

I saw a program the other day advising that most of the deaths when a plane crashes is usually people knocked out banging their heads or people causing log jams because they were trying to get their baggage.

I'd be interested in seeing statistics that demonstrate that.

[AARON O'DICKYDIDO]

Is there a standard minimum length for a passenger seat belt? I have flown on several airlines with what I consider very short belts. Then I have to ask for an seat belt extender to compensate.
Before anyone starts shouting about me being a fattie, I do know that, but it is not against the rules of flying. Also because of my size I find it difficult to drop the table when I need it. I am talking about economy seats here. When i have flown either Premium or Business there has never been a problem.

Aaron.

[VariablePitchP]

A 16g seat won't help your survival one iota if you're not belted to it. How long does it take to unfasten the seat belt? Maybe a second - probably less. On the other hand, how long will it take you to evacuate if you just smacked your head into the seat in front of you and were knocked silly (or unconscious :eek:).

Which is where a 3 point seatbelt would be very helpful. Lap belt your still smacking your head on the seat, just you’ll be folded in two as opposed to crumpled in a heap :uhoh:

[PAXboy]

Extension lap belts are usually available from the cabin crew.

[waito]

Generally aviation has become very conservative to improvements vs. efforts to re-certificate. So when a seat belt works as desired and autorities don't mandate a change, it won't change.

Thanks for the link, I could learn some more background that I had.

[Denti]

Which is where a 3 point seatbelt would be very helpful. Lap belt your still smacking your head on the seat, just you’ll be folded in two as opposed to crumpled in a heap :uhoh:

And even better would be the 4 point belt the cabin crew wear, or the 5 point the flight crew does. However, that would of course increase the price and maintenance requirements and seat belts have to be cleaned quite often as well. However, quite a few airlines already fit airbag-seatbelts. Which is a good compromise and will prevent being folded in two, same a kid in a loop belt probably will, although it might be crushed in the process.

[Load Toad]

I'd be interested in seeing statistics that demonstrate that.
It was a YouTube channel and statistics were not presented and frankly, I'm not interested enough to go searching for them sorry.

[connoisseur]

It was a YouTube channel and statistics were not presented and frankly, I'm not interested enough to go searching for them sorry.

aka the original statement was as reliable as a Trump press release. Thank you for clarifying.

[Alsacienne]

I think Ryanair's seat belts are shorter than many! :8

[Bergerie1]

Those are for the leprechauns