Safety product manufacturer AmSafe has introduced a next-generation seatbelt airbag that is lighter and has a longer service life than the company’s current airbag restraint, which has been in production for 10 years and is installed in more than 7,000 general aviation aircraft. The new AmSafe seatbelt is narrower and features an optional lightweight buckle, AmSafe says, while overall weight has been reduced by 30 percent and service life of the unit increases by 40 percent.
The changes mainly suit the needs of airlines, which have been installing the 16-g compliant seatbelt airbags in certain hard-to-certify seats. But the benefits of a 10-year service life and more comfortable seatbelt will trickle down to general aviation, where the aftermarket price remains the same at $1,500 per seat plus the cost of installation.
