Improvement of Cabin Equipment to Enhance Safety against Turbulence

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Improvement of Cabin Equipment to Enhance
Safety against Turbulence
Shozo Hirose
Association of Air Transport Engineering and
Research (ATEC), Japan
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Objectives of the committee

• A research committee, commissioned by JCAB and
  supported by ATEC, was formed in order to -
  analyze turbulence related accidents, -
  review current status and - work
  out practical safety measures
• The committee members are from -
  National aerospace laboratory of Japan, -
  Aviation accident investigation commission, -
  Airlines and - Aircraft
  equipment manufacturers

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Turbulence accidents analyzed by the committee

• Reviewed 98 accidents occurred in USA, UK and
  Japan during 1997 - 2002
• 143 persons injured seriously and one person
  fatally (57 passengers and 87 flight attendants
  injured seriously, and 1 passenger injured
  fatally)
• Flight attendants are 36 times more likely to be
  injured than passengers

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Signs of violent jolts

• Of 10 turbulence related accidents in Japan,
  - Jolted all of a sudden .1 case -
  Sustained vibration were felt beforehand....3
  cases - Vibration began 2 to 4 seconds
  before..6 cases
• In many cases, signs of violent jolts are
  perceivable, even for a CAT.
• Handholds that give quick grip would be effective
  to mitigate turbulence related injuries.

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Examples of FDR (Vertical acceleration)
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Injuries by galley carts

• Of 98 turbulent related accidents, galley carts
  caused - 9 accidents (9)
  - 10 serious injuries (7)
• Galley carts moved violently but not caused
  injuries in - 6 accidents (6)
• Galley carts are involved in 15 of accidents in
  total

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Expected effects on mitigation of injuries
Possible safety measures Possible safety measures Passengers Flight attendants
Software Belts fastened while seated 29 0
Software Turbulence procedure 0 29
Software Prohibition of loading heavy articles in overhead stowage 1 0
Hardware Handgrips in galleys 0 24
Hardware Handgrips on passenger seats 1 10
Hardware Galley carts fixation 2 6
Hardware Handgrips on jump seats 0 3
Hardware Handgrips in toilets 2 0
Hardware Handgrips outside toilets 2 0
Hardware Coffee pots with lids 1 0
Hardware Display of passenger seatbelts status 1 0
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Existing Handholds
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Existing handholds(Cabin aisle)
Handrails under the Overhead Stowage
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Existing handholds (Galley)
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Existing handholds(Outside of toilets)
Suitcase handles outside toilets
Recessed handle
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Questionnaire survey on flight attendants
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Experience of violent jolt(Questionnaire survey
on flight attendants)

• 456 flight attendants answered
• Experience of violent jolt that caused or may
  have caused injuries

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Effectiveness of handholds (Questionnaire survey
on flight attendants )

• Experience of escaping injury by grabbing
  handholds

No 8
Yes 92
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Insecure places in the cabin (Questionnaire
survey on flight attendants )
Others 2
Toilet 5
Outside toilet 15
Cabin aisle 60
Galley 18

• Cabin aisle Only a few handholds
• Galley Flight attendants spend much time
• Outside toilet Wide open area and no handholds

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Desirable handholds (Questionnaire survey on
flight attendants )

• Cabin aisle
  - Handgrips
  on the shoulder of passenger seats
  - Handrails under the overhead stowage
• Galley
  - More
  handholds
  - Handholds at low
  position for use when squat down - Handholds
  on the galley walls
• Outside toilets
  - Handholds
  near the doors for waiting passengers

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Proposed Measures
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Handgrips on passenger seats

• Conspicuous and easy to grip
• Needs a compromise between safety and
  comfortableness

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Handgrips on flight attendants seat

• No disadvantages and highly feasible
• Also effective for passengers waiting for toilet

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Handgrips in toilet

• Two bars on the both sides of a toilet seat
• Prevent floatation of the passenger
• Sanitary problem must be solved

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Handholds on the toilet and galley walls

• Should not impede emergency evacuation

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Engagement with passenger seats(Manual or
automatic)

• Engages with passenger seat manually or
  automatically
• Need to place the cart at the predetermined
  positions

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Floor track system

• Most effective method to prevent floatation
• Too much cost for existing airplane
• Can be adopted by newly designed airplane

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Tying-down with ropes

• Lowest cost
• High workload for flight attendants
• Insufficient fixation

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Conclusions

• Keeping seatbelts fastened while seated and new
  turbulence procedures are very effective to
  mitigate turbulence related injuries.
• In many cases, sign of severe turbulence is
  foreseeable. Handholds that can be reached
  quickly are effective.
• Handgrips in the cabin aisle are feasible and
  effective. Embodiments of proposed handholds are
  desirable.
• Galley carts should not be neglected as causes of
  injuries. Further research is required to prevent
  floatation.

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An example of embodiment of the committee
conclusions

• ANA B737NG
• Handrails under
• the Overhead
• Stowage

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END
hirose_at_atec.or.jp
Thank you
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The Fourth Triennial International Aircraft Fire
and Cabin Safety Research Conference