Proceedings of the Technical Cooperative Program Workshop: Inflatable Restraints in Aviation

Aviation accidents frequently result in death or injury--occupant flail with resultant head injury is the leading cause of fatality and serious injury in Army helicopter accidents. Inflatable restraints are a proven safety technology in the automotive world, and airbags are being developed for Army helicopters as well. Other applications in transport safety such as inflatable motorcycle helmet collars and inflatable restraint harnesses may be useful in aviation--research is underway in exciting novel areas. There are many questions to be answered before airbags and similar systems can be fielded in aircraft. Hot issues range from the unique characteristics of a helicopter crash pulse to the effects of unintended airbag deployment on injury and aircraft control. Tools useful in this research include computer modeling, anthropometric test devices, cadaver research, and flight simulation/testing. In December 1999, a workshop entitled "Inflatable Restraints in Aviation was held in Huntsville, Alabama, that brought together a multidisciplinary group of world experts in inflatable restraint technology and applications. The workshop was co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, and The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP), Subgroup U, Technical Panel 7 (Human Factors in Aviation). The emphasis of the meeting was on the potential need for inflatable restraints in aviation, and the special integration and safety problems unique to the aviation environment. The workshop was very well attended, and the scientific presentations excellent.Army Aeromedical Research Lab Fort Rucker AL is the author of 'Proceedings of the Technical Cooperative Program Workshop: Inflatable Restraints in Aviation' with ISBN 9781423533757 and ISBN 1423533755.