ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN CRASH IMPACT PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY EGRESS FROM AIR TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT

Analysis of all NATO member air transport accidents, 1964-1975, revealed that injuries and fatalities, when such information could be determined, were primarily due to the post-crash effects of fire, smoke and toxic fumes, and secondarily to crash impact. Future air transport design trends were reviewed, and approximately 150 advanced crash-impact and emergency-egress concepts, devices, and state-of-the-art techniques were evaluated. These included occupant restraints, smoke hoods, aisle and egress emergency lighting, passenger warning systems, escape slides and devices, heat shields, high-energy emergency egress systems, and emergency inflight egress systems. It was concluded that rear-facing passenger seats, the NASA Ames (21 + G sub x 45 G sub z) airline seat, and the production Sheldahl smoke hood can provide significantly improved occupant protection, while high-energy emergency egress systems appear promising for future aircraft. More research is needed to improve passenger warning and public address systems. Concepts of emergency inflight egress are not yet feasible, although technically within the state-of-the art.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Summary in French. NATO furnished.
• Corporate Authors:

  Advisory Group Aerospace Research and Development

  7 Rue Ancelle
  92 Neuilly-sur-Seine,   France 
• Authors:
  • Snyder, R G
• Publication Date: 1976-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 310 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air transportation crashes; Aircraft; Aviation safety; Bibliographies; Civil aircraft; Crashworthiness; Emergencies; Emergency exits; Escape systems; Evacuation; Fatalities; Fires; Fumes; Hazards; Impacts; Injuries; Jet transports; Passenger aircraft; Protection; Safety equipment; Seats; Smoke; Tables (Data); Toxicity; Transport aircraft
• Identifier Terms: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aircraft safety; Protective equipment
• Old TRIS Terms: Aircraft fires; Emergency exist; Nato; Toxic hazards
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00146401
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: AGARD-ograph-221
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1977 12:00AM