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Improvement of Cabin Equipment to Enhance Safety against Turbulence

Learn about turbulence-related accidents, injury risks, and proposed enhancements for cabin equipment to improve safety. The research committee's conclusions and future recommendations are detailed in this comprehensive report.

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Improvement of Cabin Equipment to Enhance Safety against Turbulence

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

  2. Objectives of the committee • A research committee, commissioned by JCAB and supported by ATEC, was formed in order to 　　　　　- analyze turbulence related accidents, - reviewcurrent 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

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. Sudden jolt Foreseeable jolts 3sec 10sec Examples of FDR (Vertical acceleration)

  6. 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

  7. Expected effects on mitigation of injuries

  8. Existing Handholds

  9. Handgrips on the business class passenger seats Existing handholds(Cabin aisle) Handrails under the Overhead Stowage

  10. Existing handholds(Galley)

  11. Existing handholds(Outside of toilets) Suitcase handles outside toilets Recessed handle

  12. Questionnaire survey on flight attendants

  13. No 34 % Yes 66 % Experience of violent jolt(Questionnaire survey on flight attendants) • 456 flight attendants answered • Experience of violent jolt that caused or may have caused injuries

  14. Effectiveness of handholds(Questionnaire survey on flight attendants) • Experience of escaping injury by grabbing handholds No 8 % Yes 92 %

  15. Insecure places in the cabin(Questionnaire survey on flight attendants) • Cabin aisle : Only a few handholds • Galley : Flight attendants spend much time • Outside toilet : Wide open area and no handholds Others 2 % Toilet 5 % Outside toilet 15 % Cabin aisle 60 % Galley 18 %

  16. 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

  17. Proposed Measures

  18. Handgrips on passenger seats • Conspicuous and easy to grip • Needs a compromise between safety and comfortableness

  19. Handgrips on flight attendant’s seat • No disadvantages and highly feasible • Also effective for passengers waiting for toilet

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

  21. Handholds on the toilet and galley walls • Should not impede emergency evacuation

  22. Engagement with passenger seats(Manual or automatic) • Engages with passenger seat manually or automatically • Need to place the cart at the predetermined positions

  23. Floor track system • Most effective method to prevent floatation • Too much cost for existing airplane • Can be adopted by newly designed airplane

  24. A B C Tying-down with ropes • Lowest cost • High workload for flight attendants • Insufficient fixation

  25. 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.

  26. An example of embodiment of the committee conclusions ANA B737NG Handrails under the Overhead Stowage

  27. END hirose@atec.or.jp Thank you……

  28. The Fourth Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference

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