4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference Lisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004 1 Improvement of Cabin Equipment to Enhance Safety against

4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004

1

Improvement of Cabin Equipment to Improvement of Cabin Equipment to Enhance Safety against TurbulenceEnhance Safety against Turbulence

Association of Air Transport Engineering and Research (ATEC), Japan

Shozo Hirose


2

Objectives of the committeeObjectives 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


3

Turbulence accidents analyzed Turbulence accidents analyzed by the committeeby 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 joltsSigns 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

Examples of FDR Examples of FDR (Vertical acceleration)(Vertical acceleration)

3sec

Foreseeable jolts

10sec

Sudden jolt


6

Injuries by galley cartsInjuries 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 injuriesExpected effects on mitigation of injuries

Possible safety measures PassengersFlight

attendants

Software

Belts fastened while seated 29 0

Turbulence procedure 0 29

Prohibition of loading heavy articles in overhead stowage 1 0

Hardware

Handgrips in galleys 0 24

Handgrips on passenger seats 1 10

Galley carts fixation 2 6

Handgrips on jump seats 0 3

Handgrips in toilets 2 0

Handgrips outside toilets 2 0

Coffee pots with lids 1 0

Display of passenger seatbelts status 1 0


Existing HandholdsExisting Handholds


9

Existing handholdsExisting handholds(Cabin aisle)(Cabin aisle)

Handrails under theOverhead Stowage

Handgrips on the business class passenger seats


10

Existing handholdsExisting handholds ((Galley)Galley)


11

Existing handholdsExisting handholds((Outside of toilets)Outside of toilets)

Suitcase handles outside toilets Recessed handle


Questionnaire survey Questionnaire survey on flight attendantson flight attendants


13

Experience of violent joltExperience of violent jolt(Questionnaire survey on flight attendants)(Questionnaire survey on flight attendants)

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

may have caused injuries

Yes 66 %No 34 %


14

Effectiveness of handholdsEffectiveness of handholds ((Questionnaire survey on flight attendantsQuestionnaire survey on flight attendants ))

• Experience of escaping injury by grabbing handholds

Yes 92 %

No 8 %


15

Insecure places in the cabinInsecure places in the cabin ((Questionnaire survey on flight attendantsQuestionnaire survey on flight attendants ))

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

Cabin aisle 60 %

Others 2 %Toilet 5 %

Outside toilet 15 %

Galley 18 %


16

Desirable handholdsDesirable handholds ((Questionnaire survey on flight attendantsQuestionnaire 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


Proposed MeasuresProposed Measures


18

Handgrips on passenger seatsHandgrips on passenger seats

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


19

Handgrips on flight attendant’s seatHandgrips on flight attendant’s seat

• No disadvantages and highly feasible

• Also effective for passengers waiting for toilet


20

Handgrips in toiletHandgrips 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 wallsHandholds on the toilet and galley walls

• Should not impede emergency evacuation


22

Engagement with passenger seatsEngagement with passenger seats(Manual or automatic)(Manual or automatic)

• Engages with passenger seat manually or automatically

• Need to place the cart at the predetermined positions


23

Floor track systemFloor track system

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


24

Tying-down with ropesTying-down with ropes

A

B

C

• Lowest cost

• High workload for flight attendants

• Insufficient fixation


25

ConclusionsConclusions

• 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 An example of embodiment of the committee conclusionscommittee conclusions

ANA B737NGHandrails underthe OverheadStowage


27

END

Thank you……

[email protected]


28

The Fourth Triennial The Fourth Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceResearch Conference

Documents

4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference Lisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004 1 Improvement of Cabin Equipment to Enhance Safety against