Law and Rights
Airbags Work --- Even in Airplanes
Airbags have been in cars for over a decade. In spite of some naysayers, anecdotal and other evidence indicates they clearly can save lives. Now, they are available for airplanes too.
With 9 US locations, AmSafe builds safety equipment and that includes airbags for airplanes. Building airplane airbags may sound like a fledgling market, but the Amsafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint system has probably already saved lives. In three different aviation accidents, five people walked away without help and with no life threatening injuries at all.
Bill Hagan, president of AmSafe, cites studies that say that half of all aviation accidents occur during taxi, takeoff or landing and survival often depends on staying conscious after the accident occurs. That's where AmSafe's airbags come in.
Working much like an automobile airbag, the bag can inflates in front of the occupant, providing the same safety cushion designed for cars and trucks over 20 years ago. That was roughly when the Insurance Institute and others began touting the safety aspects of what was then a still unproven design. Detroit fought airbags, claiming the extra cost was not worth it. Gradually, the scientists won the argument.
Nowadays, no one thinks twice about airbags. You expect there's one in your new car (and there is). Makes sense they'd work in airplanes too. You can watch some video footage of airplane airbags in action by clicking here.
I've travel thousands of air miles and never been an accident once. Then again, I can say that about motor vehicles too. Just like with seat belts, knowing the airbag is there makes you feel just a little safer in a car. No reason it wouldn't be the same in a plane.
Although the odds are still small, you are 60 times more likely to be injured in a general aviation accident than if you are riding in a scheduled US air carrier flight, according to federal investigators.
I don't know if we'll ever see airbags installed in a huge commercial airliner, but for smaller general aviation aircraft, they just make good sense. An airbag doesn't stop a car from being a lemon, but it can save your life. The same thing just might be true for airplanes.
Burdge Law Office
www.UsLemonLawyers.com
Winning Lemon Law Cases Since 1978
-
Sudden Ford Fiesta Recall For Airbag Problems
Airbag Problems Force Recall of Ford Fiesta Ford Motor Co. says it will recall 154,000 of its Fiesta subcompacts due to a problem with the vehicle?s airbag system, according to The Detroit Bureau.com. 2011 and other Ford Fiesta vehicles recalled for airbagsApparently...
-
Detroit Plans Electric Caravan To Washington
First they flew in, each on their own private multi-million dollar plane, asking Washington for a bailout. Now, the word is that they're lining up their electric cars and planning a caravan trip to Washington. If it weren't so serious, I'd...
-
Top Auto Industry Screw Ups
We have to give the folks at ConsumerAffairs.com credit for creativity --- and accuracy too. They just released their list of "Top Ten Automotive Outrages of 2007" and they hit the nail on the head. Ford scores big with 3 of the "top ten" spots, for their...
-
Gm Cars More Deadly Than Skydiving?
The award for "the car most likely to get killed in if you're the driver and you have a dangerous accident" goes to the Chevrolet Blazer for model years 2002 to 2005. Maybe that has something to do with GM's decision to stop building them? Driver...
-
State Farm - Not A Good Neighbor?
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there ... right in the middle of trouble! At least 8 lawsuits have been filed around Ohio against State Farm, salvage yards and wrecked car rebuilders, and car dealers who sold rebuilt cars without disclosing the truth...
Law and Rights