The Performance of Child Restraint Devices in Transport Airplane Passenger Seats

Civil Aerospace Medical Institute1994PDFTech ReportGowdy, VanDeWeese, RichardCivil Aeromedical InstituteUnited States. Office of Aviation MedicineCivil Aerospace Medical InstituteUnited StatesTransport aircraftChild restraint systemsImpact testsSeatsDummiesSled testsTransport planesChild restraint systems in aircraft--Impact testingAirplanes--SeatsCrash test dummiesDOT/FAA/AM-94/19The performance of child restraint devices (CRDs) in commercial transport airplane passenger seats was evaluated by a dynamic impact test program. Background information on the policies and regulations related to child restraints is summarized. Tests were conducted at the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute. Six types (CRDs) certified for use in airplanes were tested. Booster seats, forward facing carriers, aft facing carriers, a harness device, a belly belt, and passenger seat lap belts were evaluated. Impact tests were conducted with CRDs installed on airplane passenger seats.The test severity was 16 Gpk with an impact velocity of 44 ft/sec. Effects of multiple row seats, aft row occupant impact loads, and seat back breakover were part of the project protocol. Four child size anthropomorphic test dummies were utilized. The 6-month and 36-month size ATDs defined in 49 CFR Part 572, the 6-month size CRABI ATD, and a 24-month size experimental ATD identified as CAMIX were used in these tests. An experimental device to measure abdominal pressure was evaluated in the CRABI and CAMIX ATDs. Analyses of the data acquired from the tests and observations related to the performance of the CRDs in airplane seats are presented.119