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
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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.
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
5
Examples of FDR Examples of FDR (Vertical acceleration)(Vertical acceleration)
3sec
Foreseeable jolts
10sec
Sudden jolt
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
Existing HandholdsExisting Handholds
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
9
Existing handholdsExisting handholds(Cabin aisle)(Cabin aisle)
Handrails under theOverhead Stowage
Handgrips on the business class passenger seats
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
10
Existing handholdsExisting handholds ((Galley)Galley)
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
11
Existing handholdsExisting handholds((Outside of toilets)Outside of toilets)
Suitcase handles outside toilets Recessed handle
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
Questionnaire survey Questionnaire survey on flight attendantson flight attendants
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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 %
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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 %
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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 %
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
Proposed MeasuresProposed Measures
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
18
Handgrips on passenger seatsHandgrips on passenger seats
• Conspicuous and easy to grip• Needs a compromise between safety and comfortableness
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
19
Handgrips on flight attendant’s seatHandgrips on flight attendant’s seat
• No disadvantages and highly feasible
• Also effective for passengers waiting for toilet
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
21
Handholds on the toilet and galley wallsHandholds on the toilet and galley walls
• Should not impede emergency evacuation
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
24
Tying-down with ropesTying-down with ropes
A
B
C
• Lowest cost
• High workload for flight attendants
• Insufficient fixation
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
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.
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
26
An example of embodiment of the An example of embodiment of the committee conclusionscommittee conclusions
ANA B737NGHandrails underthe OverheadStowage
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
27
END
Thank you……
4 th Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceLisbon, Portugal, November 15 - 18, 2004
28
The Fourth Triennial The Fourth Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceResearch Conference