The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently issued recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) dealing with the use of passenger harness systems on commercial flights that do not allow for easy release during emergencies.
The recommendations follow a fatal accident involving an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 helicopter in New York City earlier this month. The pilot, who was wearing a seatbelt and not a harness, was able to escape while the five passengers, who were wearing harnesses in addition to the safety belts, could not escape and drowned in the East River.
“While we applaud the FAA’s intention to move forward on banning these types of doors-off flights, the FAA has not outlined how or when they plan to take action,” NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said. “And definitive action needs to be taken.”
The helicopter had a nylon fall-protection harness tethered via a lanyard to the aircraft in addition to seat harnesses. The fall-protection system was not installed by the manufacturer but added later.
Unlike manufacturer-installed systems, an off-the-shelf component does not need to comply with FAA regulations. The regulations state aircraft must be equipped with a combined safety belt and shoulder harness system with a single point release.