With the recent adoption of an FAA regulation requiring all new airplanes to protect passengers from impacts of up to 16G’s, a company call AmSafe (great name) is marketing an airbag system for use in commercial aviation.  The company, a “world leader in safety and securement equipment for the aerospace, defense, and ground transportation industries”, has packaged the airbag in the shoulder straps of a passenger restraint system.

During impact, assuming its not a head on collision with the ground resulting in the fiery wreck usually associated with plane crashes, a triggering mechanism and helium tank located in the already ample space beneath the passenger’s seat inflates the airbag just in time for the passenger to smash into it.  While airplane manufacturers won’t be required to install these airbag systems since the FAA regulation only requires some form of 16G protection be adopted, this, unfortunately, may be the best solution to the problem thus far.