THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CONCEPT FOR PILOT PROTECTION

Authors

  • S. Meintjes Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
  • R. Huyssen Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • N. Theron Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Keywords:

Structures, Design, Safety

Abstract

It is argued that improved protection structures and energy dissipation systems could reduce fatalities in aviation. In this paper, methods to improve survivability of pilots during likely accidents are proposed. A study of common causes of fatalities and human body tolerance limits led to the proposal of supporting a pilot in the rather unusual prone position within a protective structure. In addition, the containing structure is designed to deflect a number of the most likely crash scenarios into a primary crash attitude, which offer increased pilot protection. Finally, improvement of the pilot restraints is suggested, and proposals for energy-absorbing mechanisms and materials for the containing structure are made to satisfy certain design considerations.

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Issue

Vol. 26 No. 3 (2002)

Section

Articles

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