First Use Of Inflatable Restraints In An LSA

SportairUSA told Aero-News earlier this week they have made another industry first available on their StingSport Light Sport Aircraft -- airbag restraints. The StingSport is the first LSA to incorporate the AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraints (AAIR) system into its aircraft safety features.

The AAIR is a self-contained modular restraint system designed to improve occupant protection from serious head impact injury during a survivable aircraft accident and enhance the occupant’s ability to exit the aircraft. The AAIR system, manufactured by AmSafe Aviation, performs essentially the same as conventional seatbelts -- but with airbags contained within the harness.

"The AAIR system delivers a progressive new approach in which the airbag restraints deploy away from the occupant instead of towards them" said Bill Canino of SportairUSA. "We are quite impressed with the years of research and development and rigorous testing of the AAIR system and believe its addition to our safety feature portfolio greatly enhances StingSport pilot and passenger safety."

As was previously reported in Aero-News, the StingSport is already a pretty well equipped little bird, offering features usually reserved for larger aircraft such as a Ballistic Recovery Parachute System and a standard Garmin 396. According to Canino the company "will continue to evaluate and implement new features with safety as our primary goal" for the StingSport.

The StingSport will be featured this Saturday, December 3 at the EAA Sport Pilot Tour exhibit at Camarillo Airport (CMA) in California.

FMI: www.sportair-usa.com, www.amsafeaviation.com/inflatablega.htm