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| Introduction |
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| For many years, the aviation authorities
of North America [the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and
Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA)] , Europe [the Joint Aviation
Authorities (JAA)] and Japan [Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan (JCAB)]
have been conducting research in transport category airplane cabin
safety, mostly individually, and sometimes jointly and cooperatively,
without the benefit of a coordinating 'tool'. The international
nature of civil aviation, current commitments and trends in harmonization,
and budgetary constraints dictate the need for a mechanism to foster
greater and broader association, cooperation and coordination in
cabin safety research. The Cabin Safety Research Technical Group(CSRTG)
is intended to achieve this by 'bringing together' the cabin
safety research efforts of the FAA, JAA, JCAB and TCA.
The objective of the Cabin Safety Research Technical Group is to
enhance the effectiveness and timeliness of cabin safety research
by establishing an international framework which allows for the
systematic joint identification, prioritization and coordination
of needed research, and integrates therein the pertinent activities
of the FAA, JAA, JCAB and TCA.
The primary focus of cabin safety is on post-crash survivability
of occupants. 'Post-crash' is intended in the broadest sense,
including impact protection, where evacuation is not critical, as
well as evacuation-related events. Principal elements include crash
dynamics, fire safety, evacuation and ditching.
There are also several important, but less dominant objectives
of cabin safety. These include in-flight incidents (turbulence,
decompression, fire) and various safety items that fall into general
design practice (e.g. no sharp edges or tripping hazards).
In general, the CSRTG will focus on safety-related issues that
can be classified as acute, occurring on a specific flight. Chronic
matters, such as air quality or general product safety, that might
otherwise be termed 'cabin safety', are not addressed in
the CSRTG. |
| Member Authorities |
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| Post crash safety consists of: 1)
protection from the crash itself, 2) egress from the airplane after
the crash event, and 3) water/environmental survival.
Major areas relating to item 1) include occupant injury protection
and human tolerance, adequacy of interior structural features (including
seats, galleys, closets, overhead stowage compartments) and, ultimately,
airframe capability.
Item 2) can be further divided into: a) facilitating rapid egress,
and b) extending the time available for egress. Included in a) are
exit performance, escape slide performance, interior arrangements
etc., and many issues related to operational procedures. Included
in b) are improved flammability of materials, active fire suppression
systems, burn-through protection, protection of escape systems from
the effects of fire, and enhanced ditching flotation time. |
| In-Flight Safety |
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| In-flight safety consists of the
effects in the cabin from 1) turbulence, 2) decompression, 3) fire
and 4) medical emergencies.
Turbulence is primarily an occupant protection issue, although
all occupiable areas of the cabin must be considered, not just those
occupied for takeoff and landing. This relates to both design and
procedures.
Protection against the effects of decompression involves oxygen
systems and the capability of structures to tolerate pressure differentials
without failures that could cause injury.
In-flight fire protection is primarily a function of design practice,
flammability of materials, emergency equipment and procedural considerations
(e.g., no smoking in lavatories).
Medical emergencies relate to equipment standards
and training procedures.
The CSRTG is responsible for the identification, prioritizing,
planning, coordination and general direction but not day to day
management of the various projects, for the provision of regular
briefings to their management on the progress and findings of the
various research efforts, and for all 'working' aspects
of the Program.
The CSRTG is a core group consisting of members from each the four
participating organizations (FAA, JAA, JCAB & TCA), and representing
both the research and regulatory elements of each organization (from
the 'performing' and 'customer' groups). The CSRTG
meets regularly (approximately 3-5 time a year) and as needed to
ensure the achievement of the Program objectives and the proper
conduct and progress of the research efforts. As and when needed
to address specific issues/activities, other authorities-related
representatives (such as members of external research organizations
or other government agencies) will be invited to participate in
some of the CSRTG's work.
In addition to the above, input relative to research needs and
priorities will be sought, and received, from pertinent authorities-associated
working groups and advisory committees [such as the Aviation Rulemaking
Advisory Committee (ARAC), the Research, Engineering and Development
Advisory Committe (REDAC), the FAA/JAA/TCA International Cabin Safety
Team (iCST), and the JAA Cabin Safety Study Group (CSSG)]
and from recognized public- and industry-associated working groups.
Additional information can be found in DOT/FAA/AR-95/14 "Proposed
Cabin Safety Research Program (Transport Category Airplanes)",
October 1995 |
| International Fire & Cabin
Safety Research Conference |
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