CS-VLA 785  Seats, safety belts, and harnesses

ED Decision 2003/18/RM

(a)                            Each seat and its supporting structure, must be designed for occupants weighing at least 86 kg, and for the maximum load factors corresponding to the specified flight and ground load conditions, including the emergency landing conditions prescribed in CS-VLA 561.

(b)                            Each safety belt with shoulder harness, must be approved. Each safety belt with shoulder harness must be equipped with a metal to metal latching device.

(c)                            Each pilot seat must be designed for the reactions resulting from the application of pilot forces to the primary flight controls, as prescribed in CS-VLA 395.

(d)                            Proof of compliance with the strength and deformation requirements of this paragraph for seats, approved as part of the type design and for seat installations may be shown by -

(1)                            Structural analysis, if the structure conforms to conventional aeroplane types for which existing methods of analysis are known to be reliable;

(2)                            A combination of structural analysis and static load tests to limit loads; or

(3)                            Static load tests to ultimate loads.

(e)                            Each occupant must be protected from serious head injury when he experiences the inertia forces prescribed in CS-VLA 561(b)(2) by a safety belt and shoulder harness that is designed to prevent the head from contacting any injurious object.

(f)                             Each shoulder harness installed at a pilot seat must allow the pilot, when seated and with his safety belt and shoulder harness fastened, to perform all functions necessary for flight operations.

(g)                            There must be a means to secure each safety belt and shoulder harness, when not in use, so as to prevent interference with the operation of the aeroplane and with rapid egress in an emergency.

(h)                            Each seat track must be fitted with stops to prevent the seat from sliding off the track.

(i)                             The cabin area surrounding each seat, including the structure, interior walls, instrument panel, control wheel, pedals, and seats, within striking distance of the occupant’s head or torso (with the safety belt and shoulder harness fastened), must be free of potentially injurious objects, sharp edges, protuberances, and hard surfaces. If energy absorbing designs or devices are used to meet this requirement they must protect the occupant from serious injury when the occupant experiences the ultimate inertia forces prescribed in CS-VLA 561(b)(2).