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This paper describes the development of a non-linear finite element model of a commuter category aircraft seat designed to explore the issue of energy absorption in severe, but survivable, crashes. Using a reference seat, the paper presents a description of the model and the results of finite element modeling of the seat at increasingly severe impact velocities. The paper presents the results of a parallel experimental program, conducted to validate the model, in which instrumented crash dummies were drop tested in the reference seat at the same impact velocities as the simulation. Experimental results are reported for passenger lower lumbar loading, peak pelvic acceleration, and seat structural loading.

This paper describes the development of an Enhanced Emergency Locator Transmitter (E2LT) for general aviation craft. The E2LT will supplement existing Emergency Locator Transmitter systems which broadcast a simple radio beacon in the event of an aircraft crash. Unlike existing devices, however, the E2LT device will transmit the crash site location and crash severity directly to Emergency Response Teams. The paper describes the design, development, and testing of an advanced emergency location system that combines inexpensive crash sensors, Web-enabled wireless communications and Global Positioning Systems to transmit crash site location to an Emergency Base Station. The purpose of the system is not only to shorten the time it takes for authorities to respond to the crash site, but to improve the quality of the response.