FAA Formally Bans Certain Harnesses in Doors-off Operations

The FAA issued an emergency order yesterday prohibiting use of supplemental passenger-restraint systems that cannot be released quickly in commercial doors-off operations. The March 22 order further prohibits doors-off flight operations unless passengers are secured with FAA-approved restraints.

The emergency order was issued following the March 11 crash of a 2013 Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 in the East River in New York City that resulted in the drowning of five passengers who were wearing supplemental harnesses. Following the crash, the FAA tweeted that it would ban use of such harnesses in doors-off operations, and the National Transportation Safety Board on March 19 applauded the intent and urged the FAA to move forward on the ban.

“Supplemental passenger-restraint systems, such as the harness system used by the operator of the helicopter involved in the March 11, 2018 accident, can significantly delay or prevent passengers from exiting the aircraft in an emergency,” the FAA said in the emergency order.

The FAA defined supplemental passenger restraints as “any passenger restraint that is not installed on the aircraft pursuant to an FAA approval, including (but not limited to) restraints approved through a type certificate, supplemental type certificate, or as an approved major alteration using FAA Form 337.”

Restraints that the FAA has found to provide a quick release may still be used, the FAA added. But such restraint must not require use of a knife or any other tool to cut through for release. Further, the restraint must not require passenger training beyond that included in a pre-flight briefing.

The FAA said it would consider application to determine the quick-release capabilities, but added, “The applicant bears the burden of clearly and convincingly demonstrating that the supplemental passenger-restraint system can be quickly released by a passenger with minimal difficulty and without impeding egress from the aircraft in an emergency.”