Flight Design's C4 general aviation aircraft will be used as a test bed for the safety box concept of crash protection.
The concept aims to improve protection for passengers and crew by creating a safety cell around the cabin similar to those used in both road and racing cars.
Germany’s Ministry of Economic Affairs has provided funding to develop a modular system that provides a safety cage around the occupants of an aircraft that builds upon several concepts, such as intelligently designed and located crash absorbing components, a stiff cabin structure with dedicated load paths for the majority of high load cases, advanced seat installation, and restraint systems.
“We consider the occupant protective concept for improved crashworthiness one of the most important features of the C4 said Matthias Betsch, CEO of Flight Design. “We are pleased our four seat project was selected. Experience and data acquired will be shared with other organizations.”
Using a C4 airframe, a full-scale crash test is scheduled for March 2016 with the German University, Ostfalia Hochschule.
Full-scale crash testing is thought to be a potential alternative means of compliance under the re-write of Federal Aviation Regulation 23 (FAR 23), which governs the design of light aircraft.