C-130s may add safer loadmaster seats

[unhappycamper]

C-130s may add safer loadmaster seats
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 24, 2008 7:18:15 EST

Loadmasters onboard the C-130 Hercules may feel safer thanks to an effort to add crashworthy chairs.

Air Force Materiel Command is looking at options for installing a pair of crashworthy seats in C-130 cargo bays near the paratroop doors, according to a request sent to aircraft contractors. The command is not yet seeking bidders to build seats.

Seat specifications call them to protect an airman from an impact of up to 16Gs, a requirement similar to the crash rating of the cockpit chairs.

Each seat would be mounted to the aircraft fuselage but foldable so it did not get in the way of moving cargo.

Today, C-130 loadmasters sit on web benches or other seats that aren’t designed to protect the airman from a severe impact.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/11/airforce_c130_loadmasterseat_112408w/%2e