Comanche airbag seatbelts

[N3322G]

If you think it can't happen to you ... I would say, think again.

We work hard at keeping everything in as perfect working order as possible on the Twin. We don't spend foolishly but neither do we skimp on maintenance - especially with respect to safety items. Still, a mechanic (still a friend) got in a hurry and did not adjust the landing gear switches correctly which resulted in a collapsed gear.

We got lucky and didn't go off the runway into any other objects or terrain but if any of the five key factors didn't happen (smooth landing, smooth runway, low crosswind, centerline landing, all three legs folded), we could have had major damage to us, instead of just the airplane.

This is why, even though I just paid for new shoulder harness front seatbelts last year, I'm signing up for the AmSafe offer shown here http://www.comancheflyer.com/NS/ just below the Fly-in click point. The discount is about 50%.

By the way, you don't have to look far to see others who might have benefited from this technology - OSH Jack Roush landing is a recent good example with his bleeding head at aircraft exit ... then there's' the truck that pulled in front of us on landing at our local airport - another good landing left us enough brake to not hit it ... but it was close. I had a friend who did a stellar job of off airport landing when the crankshaft broke on her 2 year old Bonanza - the only injury was where the panel post light customized her forehead.

I hope at least 19 others will join me in making their Comanche safer for themselves and their loved ones. It takes 20 of us for them to pursue the STC process.

[N3322G]

I had also posted this information on Dale Vandever's Comanche Owner's Forum and a Twin owner asked this question ...

"I looked quickly but did not see a price. How much are they installed?"

I answered ...

"They don't show an installed price as I imagine that varies by shop. On the AmSafe website, it lists all the authorized shops - bet you could call one and ask for an guesstimate. http://www.amsafe.com/

For me, since I have three point already and hope they use the same attach points, I'm hoping for about 2 hours - assuming the plane is in annual and the interior is already apart but that is a SWAG (Scientific Wild ... Guess. Three-point are $2K a piece at the special discounted price.

Note that like Cirrus parachutes that have to be re-packed every so often, there is maintenance on this stuff.

The older I get, the more I value my health and my husband's safety. There will always be risk in flying but here's a place where I can help the outcome of an accident or incident.

Hope this helps a bit.

Pat"

Zach added more information and with his permission, I'm copying his post in answer to the above question...

"The program pricing is $2000 for 3 point inertial reel, $1750 for fixed strap 3 pt, and $1650 for lap belt only. These prices are for both front seats. A 10% deposit is required initially, and the ballance is paid on delivery slated tenatively for next summer, and you will have several months to take delivery so you can schedule the install. The install should be about 6-8 hrs and must be done at one of the certified Amsafe installers. The airbag is actually in the lap belt, the gas charge cyl and electronic box will be affixed to the airframe in a location yet to be determined (will not be required to be disconnected to remove a seat) in the certification. The seat belts will bolt up to whatever installation of seatbelts you have on the airplane, be it stock, Piper 3 pt, Kosola, PV Aero, or Alpha. If you want shoulder harnesses and don't have them now, you will need to upgrade to a 3 pt system (have the STC brackets in place) prior to installing the Amsafe system, but it is still a very good system in the 2 pt lap belt only as it provides upper body frontal impact protection, reducing fatal stopping G loads to very survivable instances. I am signing up for a set for the 180. I am very impressed and hope others take advantage of this great safety enhancement.

-Zach"