Passive Arm Restraint Curtain (PARC) for Navy Aircraft Ejection Seats

摘要

In an effort related to reducing arm flail injuries due to ejection windblast, the Navy is evaluating a 'passive' arm restraint system for retrofit on Navy aircraft ejection seats. The term 'passive' implies that the system will operate without the crewmember having to perform tasks other than what he currently performs (in a seat without an arm restraint system) to ready himself for flight. The Passive Arm Restraint Curtain (PARC) is designed to not only prevent arm flail but also to be cost effective and easily retrofitted. Prototypes have been fabricated and attached to current Navy ejection seats where they have been subjected to function feasibility testing and human factors evaluations. Preliminary results show the PARC to be a viable approach for providing passive arm restraint, but more development and testing is required to refine the design to insure operational acceptability. (Author)