You wouldn’t try to taxi out with a flat tire, would you? No. And you probably wouldn’t put low-grade fuel in that freshly overhauled engine. Right? Then why would you take off without taking a hard look at your seatbelt restraint system?
Though commonly referred to as merely “seatbelts”, they are more correctly referred to as “safety restraint systems”. That’s because each component, whether it be the belt webbing, stitching thread, or fastening hardware, is just as important as the other to ensure the proper operation of this important piece of your aircraft’s safety gear.
Many folks don’t realize it, but just because your ten-year-old seatbelt restraint system “looks” okay that doesn’t mean it will function properly when you need it most. It generally takes less than three minutes to properly inspect your seatbelt restraint system. Some recommendations for inspection:
Start with the webbing. It should be examined for tears, cuts, or fraying.
Examine the hardware. The end fittings should be free of cracking, corrosion, or deformation. Latching hardware components should fasten sharply and securely. Over time, these hardware components can wear through repeated fastening and unlatching and exceed their original engineering tolerances. Inertia reels should “stop” the belt with a quick tug.
Lastly but most importantly, the stitching thread is the first to go when seatbelt restraint systems are “tested to failure”. The stitching thread secures the webbing “loops” which in turn secure the belt hardware. It should be free from fraying or loose ends to ensure system integrity.
Today there are a variety of folks who can replace or repair (commonly referred to as “re-web”) your seatbelt restraint system. In many cases, a complete repair can be performed in a few days with some vendors offering a multitude of webbing color and hardware plating options. In selecting a vendor, make sure you select a shop that is an FAA-certificated repair station who can certify your restraint system to its original TSO spec, if applicable.
So take a close look at your aircraft’s seatbelt restraint system. A few minutes could literally save you a lifetime of pain.
Rick O’Quinn
Sales Manager
Aircraft Belts Inc.*
FAA Repair Station # YB1R632K
(281) 380-5002
*Aircraft Belts Inc. (“ABI”) is a full-service seatbelt restraint system provider offering a variety of webbing, hardware, and plating options for new aircraft as well as repair services for existing aircraft. For more information, please call (800) 847-5651 or visit ABI’s website at www.aircraftbelts.com.
