H in t s F or H o m e b uil d e r s
Shoulder Harness
Installation Tip
By Cy Galley
After several decades of the FAA permitting the use of
non-approved harnesses in Alaska, it has now approved
the installation of non-STC'd or -PMA'd shoulder harnesses through Policy Statement Number ACE-00-23.561-01
and Advisory Circular (AC) 21-34 in certificated aircraft.
The FAA's philosophy was any harness is safer than no
shoulder harness. Click on the links for all the pertinent
details. One can also use this information to install a
shoulder harness in your homebuilt as the installation
geometry and parts are the same.
One of the most important criteria for any shoulder harness installation is to have the top anchor point located
almost even with the shoulder to about 30 degrees above.
This minimizes compressive spine injuries. This crite-
rion automatically means that on a high-wing plane the
shoulder harness will need its attachment point to come
through the headliner.
Installed headliners are not normally designed
for a slot that will contain an active strap. Cutting
the slot is easy, but keeping it neat and non-frayed is
the problem.
If it is new headliner installation, one can serge the
edges similar to around a buttonhole on a suit coat, but
what can one do on a retrofit?
Your local car dealer or salvage yard has a great solution.
The attached photo shows how the auto industry does it.
Look at cars in a car dealer's showroom to see the small
plastic slot they use. You will find them on the hat shelf behind the rear seat where the shoulder belt exits. The parts
department of your local auto dealer should be able to sell
you a couple. A salvage yard might be cheaper, but the
plastic might be weakened from the sun's rays. These slots
come in a variety of color matched to the interior of the
car, so you should have a wide range of colors from which
to select one. Also note that the slot is wider than the strap
so as not to pull or damage the headliner when you lean to
one side or another.
So what are you waiting for? There's no better safety item
than a shoulder harness for you and your passengers.
Hints for Homebuilders Videos
Making a Set of Fluting Pliers
Homebuilders love to make tools. Brady Lane from the EAA staff shows how he made an
inexpensive set of fluting pliers. Watch the video.
Cutting Aircraft Plywood
Timm Bogenhagen of the EAA staff shares a few ways to cut aircraft plywood. Timm is a technical
counselor and builder of an Oshkosh award-winning TEAM MiniMax. Watch the video.
You can access the hundreds of other Hints for Homebuilders here.
EAA EXPERIM ENTER
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