Life-Saving AmSafe Aviation Airbag System Now Available for General Aviation Retrofit

Global Network of Service Centers Ready to Support the Retrofit Market 


PHOENIX, April 17  /PRNewswire/ -- AmSafe(R), Inc., the leading provider of safety and securement products to the aviation, defense and ground transportation markets, today announced plans for the aftermarket distribution of its airbag system, the AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint (AAIR(R)), to general aviation customers worldwide. Working with a number of OEMs and independent operators, AmSafe has assembled a network of authorized service centers with operations at over 450 locations around the globe to sell, install and service its aviation airbag system.

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"Over the past few years we've seen many general aviation manufacturers embrace our airbag system, making it standard equipment on new aircraft," said Bill Hagan, president of AmSafe Aviation. "Given the growing demand by pilots for aftermarket installation of the AAIR, we've worked hard to establish this network of service centers in order to make this life-saving technology more readily available for legacy aircraft models."

The recent addition of the Cessna Aircraft Service Center Network greatly expands AmSafe's reach. As part of the agreement with Cessna, each authorized service center will be able to install the AmSafe Airbag system on a wide range of aircraft models manufactured by Cessna and by other OEMs.

Along with Cessna Aircraft Company (a Textron, Inc. company, NYSE: TXT), AmSafe has also authorized service centers to install and support the AmSafe Airbag system for OEMs such as Cirrus Design Corporation, Diamond Aircraft Industries Incorporated and Mooney Airplane Company.

"The launch of our service center network opens up an entirely new market segment for AmSafe and we anticipate making significant penetration of the retrofit market over the next few years," Hagan added. "Our goal is to make our airbag system available for as many general aviation aircraft as possible. It is a life-saving product that has been credited with saving the lives of pilots and co-pilots."

In service since 2001, the AmSafe Airbag system is currently being installed as standard equipment on approximately 80 percent of all new single-engine general aviation aircraft and more than 30,000 systems are being used in a wide variety of aviation applications. The AmSafe Airbag also is featured by more than 30 commercial airlines around the world and has logged millions of flight hours since entering service.  Aircraft owners can visit http://www.amsafe.com/ to locate the nearest AmSafe authorized service center.

About the AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint

The AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint is a self-contained, modular airbag restraint system. It was specifically designed to improve occupant protection from serious head-impact injury during an otherwise survivable aircraft accident, thus enhancing the occupant's ability to exit the aircraft. When the AAIR system's sensors detect a crash, an airbag built into the restraint deploys up and away from the seat occupant, unlike an automobile airbag, which deploys toward the occupant. The AmSafe Airbag system, which adds just 1.5 pounds per passenger placement, provides a guaranteed solution for airframe manufacturers, seat manufacturers and commercial airlines to meet the FAA 16g seat rule.

About AmSafe, Inc.

AmSafe, Inc., and its affiliate companies are world leaders in safety and securement products for the aerospace, defense and ground transportation industries. AmSafe's innovative products can be found on virtually every commercial aircraft in the world and include seat belts, restraints, airbags, cargo and barrier nets, tie-downs and cabin interior textiles. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, AmSafe operates manufacturing and service facilities around the globe and is committed to providing quality products and timely, cost-effective solutions to customers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.amsafe.com/. 

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DATASOURCE: AmSafe, Inc.



CONTACT:  Carlotta Soares, Corporate Communications of AmSafe, Inc.,

[phone], 



Web site:  http://www.amsafe.com/ 

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