Side-Facing Seat Dynamic Test Special Conditions

Current understanding

The FAA issues special conditions for aircraft equipped with single- or multiple-occupant side-facing seats (with or without airbag systems) because existing Part 25 airworthiness standards were written primarily for forward- and aft-facing seats and do not adequately address the injury mechanisms (lateral loading, neck/spine, body-to-body contact) unique to side-facing configurations. These special conditions establish dynamic test criteria and injury-metric thresholds equivalent to the safety intent of §25.562. The Gulfstream G300 action continues an established pattern of type-specific special conditions covering this novel seat orientation.

Evidence log

Open questions

Related