Crashworthy crew and passenger seats for military aircraft, including ejection seats, are UK-based Martin-Baker’s bread and butter. Now the company has used its military experience to develop two different crashworthy seats for the cabins of civil helicopters. Martin-Baker America plans to build the seats at its facility in Johnstown, Pa.
The company’s multifunctional operator seat rotates, moves forward, aft and sideways and has vertical height adjustment. Optional accessories available include a standup harness and seat cushions certified for a medical operating environment. The company says the seat is exceptionally rugged without weight or cost penalties and can be adapted to any helicopter via a pallet that mounts to the cabin floor. Depending on options, the seat weighs 38 to 44 pounds. With its FAA certification process beginning soon, the operator seat is expected to cost about $22,000, according to Thomas Pavlik, Martin-Baker U.S. business development representative.
