Airplane Seat Maker Files Patent For First Class Airbags

Travelers willing to shell out the big bucks for seats in the business class cabin typically get a few extra perks: dinner, free drinks, more legroom, and the first crack at boarding. But should they get an airbag when their fellow passengers don’t? That appears to be the idea behind a recently filed patent. 

German airline seat manufacturer Recaro recently filed a patent that would put an airbag in the backs of seats situated in the first or business class cabin.

According to a translated version of the patent, an airbag would be installed in a compartment next to the in-flight entertainment screen.

In the event of a crash, the airbags would work much like a vehicle safety device. However it would provide two deployments: first to provide immediate impact protection for passengers’ heads and then inflate a second cushion around passengers’ shoulders.

The company says that the apparatus can be customized for any number of seat arrangements and angles. However, because there is less room between seats in the economy class, the airbags would not work there, at least, not this version.

While Recaro doesn’t specify what type of planes it would use the airbags in, USA Today notes that the company creates seats for dozens of airlines around the world.

It is worth noting that several airlines already use seats that include an airbag in the seatbelt.

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