AmSafe Aviation has announced a commercial agreement as the sole provider of the AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraints (AAIR) for installation in Aircraft Manufacturing and Development's (AMD) Zodiac 601XL S-LSA. Under this agreement, AMD becomes the first general aviation aircraft manufacturer to install the AmSafe AAIR airbags certified on their line of aircraft. The AAIR will be installed in all new 2006 Alarus CH2000 aircraft as standard equipment for all pilot and co-pilot seats, and on the Zodiac CH601XL S-LSA as well. The first Zodiac CH601 XL S-LSA was delivered in December, and AMD plans to build two CH2000 planes each month throughout 2006 and two CH601 models per month through March before increasing production to three a month.

"Many of our customers have ordered the AAIR for their light sport planes," said John Degonia, AMD's director of sales and Federal Aviation Administration production test pilot.

"The Zodiac is the only light sport aircraft built by a Part 23 factory and, therefore, for most of our Alarus designs, we try to carry over the same features, including the AAIR into our light sport airplanes."

The AAIR is a self-contained, modular restraint system specifically designed to improve occupant protection from serious head impact injury during an otherwise survivable aircraft accident. It enhances the occupant's ability to exit the aircraft. The airbag is built into the seatbelt and is designed to deploy up and away from the seat occupant unlike an automobile airbag which deploys toward the seat occupant.

"AMD's entire line has a great reputation in the industry and with the addition of the AAIR, this will certainly boost customer satisfaction and sense of security on light sport aircraft," said Bill Hagan, executive vice president of AmSafe Inc., and president of AmSafe Aviation.

"We welcome AMD as AmSafe's first partner to install the AAIR system on board as standard equipment."

FMI: www.amsafe.com, www.newplane.com, www.zenair.com