Automotive Hybrid III Evaluation for Aircraft Seat Certification

The Policy and Standards Division needs to characterize the automotive Hybrid III anthropometric test device (ATD) prior to replacing the Hybrid II and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Hybrid III ATDs, which are approaching obsolescence, for use in certification of aircraft seat designs. Rather than develop a new ATD, the FAA is considering the HIII as a replacement to the legacy ATDs approved for use in the certification process. Critical occupant injury criteria, such as lumbar load and head injury criterion are assumed to vary between the automotive Hybrid III and the FAA Hybrid III. This variation needs to be measured and quantified before updating certification guidance.