Helicopter fatalities are at a level of 10 times higher compared with fixed wing aircraft. The HeliSafe program aims to improve the survivability of occupants in helicopter crashes and to minimise the risk of injuries. The project looked at such things as enhanced safety seats, improved belt systems and deployment of airbags.
Slow-speed horizontal crash tests confirm that neck and chest injuries can become survivable with use of an airbag. With vertical crashes, tests show that spinal compression injuries can be reduced through the proper design of the vehicle’s sub-floor and energy-absorbing seats.
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I never realized the safety statistics for helicopters. Makes me leery about taking them.
Seems like more time should go into figuring out how to prevent helicopter crashes, as opposed to making those crashes more survivable.