Serious Incident G-ZBKF

2021-017: It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority require that passenger seats in commercial air transport aircraft are designed to minimise the chance of portable electronic devices becoming crushed in mechanisms.

The UK CAA design and certification specialists continue their attendance with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International Seat Committee meetings to discuss the entrapment of PED’s against the minimum performance standards for seats.

The UK CAA have issued CS-UKTSO (Certification Specification – United Kingdom Technical Standard Order) to amendment 18. The release at amendment 17, as discussed in the last CAA Update, was the most recent update applicable to seats (C127) and references Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) 5526 Rev D, remaining harmonised with EASA and FAA.

The current published recommended practice from SAE Aircraft Seat Design Guidance and Clarifications – ARP5526 Rev F, section 3.30 provides guidance relating to object entrapment but is not yet referenced in UKTSO-C127. The development of the future revision of this Technical Standard Order remains in work with EASA, FAA, and the UK CAA.

The UK CAA Cabin Safety Panel (Panel 11) of design and certification specialists have continued routine monthly engagement with EASA Panel 11, allowing coordination across a variety of cabin safety related topics, including PED entrapment. There has been active support from EASA with the discussions, and the UK CAA is now attending a further regular engagement meeting with EASA and FAA to, as far as possible, harmonise the position of the Regulators on seat safety.

Through these engagements, there has been meaningful progress on the actions regarding implementation of updated Certification Specifications (CS). EASA propose an update of CS 25 Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) to CS 25.601 General, and 25.1309 Equipment, systems and installations, to be included at the next release of CS 25 to amendment 29. The AMC will be updated to include reference to SAE AS6960, ‘Performance Standard for Seat Furnishings in Transport Aircraft’, Section 3.2.3 which addresses Object Entrapment in seat furnishings.

It is anticipated by EASA that the Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) introducing this enhancement to CS25 will be released in Early June 2026, which will be actively reviewed by UK CAA. The full release of CS25 amendment 29 by EASA is expected to be no later than January 2027. After release of EASA CS25 amendment 29, UK rulemaking will follow their publication to adopt UK Certification Specifications pursuant to Article 76(3) UK Reg (EU) 2018/1139.

The UK CAA will continue to monitor PED entrapment events through the requirements of assimilated Regulation (EU) No. 376/2014, through its engagement in the SAE seat committee and discussion with other regulators.

Considering the aforementioned, we propose the next update to AAIB is provided before the end of May 2027.

Partially Adequate - Open

May 2027