Are you guilty of removing your seatbelt on airplanes while the ” fasten seatbelt” sign is still illuminated? To help ensure the safety of passengers, Airbus is planning to launch a new system that monitors passenger seatbelt usage. Known as the Connected Cabin Experience, it’s designed to create a safer flight experience for the millions of people who fly aboard Airbus’s airplanes. To learn more about the Connected Cabin Experience and how it works, keep reading.
What Is the Connected Cabin Experience?
As reported by TIME, the Connected Cabin Experience is an integrated system developed by Airbus that will make the European aerospace company’s airplanes more digitally aware. It consists of an array of sensors and displays that monitor the flight experience of passengers. Among other things, the Connected Cabin Experience can check to see which passengers have their seatbelts buckled and which ones don’t.
If you happen to unbuckle your seatbelt, a sensor will alert the airplane’s crew, which may prompt a visit from a flight attendant. When the sensor detects that you aren’t wearing your seatbelt, a red light will appear overhead. When you buckle your seatbelt, on the other hand, the light will turn green.
In addition to monitoring passenger seatbelts, Airbus’s Connected Cabin Experience will monitor lavatory usage. The integrated system will see exactly how many passengers are trying to use the lavatory. The purpose of this feature is to help Airbus better understand the needs of its passengers.
Is It Illegal to Remove Your Seatbelt Early?
Wearing a seatbelt doesn’t just lower your risk of injury when flying aboard a commercial airplane; it ensures that you aren’t breaking the law. Many passengers are surprised to learn that removing their seatbelt while the “fasten seatbelt” is illuminated is actually against the law. Federal law states that all passengers must fasten their seatbelt, as well as keep it fastened, when this light is illuminated. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) passengers who violate this law are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000.
With that said, enforcement of the seatbelt law is very uncommon. In the last five years, the FAA hasn’t taken legal action against any passengers for not wearing their seatbelt. Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea to comply with the law by wearing your seatbelt. Assuming you fly aboard an Airbus airplane, the crew will likely know if and when you remove your seatbelt.
