Bomb-proof bag to deliver safer passenger planes

Italy-based D’Appolonia, the engineering arm of the RINA group, has developed and patented a bomb-proof bag which will improve aircraft safety.

Fly-Bag is a flexible bomb-proof container which airlines can use to contain luggage and cargo in the holds of passenger planes. The innovative fabric of the bag contains the blast and stops it from destroying the aircraft structure.

Roberto Carpaneto, CEO, D’Appolonia, says, “This new generation fabric container marks a turning point in aviation safety. It is light and flexible enough to be used on all aircraft and full scale tests have proven that it will protect aircraft and passengers from explosions caused by any explosives hidden in the baggage.”

The Fly-Bag comes in different sizes all made from fabrics and compounds resistant to the major dynamic and thermal impacts generated by an explosion. Unlike a rigid blast-proof container it weighs very little and is flexible for confined spaces making it ideal for use in aircraft where weight and space are crucial. It works by absorbing the shock wave from the explosion through a mechanism controlling the deformation of the multilayer fabric with which it is made. The Fly Bag has several layers each with a specific function: fragment retention, absorption of shock wave and fire-resistance.

 The Fly Bag has been produced as a prototype in three versions:

·        for holds in narrow-body aircraft (Airbus A320 type, normally used for regional flights),

·        for baggage containers, normally in aluminium, used in large-body aircraft (Boeing 747 type, used for intercontinental flights),

·        for small explosive materials which may be found in the passenger cabin.

The system is covered by an international patent and is certified by EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency.

See a full scale test on this You Tube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sp7eod9ML4

For photos of Fly Bag go to http://bit.ly/1FCPnZb or email  john@merlinco.com

D’Appolonia S.p.A provides integrated engineering services to the public and private markets in the areas of the environment, oil and gas, infrastructure and transport, electronics and telecommunications. D’Appolonia is part of the RINA Group, a leading international classification, verification and certification provider. www.dappolonia.it

RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Construction, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of over 330 million Euros in 2014, over 2,750 employees, and 163 offices in 60 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org

           
Contacts:

Giulia Faravelli

Head of Media & Internal Communication RINA

+39 010 5385505

giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Victoria Silvestri

Media Relations RINA

+39 010 5385555

victoria.silvestri@rina.org