Skylino - a child restraint system for use in commercial aircrafts

red dot: best of the best
red dot award: design concept 2008

design:

Karsten Willmann

Developed specially for infants, Skylino is a child restraint system that protects the infant whilst onboard an aircraft.
 

In an airplane, even coffee cups are secured – but not our smallest and most precious cargo! Children below the age of two years are the only passengers in an airplane who are not protected during take off, landing and turbulence. Whilst airlines are not legally obligated to protect infants with special restraint systems, the airlines do know how important it is for children and adults to fasten their seatbelts during the whole flight.
 

The idea for Skylino was based on modern flight seats with three-point belts (s), which offers the opportunity to include a child-restraint system to secure the child in front of its parent. After reaching the travel flight altitude, the shoulder belt can be removed, which then allows the infant to be placed in the hammock position. The parent is then able to move and relax.
 

Physical contact between parent and child has many advantages: the child is calmed by the contact with his/her parent, and other airline passengers will be disturbed less. If there is an emergency, the parent simply needs to unlock the belt and get up with the child, being able to leave the aircraft as quickly as the other passengers. The yellow back stabiliser protects against pushes and injuries during an evacuation. With the infant strapped against the parent’s chest, the parent could use his/her hands to protect himself/herself and the infant, which also makes it easier and safer to balance on the evacuation slide.