FAA Sets Safety Rules for Sideways Seats on Custom 747s
Published Date: 7/1/2026
Rule
Summary
The FAA has set new safety rules for Boeing 747-8 planes modified by AMAC Aerospace that include side-facing seats, which aren’t covered by current regulations. These special conditions make sure these seats are just as safe as regular ones. The rules take effect on July 1, 2026, and AMAC must follow them while everyone else can comment until August 17, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
AMAC must meet new seat safety rules
AMAC Aerospace must follow new FAA "special conditions" for side-facing seats on the Boeing Model 747-8 starting July 1, 2026. The special conditions add safety and testing requirements beyond existing rules and become part of the type-certification basis for AMAC's supplemental type certificate.
Passenger safety limits for side-facing seats
Passengers in side-facing seats on the AMAC-modified Boeing 747-8 will be protected by defined injury limits and tests: thoracic trauma index (TTI) must be less than 85, lateral pelvic acceleration must not exceed 130 g, single shoulder-strap load must not exceed 1,750 pounds (dual straps total must not exceed 2,000 pounds), and specified dynamic longitudinal and a 14 g vertical tests are required. Head Injury Criterion (HIC) assessments are required only for head contact with seat or adjacent structures.
Rule applies only to AMAC's STC (limited scope)
These special conditions apply specifically to AMAC's supplemental type certificate for side-facing seats on the Boeing Model 747-8 and are not a general rule. If AMAC later seeks to apply the same design feature to any other model on Type Certificate No. A20WE, these special conditions would also apply to that model.
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