Hi all,

Following on from a post in Wanted, has anyone actually failed an SVA on the type of buckle used to secure the harness.

Ive tried to ring my local SVA office most of the day without luck, but from the manual, I cant see how an aircraft type twist buckle would present a problem, although Ill take advice on it:

From section 5 of the SVA Manual:

iii) The locking mechanism, ie the buckle, both under load and not under load, can be released with a single movement in one direction with either hand.

It goes on to say it must be adjustable with one hand and must sit laterally across the pelvic area. On these 2 points, there is no diference between an aircraft or clip harness.

Interested in any feedback,

Thanks

Rich

I would entirely agree.

My car has not yet reached this stage but I will be using aircraft harnesses.

My mate runs Ultima and they use Willans Aircraft type harnesses in all the "factory" cars and these all go straight through at Nottingham SVA centre with no issues.

I think this one maybe another SVA Urban Myth to be honest. I really cannot see how anyone could argue a harness could not be operated with one hand.

Best to be safe than sorry though but thats the way Im swaying at present

Cheers

RC

Forgot to say, have you gone for a Lotus7 specific belt? I assume they must be slightly shorter

Rich

the way I looked at it is I AM using them, and if there is an issue I can always borrow a set of button release ones from somebody on here for the retest then swap back after!

No, not lotus 7 specific, they will shorten pretty much as much as you liek anyway (well most of them will )

My grasser uses a ridiculously short harness, I just chopped the excess belt off (the trailing end that does nothing) and remelted the end to stop it fraying.

Yeh that was my intention too, I never really saw the point in the 7 specific ones (although I think Willans 7 specific ones have the lap straps tightening the other way around)

Cheers
Rich

and some silly sod agreed to lend him his brand new 6 point harnesses for when he has the SVA.

(got them, look pretty good to me, going to have to send back the crotch straps as they sent clip in instead of bolt in)

I thik it is the 'single action' that presents a problem. with an aircraft harness you must press a button in then twist the buckle, that's two actions.....

Also do they carry the correct approval markings ?

I have heard of people failing for this.....

Someone here quoted a very sensible comment from a SVA tester - "if a fireman can undo the belt easily while the person is hanging on it upside-down then it's OK"

- which strikes me as a very sensible attitude. However, you can't always be sure to get such a practical tester!

David

[Edited on 2/12/05 by David Jenkins]

mine don't have a buton, you just twist the lever - thats it.

I think its a very small minority which have a button and lever, easy fixed, you just by them with the lever only.

Yep I agree with everything which has been said, like I say I wear one every time I go flying and I cannot imagine how it couldnt be operated with one hand.

As far as e marking is concerned, I think some do and some dont,

Cheers

Rich

seems I may have been refering to military spec buckles which require a button to be pressed before they can be twisted....

Not all of them, the one I use every day is "mil spec" and it has no button. Instead it has a knurled turn buckle which is probably the least user friendly of any Ive used but without doubt Id have it off in a second

Rich

I remember a mods program about 14 years ago when we had to replace all crew harnesses with the 'dual action' type of buckle on all Army helicopters.........

Not so with the light blue, nor many of the current offerings from Sabelt, TRS or Sparco. Willans do on some as do Schroth, easy fix, dont buy those models.

Rich