Hey everyone,

I've got a question. When it's time to buy new seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, where do you get them from?

I'm adding shoulder harnesses for my middle and backseats. Since the current belts don't have a long enough tongue for the shoulder harness metal fitting, I had to replace both lap belts in addition to adding the harnesses. I ordered one set from Wag Aero and another from Spruce, hoping that the grey color would be different. Ends up they are both from Aero Fabricators. But here is my issue. The lap belts are too short. I selected the 206 option and figured that would be long enough. On the package it appears it's a one size fits all. But after weaving the belt through the locking buckles, there is no way you'd be able to keep the lap buckle centered for the shoulder harnesses to attach to. In fact, in my middle seats, it barely fits around me using every inch I can get out of the locking buckles. I don't see how these would ever work on the front seat of a 205/206.

So is there another source where you can buy lap belt/shoulder harness setups? I've got BAS for my front seats. Just trying to finally get some harnesses for the kids in the back.

Thanks,
Cory

BAS can do rear belts as well, if you're so inclined.

Yeah when I talked to them they said they could help me out but were considerably more than the Spruce option. But I may have to do that for the middle seats. I’ll give them another call to see what they say.

Are you attaching your belts right to the floor Cory? I've seen a few done with a piece of cable between the belt and floor attach to take care of the length problem. My old 180 was that way.
David

I’m just using the current attach point with a #6 bolt...I think that’s what is there.

Grassstrippilot wrote:I’m just using the current attach point with a #6 bolt...I think that’s what is there.

Ok. I'll be interested to see what you find. I'll be installing seatbelts in my 206 before long and want shoulder harnesses in the center row for sure.

The 205 has nut plates already in the ceiling for them. Does the 206 as well? They are for a #10 bolt. Wish it was bigger but it’s what I have to work with without having to go the field approval route.

Ya my P206 has nut plates for all 6 seats. Does the 205 have all 6 or just 4?

All 6.

Finding belts shouldn’t be this big of a pain in the rear. The ones from Spruce should work for the rear seats. But are too short for the middle. And I don’t get it because supposedly they are made for the front seats. I don’t see how that would work.

Ya that is a major pain.

Aerotex Interiors Inc. in Calgary is Transport Canada and FAA approved to repair seatbelts. They will re-web your seatbelts affordably in a large variety of colours. They do huge volumes for the airlines, but will serve GA also.

A shame to re-web new belts to get what you want, but maybe this helps?

Alternatively, call the manufacturer of the belts you purchased directly and ask them if they can solve your problem. Don’t assume that they are a huge corporation without flexibility to serve customers. I also wouldn’t try to resolve it through a third party like Aircraft Spruce. Some of these manufacturers are quite small, and personable.

There's a policy statementthat gives owners the ability to retrofit shoulder harnesses for older aircraft with only a logbook entry, and without a TSO'd part (I think.)

Whether that can be interpreted to cover lap belts too, I'm not sure. It would open up the aftermarket of seat belts for you, instead of being constrained by the ones with STCs.

Just a note on the attaching the belts. Normally in the lap belts, you use a AN4 bolt, but with a bushing, that takes it up to the belt fitting hole size. This allows the fitting to rotate around the bolt. You may not think this is a big deal, but unless the fitting is oriented in the direction of force, it has a lot less strength. The bushing allows it to be properly oriented in the unlikely event, you decelerate very rapidly.

I use Beltmasters, not expensive at all and quick turn around:
Beltmaster Corporation
409 Earhart Street
Medford, OR 97501 USA

Peggy
Tel: 541-488-1555
Fax: 541-488-5695

Thanks guys. Yeah Zane, that is what we are using. But my understanding is you still have to use FAA approved webbing. The Spruce or Wag route seemed like the easiest way to go since everything is PMA’d.

I may just call BAS again and see what they can do and check the price again. At least the belt color would match the front two.

Thanks Dogpilot. I’m using the existing hardware that does include the bushing...so I should be good.

Grassstrippilot wrote:Hey everyone,

I've got a question. When it's time to buy new seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, where do you get them from?

I'm adding shoulder harnesses for my middle and backseats. Since the current belts don't have a long enough tongue for the shoulder harness metal fitting, I had to replace both lap belts in addition to adding the harnesses. I ordered one set from Wag Aero and another from Spruce, hoping that the grey color would be different. Ends up they are both from Aero Fabricators. But here is my issue. The lap belts are too short. I selected the 206 option and figured that would be long enough. On the package it appears it's a one size fits all. But after weaving the belt through the locking buckles, there is no way you'd be able to keep the lap buckle centered for the shoulder harnesses to attach to. In fact, in my middle seats, it barely fits around me using every inch I can get out of the locking buckles. I don't see how these would ever work on the front seat of a 205/206.

So is there another source where you can buy lap belt/shoulder harness setups? I've got BAS for my front seats. Just trying to finally get some harnesses for the kids in the back.

Thanks,
Cory

Cory,
I had issues with the length of lap belts I ordered from Wag using their application chart. There are different length available from them, I talked with someone in the "seat belt" area and was given different options for length. Give them a call, it worked for me.

Thanks. I talked to them this morning and they said to tell them what I need and they will cut them to that length and just swap out what I bought. They also said they could make them adjustable on both sides to keep the buckled centered for the shoulder harness. So I think this may solve my issue.

Cory or A1Skinner-

Can you show where the nutplates are that you are attaching to?

I really do not want to take the whole headliner out of our 206 to add shoulder belt attachments.

Thanks,

Tim

behindpropellers wrote:Cory or A1Skinner-

Can you show where the nutplates are that you are attaching to?

I really do not want to take the whole headliner out of our 206 to add shoulder belt attachments.

Thanks,

Tim

Here is a couple pictures of my 206 with the headliner out Tim. If you want another angle let me know and I can snap a couple more.

David