New belts arrived today. Maybe a week-ish before installation but we're excited.

Nice! They are on the very short list for my 180...

Very nice! I just placed an order for a set. I really didn't put much thought between the standard or utility until I went to order. I ended up holding off for several days to think it over. I've flown with both and see the benefits of each .... either way, you can't go wrong.

Alpina23

Be sure to take a good look at how, especially WHERE, they are mounted. My recollection is that there was little room for error. Believe I ended up adding a couple extra short structural screws. Way back in 04.

Thanks for the input guys. I've been asked to provide pictures and updates as the installation happens. I will do this. Maybe I will get started this weekend. I'll try.
Thanks

Jeff, I've got the BAS harnesses in my 180-- you're welcome to take a look at that installation before you start on yours. I plan on being up at the Concrete fly-in this weekend, weather permitting, or else you can catch up with me at Jefferson.

hotrod180 wrote:Jeff, I've got the BAS harnesses in my 180-- you're welcome to take a look at that installation before you start on yours. I plan on being up at the Concrete fly-in this weekend, weather permitting, or else you can catch up with me at Jefferson.

Thanks, Eric. I imagine I'll be seeing you soon enough

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/images/originalphotos/4225/4438/e8fd8c38757da5ce61802c4a.jpg

Recieved my BAS Harness on Tuesday and couldn't wait any longer ..... love em!

I've had the standard buckle BAS set in my airplane for 11 years. When I took my seaplane training last summer, they had the seaplane buckle set in the trainer. Frankly, I could be easily satisfied with either. The seaplane buckle is slightly more cumbersome to fasten, but only slightly. The standard buckle is slightly harder to get out of, but only slightly. It's a "6-one, half dozen of the other" issue.

If the seaplane buckle is chosen, or the twist buckle instead, the downside for those who are on the Darwin list is that it's possible to buckle the belt without the harness straps, which defeats the whole purpose. But people do that, especially with other brand harnesses which are fixed and don't have an inertia reel retractor. There's no excuse for anyone using a BAS to do that, as they make reaching for items (like flap handles) easy. I rarely notice the shoulder harness at all.

The really important thing is that statistically, front seaters are much safer in an unplanned off airport landing if they are wearing harnesses. Every airplane should have harnesses for the front seats, without exception.

Cary

Cary wrote:....The seaplane buckle is slightly more cumbersome to fasten, but only slightly. The standard buckle is slightly harder to get out of, but only slightly. It's a "6-one, half dozen of the other" issue. ....

I have the seaplane or utility buckles in mine, which I much prefer. If your seatbelts thread through straps on the side of the front seats, as do a lot of 4-place Cessnas, it's much easier to take out the front seats (for working under the panel or loading long bulky stuff) with the utility buckles. Also, if you're loading bulky stuff (or bulky people) into the back, it's nice to be able to have the shoulder straps tied off to the side & completely out of the way. I have a Velcro strap screwed to the upper RH rear door post cover, which I use to keep the shoulder straps on that side secured so they don't flap around when the RH seat's unoccupied.

Finally getting to this project.

First, simply open the zipper in the headliner (assuming fabric) and take a look. This view is straight up behind the pilot seat looking at the carry through spar that runs from side to side. Note the factory-installed nut plate in the spar. You will be using that. Be sure to run a 10-32 tap through it with some light oil to clean the threads.
In my case, my comm antenna is forward of the spar and right in the way of where the inertia reel will mount.


This is the bracket that the reel will bolt to. We need to get that mounted using the one provided hole and two that we will make. With the bracket in place, mark its width on the flange of the spar where it is riveted to the outer skin. Then remove the bracket to see which rivet(s) will need to be removed.


Probably not an issue in most installations, but for me, this antenna has to be moved.


Comm antenna on top of fuselage as previously mentioned.


A little tape on this automotive upholstery tool protects the paint while I get the antenna loose.


This is the rivet we determined in a previous step had to be removed from the spar to allow the inertia reel bracket to mount flush.


Like any drilling job, it's important to make an accurate punch.


I started very small and drilled in three steps to get to 3/16"


I decided it would be smart to give the paint a little protection from any sloppy drilling.


Then I decided to make a chip catcher to stop the mess from running down the plane.


It worked well.


Then I temporarily installed the bracket again to mark the first hole.


And then drill it in the vise.


Also to 3/16"


Measure and mark for the second hole. You get to choose where to drill the second hole.


Where to drill the second hole is just based on logic. The bracket needs a second hole. Where should it be?? Then drill it.


Once again with the chip catcher. When its full, just fold it in on itself and throw it away.


Temporary install of bracket again gives you the seconds spot to drill.


Now you can bolt the reel to the bracket.


My tip here is to pull all of the belt out of the reel to make room to get the screw driver in.


Reel and bracket bolted in. You can see through the old antenna hole that there is no room for that antenna here.
My tip here: I screwed up. I got all done and then made my patch panel. I found out that there is no way I'm going to be able to attach the patch plate with the seat belt reel in place. So...... I will have to pull the reel back out (but not today).


From the inside.


Here, I went rogue a little and ignored the instructions. The trim plate mounts to the single bottom screw that mounts the reel bracket to the spar and the seat belt guide just fits through it. The instructions say to locate this screw with the head liner zipped closed. Measure to here and mark; measure to there and mark; then to more marks. Now cut the fabric based on your measured marks. The hole they have you make is substantially larger than the opening in the trim plate that the seatbelt passes through. I decided to remove the screw from the spar, zip the headliner closed, find the screw hole through the fabric and bolt the trim plate in place. Then mark the opening that needs cut, remove the trim plate, cut, and reassemble. This method seemed less risky to me.


Bracket removed for cutting.


Finished product. I don't suspect I need to cover bolting them to the floor.

Thanks for the photos of your installation!

Here's a few photos from a research trip last week.. B.A.S. Harness installed in a '52 170B.





- Joseph

Note the difference on trim plates in the photos in the last two posts. Interesting. Early & later maybe?
My BAS harnesses were purchased in 2009 and the trim plates are like Alpina's.

hotrod180 wrote:Note the difference on trim plates in the photos in the last two posts. Interesting. Early & later maybe?
My BAS harnesses were purchased in 2009 and the trim plates are like Alpina's.

Yes, that is interesting. All the BAS harness systems I've seen and flown have had trim plates like the ones in the latter (vfrsim) photos, including the ones in my 52 Cessna 170, and several other models of Cessnas. All these were pre-2005, however. My 170 harnesses were installed in 1996.

It's interesting to me that they've changed the design, since the old trim plates worked flawlessly in my experience, which is with several installations and several thousand hours of working time.

But, in any case, the BAS harness systems are by far the best on the market. I've tested them.

MTV

My trim plates look like Alpina's, too--11+ years old.

Cary