Patent ID: 8418957

Claim:
A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system comprising: an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent to a position exterior of the aircraft, the airbag having at least one vent for releasing gas from the interior of the airbag for crash attenuation; a gas source in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag to the position exterior of the aircraft with gas provided by the gas source; a vent valve for controlling a flow of gas through each of the at least one vent, each vent valve being selectively configurable to adjust between an open state, in which gas can pass through the associated vent from the interior of the airbag, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag; a control system configured to activate and adjust the vent valve prior to and after impact; and wherein the gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for at least partially re-inflating the airbag with gas provided by the gas source after venting of gas through the at least one vent.