This Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aerospace Standard (AS) Annex defines Minimum Performance Standards (MPS), qualification requirements, and minimum documentation requirements for side-facing seats in civil rotorcraft, transport aircraft, and general aviation aircraft. The goal is to define test and evaluation criteria to demonstrate occupant protection when a single-occupant side-facing seat/occupant/restraint system is subjected to statically applied ultimate loads and to dynamic test conditions set forth in the applicable 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 23, 25, 27 or 29.

While this Annex addresses system performance, responsibility for the seating system is divided between the seat supplier and the installation applicant. The seat supplier's responsibility consists of meeting all the seat system performance requirements and obtaining and supplying to the installation applicant all the data prescribed by this document. The installation applicant has the final responsibility in assuring that all requirements for safe seat installation have been met.