Since these towers use Gerstlauer restraints similar/identical to those on some Gerstlauer coasters, should we not now be looking with caution at those coasters just as Dollywood has with their tower?
No, for a few reasons.
1. The restraints are technically different. They may look similar, but they have been independently designed and feature differences.
2. It’s a different ride application. The ride experience on a drop tower is vastly different than a roller coaster, Sky Roller, or SkyFly.
3. The seat design plays a huge part in rider containment. Identical restraints on different seat designs creates totally different containment systems. Gerstlauer’s seat design will also be independently designed and completely different from Funtime.
4. Arguably, the biggest reason is because one of the main factors will be the minimum close position. That is determined by the manufacturer and the controls company that the manufacturer uses.
Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to close any Gerstlauer rides with OTSRs.
I deliberately paid very close attention to my Gerstlauer restraints this week. I am on the edge of not being able to fit. The ops sometimes have to give it that last little push, and then check the green light. Despite this, there is only around 2 to 3 inches of space between the bottom of the restraint and the groin guard that sticks up out of the middle of the seat. I can only just fit an open palm between them!!!
It certainly appears that size is the issue rather than an arbitrary weight amount. There are pictures that appear to show the restraint was not pulled down very far. We've all sat in rides and seen people have their restraints forced down for that "click" or had it done to ourself. People with large chests often struggle with restraints.
Did the restraint fail or did he slip out of space? If the latter then there is much more emphasis on the ride ops either not checking properly or not being trained to check properly.
It's been stated that when the ops / hosts checked, the green light indicated a locked restraint.
These restraints have a light that indicates (or is supposed to indicate) when a restraint is closed enough.
It's also worth mentioning that the ride owners have stated that 'The ride will not ascend if the restraints are not locked properly.'
The question was, can or should the ops be able to rely on that system to decide if a rider can ride or not. To the letter, the manual indicates that they can't, because there is also a weight limit.
Interestingly (as somebody who struggles with their chest size on rides) it doesn't seem to indicate that there is a limit on chest size, other than the standard 'can they fit within the contours of the seat and bracket (sic -
restraint?)' line.
Edited to add:
I've found that report that showed video of investigators measuring 'the gap' at the point at which the restraint indicates it's locked.
Interestingly, and worryingly, it contains a statement from the ride owners claiming that there is no maximum height or weight limit, despite what I've found in the manual!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edited again to avoid double posting....
There is also the possibility of a maintenance issue... I don't think this has been mentioned at all yet.
Every seat has to be checked with a device called a 'restraint test unit' every 15 days to make sure that in the closed / locked status the restraint is still within safe parameters...
If the images depict an accurate representation of that test cylinder and the seats, it looks as though the restraint would need to be closed much more than what we saw on the night to pass this test!!!