# Presentation: 662254

## The Restraint of Children in Aircraft  Roger Hardy Cranfield Impact Centre Ltd.

## Cranfield Impact Centre Research

- Much of the Research was sponsored by UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
- Lead to the use of forward facing Child Restraint Devices (CRDs) on UK registered aircraft
- Provided background information to assist harmonisation of National Aviation rules into Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) rules

## Cranfield Impact Centre Research

- 1998 programme supported by DG VII of European Commission to write a draft European Performance Specification for Child Restraint Systems in Passenger Aircraft (IMPCHRESS)

## Current Situation

- 6 month ATD on adult ATD lap

## Current Situation

- 3 year ATD, representing 2 year, on adult lap

## Current Situation

- Belted child ATD on adult lap

## Current Situation

- Braced child and adult ATDs

## Comments on lap carrying

- Children on adults laps’ are not afforded the same level of protection as an adult
- Children on adults laps’ can be injured by the  adult during an impact
- Parent’s ‘super-human’ strength DOES NOT allow them to hold onto a child during an impact
- CONCLUSION
**	****CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE CARRIED ON LAP**

## Children on aircraft seats

- 6 year ATD on seat

## Children on aircraft seats

- 3 year ATD on seat	      6 year ATD on seat

## Multiple Occupancy of a Seat

- Two 3 year ATDs	      3 and 6 year ATDs

## Multiple Occupancy of a Seat

-  3 and 10 year ATDs		  belt routing

## Multiple Occupancy of a Seat  - test result

- damaged 3 year ATD	    release lever position

## Child Safety in Aircraft

- What must we achieve?
- The safe restraint of children at least to the same standard as other passengers
- How?
- Use a restraint system suitable for the age and weight of the child

## Child Safety in Aircraft

- Forward facing CRDs allowed in some European countries, United States, Canada and some other countries
- Rearward facing CRDs allowed in United States, Canada and some other countries *but NOT in Europe*
- European Auto rule (ECE Reg. 44) has generally the same limits on the allowed forward head motion of test dummy in forward and rearward facing CRDs

## Child Restraints - rearward facing

-     lap belt only		      post test deformation

## Child Restraints - forward facing

- buckle under seat shell	       snared belt webbing

## Seat back interaction

## Issues in approving use and performance of CRDs

- fit of CRD to aircraft seat
- restraint of CRD by aircraft seat belt
- dynamic test performance of CRD
- dynamic test pass/fail criteria
- relevance of dynamic test set-up to aircraft cabin environment

## IMPCHRESS Study 

- reviewed current status of world-wide automotive and aviation regulations governing the restraint of children
- consulted industry and consumers organisations on their views
- reviewed technical status of existing regulations and the methods used to approve CRDs
- wrote a draft European Performance Specification for Child Restraint Systems in Passenger Aircraft

## IMPCHRESS Study- Performance Specification 

- is compatible with European Auto regulation (ECE Reg. 44)
- where possible, it is aligned with the draft SAE AS 5276/1
- is for approving CRDs for passengers below 18kg
- all types of restraints are permitted, if they meet all the assessment criteria

## IMPCHRESS Study- Performance Specification 

- due to the different risk profiles, two classes of restraint are recommended
- Class A for all phases of flight including take-off and landing
- Class B only for in-flight use, including turbulence
- the test fixture is based on an economy class seat with a near minimum seat pitch

## IMPCHRESS Study- Performance Specification 

- restraints recommended
- PASSENGER GROUP        RESTRAINT TYPE	MASS (kg)	         RESTRAINT DESCRIPTION
- 						     CLASS 'A'	CLASS 'B'
- 	New Born		I	Less than 5	  Aft-facing		Supplementary
- 						  (reclining) CRD	belt or other
- 								approved CRD
- 	Infant			II	5 - 10	 Aft-facing	 	Supplementary
- 						 (reclining) CRD	belt or other
- 								approved CRD
- 	Toddler			III	9 - 18	 Forward or Aft	Supplementary
- 						 facing (upright)	belt or other
- 						 CRD 		approved CRD
- 	Child/Adult			Over 18	 Standard lap belt	Standard lap belt

## IMPCHRESS Study- Performance Specification 

- recognition of aircraft seat construction

## IMPCHRESS Study- Performance Specification 

- recognition of aircraft cabin environment
- 				30 inches	              30 inches

## Any Questions?

- 	Roger HardyCranfield Impact Centre Ltd.Wharley End, CranfieldBedford, MK43 0JRUnited KingdomTel: +44 1234 756508
- 	Fax: +44 1234 750944E-mail: r.n.hardy@cranfield.ac.ukWeb site: www.cicl.co.uk