# Presentation: 141705

## Child Restraint Regulatory Developments in the United States

- Presented by Cindy Nordlie Transportation Industry Analyst Office of Rulemaking
- Federal Aviation Administration

##   Current Requirements in    the United States

- Children under 2 years old:
- may be lap held
- may use an approved child restraint system
- operator must allow use of approved child restraint if a ticket is held for a separate passenger seat

**Notes:**
Under current regulations, a child under 2 years old may be held in an adult's lap throught a flight.

Alternately, a parent may opt to use an approved child restraint to restrain a child.

Airlines are required to accommodate the use of approved child restraints by ticket-holding small children

## Regulatory History

- 1992:  Miscellaneous Operational Final Rule Amendments
- 1996:  Final rule regarding booster seats and vest- and harness-type child restraints
- 1998:  Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

**Notes:**
On September 15, 1992, the FAA issued the Miscellaneous Operational Final Rule Amendments.  This final rule provided for the labeling and use of child restraints in aircraft.

On June 4, 1996, the FAA issued a final rule based on a 1994 study by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute.  This final rule withdrew approval for the use of booster seats and vest- and harness-type child restraints in aircraft during takeoff, landing, and movement on the surface.  It also emphasized the prohibition against the use of lap-held child restraint devices, including belly belts.

On February 18, 1998, the FAA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.  The FAA sought public comment on issues relating to the use of child restraints in aircraft during all phases of flight.  The ANPRM did not propose specific regulatory changes.  Instead, it requested comments, data, and analysis to help the FAA determine the best regulatory approach to ensure the safety of children who are passengers in aircraft. 

## Comments Received in Response to ANPRM

- Received approximately 150 comments
- mandatory use of Child Restraints
- Child Restraint that works well in both aviation and automotive environments
- Fit of Child Restraints in airplane seats

**Notes:**
The FAA received approximately 150 comments in response to the ANPRM.  The overwhelming majority of commenters supported mandatory use of Child Restraints in aircraft.

Also, many commenters stated that a child restraint that works well in both aviation and automotive environments is the most desired option.

Many commenters mentioned that approved Child Restraints do not fit into all airplane seats

## Comments (cont’d)

- FMVSS-213 standards vs. separate, aviation-specific, standards
- Parents vs. airlines providing Child Restraints
- Changing anchor point locations for aircraft passenger seat belts

**Notes:**
Many commenters stated that Child Restraints should meet FMVSS-213 standards and that separate, aviation-specific, standards should not be established.  Several commenters that supported using FMVSS-213 standards did suggest adding dimensional limitations to ensure that Child Restraints fit properly in aircraft seats.

Most commenters stated that parents, not airlines, should be responsible for providing Child Restraints.

Most commenters did not support changing the anchor point locations for aircraft passenger seat belts.

## Next Steps

- Improving the safety of children in aircraft
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with specific regulatory proposals

**Notes:**
The FAA is committed to improving the safety of children in aircraft.

The FAA is working on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will contain specific regulatory proposals.  As we work through the issues and develop specific regulatory proposals, we will take all the comments we received into consideration.