**Request to Use CARES for Larger/Older** 

**P ersons** 
I am writing to request an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.31 1(b) to the extent required for **Jannik Lasse Meister**  to be able to use an F AA A pproved Child Restraint Sy stem even though he exceeds the height and weigh t limits for the CRS. In addition, if my petition is granted, I request that any air carrier or commercial operator operating under part 121 while **Jannik Lasse Meister** is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.31 1(b)(2)(iii)(B) to th e extent necessary to allow **Jannik Lasse Meister** to exceed the specified height and weight limit for an F AA

- approved child restraint s ys tem during use of that child restraint sy stem aboard an aircraft. I believe the pertinent section from 14 CFR part 121 f rom which we seek relief is Section 121.31 1 Seats, safet y belts, and shoulder harnesses. My son is 6 y ear ’s old, weighs 39 pounds, and is 52 inches tall. My **son** ’s phy sical condition is as follows

– he has cerebral palsy and can walk and sit well when assis ted e.g. by a belt (GMFCS Level IV). As a result of his phy sical condition, he needs the support and security provided by

an FA A A pproved Child Restraint, but because of his height is incapable of compliance with the regulation. I understand that the regul ation is written to create a high level of safet y for each individual passenger b y ensuring that they are securel y restrained in their seats during all phases of flight. The regulation also ensures that an individual does not cause harm to other passengers on the airplane b y being thrown into them during turbulent or emergency conditions. I propose that **Jannik Lasse Meister** be allowed to occup y an F AA A pproved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured by A mSafe, Inc.), even though he exceeds the manufacturer ’s h eight and weight limits. This ensures a high level of safet y for **Jannik Lasse Meister** and a high level of safet y for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in **Jannik Lasse Meister ́** s case, safet y is greatly enhanced by the extra support and securit y that the F AA A pproved Restraint Sy stem will provide during the entire flight. Enhancing safety

for **Jannik Lasse Meister** is in the public interest. In addition, the public interest is also served b y the fact that the use of this F AA A pproved Chil d Restraint Sy stem allows him to use commercial air transportation. W ithout the support and security of the F AA A pproved Child Restraint Sy stem, he would be unable to fl y commercially

. I also believe that, with certain limitations established by the F AA in a grant to this petition, there can be an equivalent level of safet y to that provided by the af fected regulation. The CARES restraint has been certified by the manufacturer for use by children 22

- 44 pounds and 40 inches. However, the components of the CA RES restraint are the same as those used in restraints for adults on aircraft and would maintain their integrit y if used by someone who weighed several hundred pounds and was 70 inches tall. I believe that the limit of 44 pounds and 40 inches was establish ed because, with the additional weight of the child attached to the seatback, the seatback would move forward more quickl y in an accident scenario and this might cause a higher HIC load for the person seated in the seat behind the passenger using the CARES restraint (because the seatback moving forward more quickly would mean that it would not be there to attenuate the energy from the impact of the person seated behind the person using the CARES restraint). In order to achieve an equivalent level of safet y as that provided by the af fected regulation, I propose that the F

AA establish a limitation in a grant to this petition that **Jannik Lasse Meister** only sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind her. Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind **Jannik Lasse Meister** while he is using the CARES restraint. I also propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at least one of **Jannik Lasse Meister** ’s parents or a caregiver accompany ing him or her. In ad dition, Ipropose that **Jannik Lasse Meister** ’s parent or caregiver must carry a copy of this exemption.I also request that the processing of this petition not be delay ed for publication and comment in the

Federal Register. W

e want to travel October, 2 nd 20 12. If you take the time to put this in the Federal Register, it will delay

the process and we may

not be able to travel in this timeframe. If it is necessary

to put a summary

in the Federal Register, I submit the following: This is a request for an exempt ion from F AR 121.31 1 (b) to the extent required for a child to use an FA A A pproved Child Restraint Sy stem on an aircraft, even though the child exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. Due to phy sical challenges, without the support and security of this F AA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem, this child would be unable to fly

. We request that this child be allowed to occup y an F

AA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured by A mSafe, Inc.), even though he exceeds the manufacturer ’s weight limits of 44 pounds and height limits of 40 inches. In this case, the safet y of this child is greatly enhanced b y the extra support and securit y that the F AA Approved Restraint Sy stem will provide for him during the flight.

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