### To: Whom It May Concern **February 11, 2016**

**RE: Request to Use CARES Child Restraint System for Larger/Older Persons**  I am writing to request an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311 (b) to the extent required for **Joseph Bonura**  to be able to use an FAA Approved Chil d Restraint System even though he exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. In addition, if m y petition is granted, I request that any air carrier or commercial operator operating under part 121 while **Joseph Bonura** is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b)(2)(iii)(B) to the extent necessary to allow **Joseph Bonura** to exceed the specified weight limit for an FAA
- approved child restraint s ys tem during use of that child restraint s ys tem abo ard an aircraft. I believe the pertinent section from 14 CFR part 121 from which we seek relief is Section 121.311 Seats, safety belts, and shoulder harnesses.
My **son is 7 year’s old, weighs _** **46 _ pounds, and is _** **42**

**_ inches tall** . My son’s physical condition is as follows : **Cerebral Palsy, Visual Impairment, Epilepsy, Asthma** . As a result of his physical condition, he needs the support and security provided by an FAA Approved Child Restraint, but because of his weight is incapable of compliance with the regulation. **I am**  **also submitting**  **the following**  **contact information:**  **Thomas and**  **Andi Bonura,**  **parents ,**  **59 Brookefield**  **Circle, Magnolia,**  **TX 77355**  **and andibonura@rock** 

**etmail.com** I understand that the regulation is written to create a high level of safety for each individual passenger by ensuring that they are securely 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 by being thrown into them during turbulent or emergency conditions.
I propose that **Joseph Bonura** be allowed to occupy an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, ma nufactured by AmSafe, Inc.), even thoug h he exceeds the manufacturer’s weight limits. This ensures a high level of safety

for **Joseph Bonura** and a high level of safety for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in **Joseph Bonura’s** case, safety is greatly enhanced by the extra sup port and security that the FAA Approved Restraint System will provide during the entire flight. Enhancing safety for **Joseph Bonura** is in the public interest. In addition, the public interest is also served by the fact that the use of this FAA Approved Chil d Restraint System allows him to use commercial air transportation. W ithout the support and security of the FAA Approved Child Restraint System, he would be unable to fly commercially. I also believe that, with certain limitations established by the FAA i n a grant to this petition, there can be an equivalent level of safety to that provided by the affected regulation. The CARES restraint has been certified by the manufacturer for use by children 22
- 44 pounds. However, the components of the CARESrestraint are the same as those used in restraints for adults on aircraft and would maintain their integrity if

used by someone who weighed several hundred pounds.
I believe that the limit of 44 pounds was established because, with the additional weight of the chil d attached to the seatback, the seatback would move forward more quickly in an accident scenario and this mi ght cause a higher HIC load for the person seated in the seat behind the passenger using the CARES restraint (because the seatback moving forward mo re 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 safety as that provided by the affected regulation, I pro pose that the FAA establish a limitation in a grant to this petition that **Joseph Bonura** only sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind her. Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind **Joseph Bonura** while he is using the CARES restraint. I also propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at least one of **Joseph Bonura’s** parents or a caregiver accompanying him or her. In addition, I propose that **Joseph Bonura’s** parent or caregiver must ca rry a copy of this exemption. I also request that the processing of this petition not be delayed for publication and comment in the Federal Register. W e want to travel **April 7 -**  **14, 2016** . If you take the time to put this in the Federal Register, it will del ay

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 exemption from FAR 121.311 (b) to the extent required for a child to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint System on an aircraft, even though the child exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. Due to physical challenges, without the support and security of this FAA Approved Child Restraint System, this child would be unable to fly. W e re quest that this child be allowed to occupy an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured by AmSafe, Inc.), even though he exceeds the ma nufacturer’s weight limits of 44 pounds. In this case, the safety of this child is greatly enhanced by the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint System will provide for him during the flight. Thank you for your consideration of this request

.

Thomas and Andi Bonura, parents of Joseph Bonura