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# InFO

Information for Operators

U.S. Department InFO 1 1 007 of Transportation DATE : XX/XX/XX

Federal Aviation

Administration Flight Standards Service Washington, DC

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/ info

An InFO contains valuable information for operators that should help them meet certain administrative, regu latory, or operational requirements with relatively low urgency or impact on safety.

Subject: Regulatory Requirements Regarding Accommodation of Child Restraint Systems

- Update

Purpose: T his InFO clarif ies regulations regarding accom modation of Child Restraint Systems (CRS)

, and provides updated information regarding the require ment for part 121 air carriers to make available on

their websites the width of the widest passenger seat for each airplane used in passenger

- carrying operatio ns. T his rule provide s greater information to caregivers to help them determine whether a particular CRS will fit in an airplane seat. I f an air carrier does not have a website , the air carrier is not required to establish a website in order to comply wit h this regulation

.

Discussion : No operator may prohibit a child (an individual who has not reached his or her 18 th birthday) from using an approved CRS when a seat is purchased for the child, the child is accompanied by a parent or guardian and the child is within the weight limits for the CRS. [14CFR §§ 121.311 (b)(2)(i), 125.211(b)(2)(i), 135.128(a)(2)(i)]

. If an approved CRS, for which a ticket has been purchased, does not fit in a particul ar seat on the aircraft, it is the responsibility of the aircraft operator to accommodate the

CRS in another seat. The following are examples of design variations where accommodation is required.

1) A CRS with a base that is too wide to fit properly in a s eat with rigid armrests can be moved to a

seat with moveable armrests that can be raised to accommodate the CRS.

2) An aft

- facing CRS that cannot be installed properly because of minimal pitch (distance between seats) between rows can be moved to a bulkhead seat or a seat in a row with additional pitch.

3) A harness type CRS (approved under 14 CFR part 21, § 21.305(d)) with an upper strap that is not able to encircle some sleeper seats or very large first class seats can be moved to another seat that

can accomm odate the strap.

4) There are some aft facing CRS that have a detachable base that may keep the CRS from fitting properly in the seat

. The following visual cues will assist the passenger and the aircraft operator to

determine if the detachable base is necess ary.

a) If there is no belt path on the aft facing CRS, then it must be used with the detachable base on

aircraft

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- 220 b) If there is a belt path on the aft facing CRS and the CRS is properly labeled, then it does n ot
need to be used with the detachable b ase on aircraft

.

c) FMVSS

- 213 labeling standards do not require labeling on the detachable base.

Consistent with t he FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 that requires the FAA to initiate rulemaking to enable passengers to determine which CRS can b e used in an airplane seat, air carriers conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental operations are required to make available on their websites

the width of the widest passenger seat in each class of service for each make, model and series of airplane

use d in passenger

- carrying operations. [ § 121.311 (k)]

A n operator may have policies, based on safe operating practices that establish certain seat locations for passengers who use a CRS on a specific aircraft. However, prohibit ing th e use of a CRS (if a ti cket has been purchased) when there are seats on the a ircraft, in the same class of service, where the CRS could be used safely is not consis tent with the requirements stated in parts 121, 125 and 135.

Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors o f operations, directors of marketing and customer service, training managers and crewmembers should understand regulations in part 121, 125 and 135 regarding the use of approved CRS and should revise their procedures, manuals , websites and training

progra ms accordingly.

Contact: Questions or comments regarding this InFO should be directed to AFS

- 20 0

, Air Transportation Division, at 202

- 267

- 8166.