BOARDOFDIRECTORSStacyVarneyChairThomasCyrViceChairRickCyrTreasurerLisaAndersonLynnBakMelindaBedardMichaelCelesteAdamDunbarBrianFournierPalrickGaelaniBethGoodrichKenHaynerMeredithLeiterRebeccaMarrPaulMeservePhillipPoirierCarlShelineSTAFFNancyKoglmeierPresidentandCEOKaleVickeryProgramDirectorEileenChretienVolunteerDirectorSonyaPuringtonCommunicalionsandMarketingDirectorRebeccaLearningDevelopmentManagerMeredithJonesDonorCareManagerWhitneyMillerOfficeManagerCOW"ACT477CongressSuileMIPordand,ME0410I207-2212306[I)800-491-3171[1)207-221-2028mmoine.wish.orgFebruary22,2016ToWhomitMayConcern:11(>granlllwwishesofMaine>rhildrenll'ithli(e-lhrc>alc>ningmediml(·onditimrstoenrichlirelrwncmexperiencewitlr/rope,strengthandjoy.Iamwritingtorequestanexemptionfrom14CFR§121.311(b)totheextentrequiredforZackeryWeinbergertobeabletouseanFAAApprovedChildRestraintSystemeventhoughheexceedstheweightlimitsfortheCRS.IamwritingonbehalfofZackary,asIamtheProgramDirectorforMake-A-WishMaine,andwearegrantingawishtoZackwhichrequireshistransportoncommercialaircraftinordertomakehiswishcometrue.IamalsorequestingexpeditionofthisrequestasthefamilyisscheduledtotravelMarch30-April5.2016.Iapologizefortherushrequest,butwehavepulledthistogetherveryquicklyforthisfamilyandaretryingourbesttocoverallbaseswithregardstotheirtravelplans.Myformalrequestisasfollows:Iamwritingtorequestanexemptionfrom14CFR§121.311(b)totheextentrequiredforZackaryWeinbergertobeabletouseanFAAApprovedChildRestraintSystemeventhoughheexceedstheweightlimitsfortheCRS.Inaddition,ifmypetitionisgranted.Irequestthatanyaircarrierorcommercialoperatoroperatingunderpart121whileZackaryWeinbergerisaboarditsaircraftisgrantedanexemptionfrom14CFR§121.311(b)(2)(iii)(B)totheextentnecessarytoallowZacktoexceedthespecifiedweightlimitforanFAA-approvedchildrestraintsystemduringuseofthatchildrestraintsystemaboardanaircraft.Ibelievethepertinentsectionfrom14CFRpart121fromwhichweseekreliefisSection121.311Seats,safetybelts,andshoulderharnesses.Zackaryis16yearsold,weighs100pounds,andis5feet8inchestall.HesuffersfromarareseizuredisorderknownasLaforaDiseaseandusesawheelchair.Asaresultofhisphysicalcondition.heneedsthesupportandsecurityprovidedbyanFAAApprovedChildRestraint,butbecauseofhisweightisincapableofcompliancewiththeregulation.IamalsosubmittingthefollowingcontactinformationforZackery'smotherandprimarycaregiver,whowillbetravelingwithhimatalltimes:ChristinaWeinberger,36PineHillRoad,Berwick,ME03901andfinaweinberger@msn.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 Zackary

be allowed

to occupy

an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured

by AmSafe

, Inc

. ), even though

he exceeds
the manufacturer's weight limits. This ensures

a high level
of safety
for Zack and

a high level
of safety
for the other passengers

and crew on the airplane.

In fact,

in Zack's case, safety

is greatly enhanced

by the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint System will provide during the entire flight. Enhancing safety
for Zack

is in the public interest.

In addition,

the public interest

is also served

by the fact that the use of this FAA Approved Child Restraint System allows him to use commercial

air transportation. Without
the support and se
c urity 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

in a grant

to this petition, there can be an equivalent
level
of
s afety

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 CARES restraint
are the same a s 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 child attached

to the seatback,

the seatback would move forward more quickly

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 safety

as that provided

by the affected regulation,

I propose that all operations under this exemption

be conducted

with atleast one of Zackary's parents

or a caregiver accompanying

him

. In addition

.

I propose that Zackary's parent

or caregiver must carry

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.
We are granting Zackery's special wish
to travel

to Walt Disney World, March 30-April

5, 2016.

If you take the time to put this

in the Federal Register.

it will delay the process and he 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

. 31

1 (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. We request that this child be allowed

to occupy

an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES. manufactured

by AmSafe

, Inc.), even though

he exceeds
the manufacturer's weight limits
of 44 pounds.

In this case. the safety

of this child

is greatly enhanced

by the extra sup

p ort and
se c urity
th a
t the FAA

A p proved Restraint System
will provide

for him during the flight

. Thank you for your consideration

of this request. **~** Kate Vickery Program Director Make-A-Wish Maine kvickerv@maine .wish.orq 207-221-2306 Wish Child: Zackary Weinberger Parent: Phone: Address: Christina Weinberger 207-251-8203 36 Pine Hill Road, Berwick.

ME 03901