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

I am writing to request an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b) to the extent required for **Madisyn Humby** to be able to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem even though she exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. In addition, if my petition is granted, Irequest that an y air carrier or commercial operator operating under part 121 while **Madisyn Humby** is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b)(2)(ii i)(B) to the extent necessary to allow **Madisyn Humby** to exceed the specified weight limit for an FAA

- approved child restraint sy stem during use of that child restraint s ys tem aboard an aircraft. I believe the pertinent section from 14 CFR part 121 from whi ch we seek relief is Section 121.311 Seats, safet y belts, and shoulder harnesses. My daughter is 7 year’s old, weighs 52 pounds, and is 49 inches tall. My **daughter** ’s ph ys ical condition is as follows severe Cerebral Palsy /Seizures. As a result of her phy sic al condition, she needs the support and security provided b y an FAA Approved Child Restraint, but because of her weight is incapable of compliance with the regulation. I understand that the regulation is written to create a high level of safety for each in dividual 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 o r emergency conditions. I propose that **Madisyn Humby** be allowed to occupy an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured by AmSafe, Inc.), even though she exceeds the manufacturer’s weight limits. This ensures a high level of safety for **Madisyn Humby** and a high level of safet y for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in **Madisyn Humby** ’s case, safety is greatl y enhanced b y the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint Sy stem will provide during the entire flight.
Enhancing safety

for **Madisyn Humby** is in the public interest. In addition, the public interest is also served b y the fact that the use of this FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem allows her to use commercial air transportation. Without the support and security of the FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem, she would be unable to fl y commerciall y. I also believe that, with certain limitations established by the FAA in a grant to this petition, there can be an equivalent level of safety to that provided by the affec ted 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 as those used in restraints for adults on aircraft and would maintain their integrit y if used b y 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 pers on seated behind the person using the CARES restraint). In order to achieve an equivalent level of safet y as that provided by the affected regulation, I propose that the FAA establish a limitation in a grant to this petition that **Madisyn Humby** only sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind her. Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind **Madisyn Humby** while she is using the CARESrestraint. I also propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at least one of

**Madisyn Humby** parents or a caregiver accompanying him or her. In addition, Ipropose that **Madisyn Humby** parent or caregiver must carry a copy of this exemption.

I also request that the processing of this petition not be delayed for publicat ion and comment in the Federal Register. We want to travel March 30 th , 2013. 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 exemption from FAR 121.311 (b) to the extent required for a child to use an FAA Approved 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 securit y of this FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem, this child would be unable to fl y. We request that this child be allowed to occupy an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured by AmSafe, Inc .), even though she exceeds the manufacturer’s weight limits of 44 pounds. In this case, the safet y of this child is greatl y enhanced by the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint S ys tem will provide for her during the flight.