I am writing to request an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b) to the extent required for Gary

Snipes to be able to use an FAA Approved Chil d Restraint Sy stem even though he exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. In addition, if m y petition is granted, I request that an y air carrier or commercial operator operating under part 121 while Gary Snipes is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b)(2)(iii) (B) to the extent necessary to allow Gary

Snipes to exceed the specified weight limit for an FAA

- approved child restraint system during use of that child restraint s ys tem aboard an aircraft. I believe the pertinent section from 14 CFR part 121 from which w e seek relief is Section 121.311 Seats, safet y belts, and shoulder harnesses. My son is 14 year’s old, weighs 96 pounds, and is 4’7 inches tall. My son ’s phy sical condition is as follows Cerebral Palsy . As a result of his phy sical condition, he needs the s upport and securit y provided b y 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: Make** 
**- A** 
**- Wish, Trina Cottingham 811 First Ave, Suite 520 Seatt**  **le WA 98104 trina@akwa.wish.org** 
**. Make** 
**- A** 
**- Wish is organizing the trip for Gary.**  I understand that the regulation 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 Gary

S nipes be allowed to occup y 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 Gary Snipes and a high level of safet y for the other passenge rs and cre w on the airplane. In fact, in Gary Snipes’ case, safet y is greatly enhanced b y the extra support and securit y that the FAA Approved Restraint Sy stem will provide during the entire flight. Enhancing safety

for Gary Snipes is in the public interes t. In addition, the public interest is also served b y the fact that the use of this FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem allows him to use commercial air transportation. Without the support and security of the FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem, he would b e 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 safet y to that provided by the affected regulation. The CARES restraint has been certified b y 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 seate d in the seat behind the passenger using the CARES restraint (because the seatback moving forward more quickly wouldmean 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 affected regulation, I propose that the FAA establish a limitation in a grant to this petition that Gary Snipes only sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind him . The refore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind Gary Snipes while he is using the CARES restraint. I also propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at least one of Gary Snipes’ parents or a caregiver accompanying him or he r. In addition, Ipropose that Gary Snipes’ 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. We want to travel Sept ember 19 th to September 24 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 he 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 securit y that the FAA Approved Res traint S ys tem will provide for him during the flight. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Trina Cottingham Director of Wishes 811 First Ave, Suite 520 Seattle, WA 98104 206

- 623

- 5320 trina@akwa.wish.org