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 TeiAnna Cirtwell to be able to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint System even though she 

exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. In addition, if my petition is granted, I request that any 

air carrier or commercial operator operating under part 121 while Miss Cirtwell is aboard its 

aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b)(2)(iii)(B) to the extent necessary to 

allow Miss Cirtwell to exceed the specified weight limit for an FAA-approved child restraint 

system during use of that child restraint system aboard 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.

Tei-Anna Cirtwell is 12 year’s old, weighs 88 pounds, and is 52 inches tall. 

Her physical condition is as follows: Cerebral Palsy (Spastic hypertonic quadriplegia). Global 

Developmental Deficits, Microcephaly, Partial Complex Seizure activity. She is G-Tub fed, 

wheelchair dependent and non-verbal

As a result of her physical condition, she needs the support and security provided by an FAA 

Approved Child Restraint, but because of her weight is incapable of compliance with the 

regulation. I am also submitting the following contact information:

Rhonda Thacker, Foster Mother 

33183 Dalke Ave 

Mission, BC, V2V 0A3

tamnibroc@shaw.ca

Katie Spencer-Lim, Children’s Wish 

Foundation, Wish Coordinator

450 – 319 West Pender St

Vancouver, BC, V6B 1T3

Katie.spencer-lim@childrenswish.ca

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 Tei-Anna Cirtwell 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 Miss. Cirtwell and a high level of safety for the other 

passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in Miss Cirtwell’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 Tei- 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 her to use 

commercial air transportation. Without the support and security of the FAA Approved Child 

Restraint System, she 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 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 CARES restraint 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 

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 the FAA establish a limitation in a grant to this petition that Tei-Anna Cirtwell only 

sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind her. Therefore, no unsafe condition 

would exist for a passenger seated behind Miss. Cirtwell while she is using the CARES restraint. I 

also propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at least one of TeiAnna Cirtwell’s parents or a caregiver accompanying him or her. In addition, I propose that Miss 

Cirtwell’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 want to travel August 2014. 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 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 she exceeds the manufacturer’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 her during the flight.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Katie Spencer-Lim, Wish Coordinator

Rhonda Thacker, Foster Mother of Tei-Anna Cirtwell