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 

Samuel Fast to be able to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint System even though he

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 Samuel is aboard 

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

necessary to allow Samuel 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.

My son is 13 year’s old, weighs 93 pounds, and is 46 inches tall. My son’s physical 

condition is as follows spastic cerebral palsy. As a result of his physical condition, he

needs the support and security provided by an FAA Approved Child Restraint, but 

because of his weight is incapable of compliance with the regulation.

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 Samuel Fast 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 Samuel Fast and a high level of 

safety for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in Samuel’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 Samuel 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 security 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 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 

Samuel only sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind him. Therefore, no 

unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind Samuel while he is using the 

CARES restraint. I also propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted 

with at least one of Samuel’s parents or a caregiver accompanying him or her. In 

addition, I propose that Samuel’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 October 24 through November 1. 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 he 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 him during the flight.