### Letter

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

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

to allow ( **Jonathan Fidek**) 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 belie ve the pertinent section from 14 CFR part 121 from which we seek relief is Section 121.311 Seats, safet y belts, and shoulder harnesses.

My ( **son** ) is **12** ye ar’s old, weighs **85** pounds, and is **57** inches tall. My **( son**  **’s )**  phy sical condition is as follows **(**

**s pastic quadriplegia**  **which includes, diminished**  **muscle mass, generalized muscle weakness,**  **poor head control, & low muscle tone)** . As a result of ( **his** ) phy sical condition, ( **he** ) needs the support and securit y provided by an FAA Approved Child Restraint, but be cause of ( **his** ) weight is incapable of compliance with the regulation. **I am also submitting the following contact information:**  **(Susan Dawn Fidek )**  **, (1023 Kingsmere Blvd., Saskatoon,**  **Saskatchewan, Canada, S7J 5A7) and (sdfidek@sasktel.net )** 

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 p assengers on the airplane b y being thrown into them during turbulent or emergency conditions.

I propose that ( **Jonathan Fidek** ) 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 ( **Jonathan Fidek**) and a high level of safety for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in ( **Jonathan Fidek’s** ) case, safety is greatl y enhanced b y the extra support and security th at the FAA Approved Restraint Sy stem will provide during the entire flight.

Enhancing safety

for ( **Jonathan Fidek** ) 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 ste m allows ( **him** ) to use commercial air transportation. Without the support and security of the FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem, ( **he** ) would be unable to fl y 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 safet y 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 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 wou ld 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 safet y as that provided by the affected regulation, I propose that the FAA establish a limitation in a grant to this petition that ( **Jonathan Fidek**) only sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind him . Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind (**Jonathan Fidek** ) while ( **he** ) is using th e CARES restraint. I also propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at least one of ( **Jonathan Fidek’**

**s** ) parents or a c aregiver accompany ing him . In addition, Ipropose that ( **Jonathan Fidek’s** ) parent or caregiver must carry a cop y 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 ( **October 19 th**  **& return October 26 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 t o 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 t o 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.