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 

James Richard Worrell, III, 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 James Richard is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 

121.311(b)(2)(iii)(B) to the extent necessary to allow James Richard 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 7 year’s old, weighs 46 pounds, and is 49 inches tall. My son’s physical 

condition is as follows: cerebral palsy with movement disorder and visual impairment. 

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 James Richard 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 James Richard and a high level of 

safety for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in James Richard’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 James Richard 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 

James Richard only sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind him. 

Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind James Richard 

while he is using the CARES restraint. I also propose that all operations under this 

exemption be conducted with at least one of James Richard’s parents or a caregiver 

accompanying him or her. In addition, I propose that James Richard’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 March 23rd-29th, 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 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.