**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 Ky le Leanza to be able to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem even though he exceeds the we ig ht limits for the CRS. In addition, if my petition is granted, Irequest that any air carrier or commercial operator operating under part 121 while Kyle L eanza is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b)(2)(iii)(B) to the exte nt necessary

to allow Ky le Leanza 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 believe the pertinent section from 14 CFR part 121 from which we seek relief i s Section 121.311 Seats, safet y belts, and shoulder harnesses.
My son is 8 y ear’s old, weighs 55 pounds, and is 46 inches tall. My **son** ’s phy sical condition is as follows Obstructive Hy drocephalus, Cerebral Pals y. As a result of his phy sical condition, he needs the support and security 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: Janice and Russell Leanza,**  **18554 Heritage Trail Strongsville OH 44136 and rjleanza@att.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 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 b y being thrown into them during turbulent or emergency

conditions. I propose that Ky le Leanza 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 safet y for K yl e and a high level of safet y for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in Kyle’s case, safet y is greatly enhanced b y th e extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint Sy stem will provide during the entire flight. Enhancing safety

for Ky le Leanza is in the public interest. In addition, the public interest is also served b y the fact that the use of this FAA Appr oved Child Restraint Sy stem allows him to use commercial air transportation. Without the support and securit y 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 r estraint 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 quickl y in an accident scenario and this might cause a higher HI C load for the person seated in the seat behind the passenger using the CARES restraint (because the seatback moving fo rward more quickl y 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 safet y as that provided by the affected regulatio n, I propose that the FAA establish a limitation in a grant to this petition that Ky le Leanza onl y sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind him. Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind Ky le while he is using the CARES restraint. Ialso propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at least one of Ky le’s parents or a caregiver accompany ing him or her. In addition, Ipropose that Ky le’s parent or caregiver must carry a copy of this exemptio n.

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 February 5

- 12, 2014. If y ou 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 fly . We request that this child be allowed to occup y an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured b y AmSafe, Inc.), even though Ky le Leanza exceeds the manufacturer’s weight limits of 44 pounds. I n this case, the safet y of this child is greatl y enhanced b y the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint Sy stem will provide for him during the flight. Thank y ou for y our consideration of this request.