August 17, 2013

To W hom It May Concern: I am writing to request an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b) to the extent required for myself (Jean

- Marie Lawrence) to be able to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint System even though I exceed 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 I am aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b)(2)(iii)(B) to the extent necessary to allow myself 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 I seek relief is Section 121.311 Seats, safety belts, and shoulder harnesses. I am 26 year’s old, weigh 176 pounds, and am 66 inches tall. My physical condition is as follows : I have Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, resulting in limited muscle strength, which deteriorates over tim e. I have no use of my legs, and little strength in my arms and torso, making it impossible for me to hold myself upright. As a result of my physical condition, I need the support and security provided by an FAA Approved Child Restraint, but because of my weight is incapable of compliance with the regulation. **I am also submitting the following contact information:**  **Jean -**  **Marie Lawrence**  **, 4417 Oakwood Dr., Apt. 1102, Chattanooga, TN 37416, 423** **- 893** **- 3311,**  **and jm.lawrence1986@gmail.com**  I understand that the regul ation 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 I be allowed to occupy an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured by AmSafe, Inc.), even though I exceed the manufacturer’s weight limits. This en sures a high level of safety for myself,and a high level of safety for the other passengers and crew on the

airplane. In fact, in my case, safety is greatly enhanced by the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint System will provide dur ing the entire flight. Enhancing safety for me 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 me to use commercial air transportation. W ithout the support and security of the FAA Approved Child Restraint System, I 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 wo uld 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 li mitation in a grant to this petition that I only si t in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind her. Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind me while I am using the CARES restraint. In addition, I propose that I mu st 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. W e want to travel September 16, 2013

- September 23, 2013 . If you take the time to put this inthe Fede ral 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 an adult to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint System on an aircraft, even though the adult exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. Due to physical challenges, without the support and security of this FAA Approved Child Restraint System, this adult wou ld be unable to fly. W e request that this adult 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 adult is gre atly 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. Sincerely,

Jean

- Marie Lawrence