### September 13, 2012

**Request to Use CA RES for Larger/Older Persons**  I am writing to request an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b) to the extent required for Kayla Wa ssell to be able to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint System even though she 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 Kay la is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b)(2)(iii)(B) to the extent necessary to allow Kayla 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 relie f is Section 121.311 Seats, safety belts, and shoulder harnesses.

My daughter is 16 year’s old, weighs 75 pounds, and is approximately 51 inches tall. My daughter ’s physical condition is as follows is severely disabled, wheelchair bound, low muscle tone, fragile. As a result of her physical condition, she needs the support and security provided by an FAA Approved Child Restraint, but because of her 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 t hrown into them during turbulent or emergency conditions.

I propose that Kay la W assell be allowed to occupy an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES,
ma nufactured by AmSafe, Inc.), even though she exceeds the manufacturer’s weight limits. This ensures a high level of safety for Kayla and a high level of safety for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in Ka yl a ’s case, safety is greatly enhanced by the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint System will provide during the e ntire flight. Enhancing safety for Ka yla 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 her to use commercial air transportation. W ithout the support a nd security of the FAA Approved Child Restraint System, she 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 b y 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 s cenario and thismi ght 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 Ka yl a only sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind her. Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind Ka yla while she is using the CARES restraint. I also propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at le ast one of Kayla’s parents or a caregiver accompanying her. In addition, I propose that Ka yl a’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 F ederal Register. W e want to travel Sunday, November 18, 2012 . 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 Registe r, 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. W e request that this child be allowed to occupy an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured by AmSafe, Inc.), even though she exceeds the
ma nufacturer’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 her during the flight. 

### Thank you, Michele Wass ell Mother of Kayla Wassell