I am writing to request an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b) to the extent required for Maya

Gonik to be able to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem even though she exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. In addition, if m y petition is granted, I request that an y air carrier or commercial operator operating under part 121 while Maya Gonik is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.311(b)(2)(iii)(B ) to the extent necessary to allow Maya Gonik to exceed the specified weight limit for an FAA

- approved child restraint system 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 s eek relief is Section 121.311 Seats, safet y belts, and shoulder harnesses. My daughter is 8 year’s old, weighs 72 pounds, and is ______ inches tall. My daughter ’s phy sical condition is as follows : Maya has Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy and cannot sit independentl y in a regular chair without support . As a result of her phy sical 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 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 o ther passengers on the airplane b y being thrown into them during turbulent or emergency conditions. I propose that Maya be allowed to occup y an FAA Approved Child Restraint (CARES, manufactured b y AmSafe, Inc.), even though she exceeds the manufacturer’s w eight limits. This ensures a high level of safety for May a and a high level of safety for the other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in Maya ’s case, safety is greatly enhanced by

the extra support and securit y that the FAA Approved Restraint S ys tem will provide during the entire flight. Enhancing safety

for May a 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 Sy stem allows her to use commercial air transpor

tation. Without the support and securit y of the FAA Approved Child Restraint Sy stem, she would be unable to fl y commerciall y.
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 airc raft 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 would mean that it would not be there to attenuat e 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 Maya onl y sits in a passenger seat with no passenger seated behind her. Therefore, no unsafe condition would exist for a passenger seated behind May a while she is using the CARES restraint. Ialso propose that all operations under this exempt ion be conducted with at least one of Maya Gonik’s parents or a caregiver accompan yi ng him or her. In addition, I propose that Maya’s parent or caregiver must
carry a cop y of this exemption.

I also request that the processing of this petition not be delay e d for publication and comment in the Federal Register. We want to travel in April 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 summ ary

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 fo r 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 fl y. We request that this child 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 safet y of this child is greatl y enhanced by the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint S ys tem will provide for her during the flight

. Sincerel y, Julie Gonik (mother of May a Gonik)