Michael Celeste 

Boord Choir 

Rick Cyr 

Treasurer 

Stacy Varney 

Vice Chair 

lisa Anderson lynn Bak 

Thomas Cyr 

Adam Dunbar 

Brian Fournier 

Patrick Goetoni 

Beth Goodrich 

Geoff locuessa 

Susan Koob 

Meredith leiter 

Susan MacMillan 

Rebecca Morr 

Paul Meserve Phillip Poirier 

Jennifer Richard 

Colette Sabbagh, MD 

Elizabeth Shissler 

Jon Tardiff 

STAFF 

Thomas Peaco 

Executive Director 

Kate Vickery 

Program Director 

Eileen Chretien 

Volunteer Director 

Sonya Purington 

Communications and 

Marketing Director 

To Whom It May Concem: 

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

for Jaiden Lewis to be able to use on FAA Approved Child Restraint System even 

though he exceeds the weight limits for the CRS. I am writing on behalf of Jalden, as I 

am the Program Director for Make-A-Wish Maine, and we are granting a wish to Jaiden 

which requires his transport on commercial aircraft In order to make his wish come true. 

I am also requesting expedlflon of this request as the family Is scheduled to travel April 

10-16, 2015. I for the rush request, but we have pulled this very 

quickly for this family and are trying our best to cover all bases with regards to their 

travel plans. My formal request is as follows: 

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

for Jaiden Lewis to be able to use on 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 port 121 while 

Jaiden lewis is aboard its aircraft is granted an exemption from 14 CFR § 

121.311 (b) (2) (iii) (B) to the extent necessary to allow Jofden to exceed the specified 

weight limit for an FAA-approved child restraint system during use of that chUd 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. 

Joiden is 5 years old, weighs 47 pounds, and is 40 inches toll. He suffers from a seizure 

disorder and uses a wheelchair. 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 am also submitting the 

RDebeicca leamMing following contact Information for Jalden's mother and primary caregiver, who will be 

eve opment onoger 

Meredith Jones traveling with him at all times: Sheena Lewis, J 5 Nlary Lane. Oakland, NIE 04963 and 

Donor Core Manager sheena_lewis86@yahoo.com. 

Whitney Miller 

Office Manager 

We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. 
emergency conditions. 

I propose that Jaiden be aHowed 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 Jaiden and a high level of safety for the 

other passengers and crew on the airplane. In fact, in Joiden's case. safety is greatly 

enhanced by the extra support and security that the FAA Approved Restraint System 

wil provide during the entire flight. 

Enhancing safety for Jaiden 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-« 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 seotbock. the seotboclc: would move forward more 

quickly in on occident 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 on equivalent level of safety as that provided by the affected 

regulation, I propose that all operations under this exemption be conducted with at 
WaH Disney World, Aprlll 0-16. 2015. 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 necesscvy 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 chad 

to use an FAA Approved Child Restraint System on an circraft, 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 occt•PY nn FAA Arrrnw~rl r.hilrl RP.c;trnint 

(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. 

Thanlc you for your consideration of this request. 

Sincerely, 

KateYte~~ 

Program Director 

Make-A-Wish Maine 

kvickerv@moine.wish.org 

207-221-2306 

Wish ChUd: Jaiden Lewis 

Parent: 

Phone: 

Address: 

Sheena Lewis 

207-314-0809 

15 Mary Lane, Oakland, ME 04963