Child Restraints on Commercial Aircraft
On August 3, 2004 the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for backing away from a pledge made five years ago to require that infants and toddlers be safely secured while flying on commercial airliners. In 1999, the FAA said rules would be established mandating the use of child restraints on all commercial aircraft. In response to the criticism from the NTSB, FAA officials said that instead of requiring special restraints for babies, the agency is focusing on an upcoming campaign to educate parents about the dangers of traveling on planes with children age 2 and younger on their laps.
What is the status on the use of child restraint systems on aircraft in Canada? The Canada Safety Council received the following information from the Civil Aviation directorate of Transport Canada:
Transport Canada highly recommends the use of an approved child restraint for all phases of flight. The use of a child restraint system provides the greatest degree of protection for the infant/child and its use during flight will help in case of unanticipated turbulence. Also, by using the child restraint on board the aircraft, it will ensure that it will be available for use at the passenger's destination.
The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) govern the use of approved motor vehicle child restraint systems on board Canadian aircraft. An approved motor vehicle child restraint system is one that meets the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 213 or 213.1. The Regulations also allow for an infant (one who has not yet reached its second birthday) to be held securely in the arms of a passenger during movement on the surface, take-off, landing and when seat belts are required to be worn.
Child restraint use on board aircraft has not yet been made mandatory, primarily due to operational problems associated with their use other than in automobiles. Because approved child restraint systems are designed primarily for automotive use, not all are compatible in fit and function with aircraft seats. In some cases, the restraint system cannot be installed properly in an aircraft seat and in other cases, the restraint system may perform differently from the way it was designed to perform.
Transport Canada has been responding to this concern with an innovative research and development project to develop a prototype child restraint system that is compatible with all aircraft seats and takes into account the challenges posed by the particular design and construction of aircraft seats.
While a number of prototypes have been developed, a final child restraint system has not yet been approved nor has it been determined to what standard the device will be approved. The currently accepted standard has been the CMVSS 213 and 213.1; however, ongoing research indicates that the standard may not continue to be appropriate for aviation.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aerospace Division has recently developed a specific aviation standard for the design and construction of child restraint systems for use on aircraft. Transport Canada will also accept this standard and will allow the on board use of devices that meet this standard.
While Transport Canada is encouraged by the results so far, any decision to mandate the use of child restraints on board aircraft must also, of necessity, be harmonized with other countries to the greatest extent possible.
Following is a list of links to the current regulations pertaining to the use of child restraint systems on board aircraft and a Transport Canada Advisory Circular that outlines in detail the type of systems permitted to be carried on board Canadian aircraft, including all labelling requirements that must be met.
For further information contact the Civil Aviation directorate of Transport Canada.
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