Discussing Child Passenger Safety on Airplanes, Trains, and in RVs by CPST-I and Car Seat Safety Consultant, Britney Lombard

1. Presented by:
Britney Lombard, CPST-I SN
Community Education Specialist
Saratoga Hospital

2. • Help families assess and identify the best form of
transportation safety-wise
• Explaining best practice recommendations for
travel by air, train, and RV.
• Our role is to educate, caregivers make final
decisions

3. We will discuss the following:
• History of Child Restraint allowances and the “infant seat exception”
• Current FAA Rules and Regulations
• Caregiver’s rights when travelling with Child Restraint Systems
(CRS)
• Risks of checking car seats and rental car seats
• Preparing caregivers for safe and convenient air travel

4. • Number of lap infants injured is unknown, this
information is not collected in
a central database
• Chance of dying on a scheduled flight in the U.S. is 1
in 14 million
• On average, every day more than 8 million people fly
• According to NTSB, around 68% of airplane deaths
are attributed to single engine aircrafts
• According to NTSB:
• 95.7% of passengers survive plane
crashes
• 74% of fatalities happen during takeoff
and landing
• According to FAA:
• Approximately 58 people are injured in
turbulence annually
• From 1980 through 2008, U.S. air carriers
had 234 turbulence accidents, resulting in
298 serious injuries and three fatalities.
• At least two of the three fatalities involved
passengers who were not wearing their seat
belts while the seat belt sign was
illuminated.

5. 1953
Civil Air Regulations:
“Seat and individual
safety belt required for
each passenger…
excluding infants.”
1983
NTSB submits letter
to FAA urging them to
consider safety for
children on board
aircrafts
“Among the areas of transportation crash protection most neglected over the years is that for
infants and small children during air travel. The Safety Board is concerned that such protection
has not been forthcoming in this important area.” –NTSB, 1983
United Airlines DC-8 crashed in Portland,
Oregon – 10 deaths, 3 lap babies
1971
A study is published by IIHS: "An Evaluation of Adult
Clasping Strength for Restraining Lap Held Infants”:
“The results clearly demonstrate that it is not safe for
infants to be transported in adults’ laps in automobiles
or airplanes even in the relatively rare instances when
they are held tightly and the adults are restrained.”
1979
1978
Tennessee
passes first
car seat law
for vehicle
travel
FAA regulation requiring all
passengers to wear seat belt for
takeoff and landing EXCEPT
PASSENGERS UNDER THE
AGE OF TWO.

6. 1989
UA232 crashed in Sioux City,
Iowa.
Flight attendant Jan Lohr Brown
1994
USAir flight 1016-
9 month old lap
child fatality in
survivable crash.
1992
Private plane crash,
Adult fatality. 4 year old
and 10 month old
secured in Child
Restraints survived with
injury.
“…in spite of the FAA's own research, the demonstrated benefits of child safety seats
in automobiles, and the availability of child safety seats acceptable to the FAA as
early as 1981, the FAA has failed to require their use on aircraft…” –NTSB, 1990
1985
FMVSS certified
child restraints
permitted on
board
Bills first introduced
in Congress to require
children under age 2 to
use CRS on
commercial aircraft
flights
Legislation fails

7. 20091997
White House Commission on
Aviation Safety and Security:
“…eliminate the exemptions… that
allow children under two to travel
without the benefit of FAA approved
restraints.”
Butte, MT- private plane
crash
7 children died, the 4
unrestrained children were
found furthest from the
crash.
1996
Delta flight 1288 engine
failure crash kills two
passengers.
Seated nearby, a 14 month old
in a child restraint survived
the incident uninjured
"it is inappropriate for infants to be afforded a lesser degree of protection than older passengers.”
-WHCASS, 1997
2012
Nunavut, Canada plane
crashes, killing 6 month old
lap child. No other fatalities.
Transport Canada
recommends, but does not
require, restraints for children
under 2.
2007
British Columbia,
3yo in CRS sole survivor

8. Video by National Transportation Safety Board

9. -Babies Have a Right to a Safe Seat with Proper Restraints - The
Infant Seat Exception Should be Abandoned by David E. Rapoport, Jan
Brown, and Lindsey A. Epstein
“In the United States, for more than twenty years, the
NTSB and the FAA have had a legendary disagreement
about the need for rules mandating seats and restraints
for babies under age two, which is unfortunate because all
of the regulatory power belongs to the FAA and the agency
opposes a seat and restraint mandate.”

10.  Federal Aviation Administration:
 “The safest place for your child on an airplane is in a
government-approved child safety restraint system (CRS) or
device, not on your lap. Your arms aren’t capable of holding
your child securely, especially during unexpected
turbulence.”
 American Academy of Pediatrics:
 “The AAP believes that children should be afforded the same
protection as other passengers and that restraint use in
aircraft for children younger than 2 years should be
mandatory during takeoff, landing, and conditions of
turbulence .”
 National Transportation Safety Board:
 “…adults may not be able to maintain a secure hold on a lap-
held child during turbulence and survivable accidents.
Preventable deaths and injuries have occurred in children
under age 2 who were unrestrained.”
 Center for Disease Control:
 “Making sure that children can be safely restrained during a
flight is a safety consideration. Severe turbulence or crash
can create enough momentum that a parent cannot hold
onto a child.”
In-flight safety manual shows both rear- and forward-
facing children restrained in a CRS

11. FAA recommendations:
*NOTE* Caregivers may use their seats to
the limit specified on the CRS, above and
beyond these numbers, per FAA regulations.
Yet, despite the FAA’s clear safety *recommendations*…

12.  Children under age 2 are still allowed to
travel free as a “lap child”. Airlines may
require a birth certificate upon boarding.
 Children over two must purchase a seat,
but are not required to use CRS
 Any child with a purchased ticket
(regardless of age) may use an FAA
approved CRS on board
FAA “infant seat
exception”
“I have to tell passengers that they cannot hold their laptop computer
on their lap; however, a wiggly 20-pound human is allowed.” –
Member of Association of Flight Attendants Photo credit: British Airways Speedbird Heritage Center
FAA regulates the
restraining of soap
dispensers in the
lavatory, but not
for your infant.

13. Types of CRS allowed on US carriers:
• Rear- or Forward-facing harnessed
• Must have text or symbol indicating approval for Aircraft
• CARES Harness by AmSafe (“Aviation Child Safety Device”or ACSD)

14. CARES by AmSafe
• FAA certified for use on aircraft
• Age 1+
• 22-44 pounds
• Up to 40” tall
• Special Needs version exists for
pre-teen through adult
• Must have FAA letter of exemption
Limitations of CARES:
• Cost $75
• Not certified for vehicle use
• No crotch strap
• May not keep child restrained
• Does not help the fit of the lap belt
4.5 year old child, 32 pounds, 38”

15. Types of CRS not allowed on US air carriers:
• Belt Positioning Booster seats
• Baby-wearing carriers
• Belly belts or vests that attach to adult’s seat belt

17. How do Child Restraints get FAA
approval?• Must pass U.S. FMVSS 213 (except CARES Harness)
• Must pass inversion test
• Properly installed car seat on an airplane test seat
• Rotated forward until upside down, held for 3 seconds
• Rotated sideways until upside down, held for 3 seconds
• Must pass both inversion tests

18. Diversion theory
• Claim diversion will cause 6 deaths
annually
• Data doesn’t support
• Fare increases don’t cause diversion
“Not enough babies have died” -Long time airline official
Cost analysis
• CRS requirement would cost
airlines or passengers
NTSB, 2004

19. Understanding Caregiver Arguments
against using CRS

20. USDOT and FAA’s advisory circular can be found here:
http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%20120-87B.pdf
If a ticket is purchased for
a child:
• CRS must be installed on forward-facing aircraft seat
• CRS can not block the exit of another passenger
• Must follow airline’s rules for Emergency Exit rows
• Aircraft operator can not prohibit you from using your FAA
approved CRS
• If your CRS does not fit your airplane seat, they are
responsible for making reasonable accommodations in
another same class seat
• CRS may be rear- or forward-facing as long as you’re within
the specifications of the child restraint

21. ”…based on FAA testing at CAMI,
children should ride rear-facing on
aircraft even longer than in
automobiles because of the very
limited spacing between airline
seats. Although a forward facing
seat is safer than nothing, it is
likely, in a severe impact, that the
child might strike the seat in
front….”
-Stephanie Tombrello,
Director, SafetyBeltSafe USA
1994, THE PERFORMANCE OF CHILD RESTRAINT DEVICES IN
TRANSPORT AIRPLANE PASSENGER SEATS , Gowdy and DeWeese

22. 1994, THE PERFORMANCE OF CHILD RESTRAINT DEVICES IN TRANSPORT AIRPLANE PASSENGER SEATS , Gowdy
and DeWeese
3 year old dummy, in CRS 3 year old dummy, in airplane lap belt

23. Manufacturer’s Alliance for Child Passenger Safety (MACPS)
recommendations for car seats that have been checked under a plane:
“In general, the MACPS does not consider a gate-checked car seat
or a car seat that is checked as luggage to be one that has
experienced forces equivalent to a motor vehicle crash. Once the
destination is reached, it is recommended to inspect the car seat
to make sure no visual damage has occurred and all aspects of the
car seat function properly.”
However, there are other risks to checking car seats.
• Your car seat may be lost in transit
• Your car seat may be damaged in transit
• A car seat is recommended on the plane
What is the backup plan if their seat doesn’t arrive at the destination, or arrives damaged?
Do parents know their seats well enough to recognize broken or malfunctioning parts?
Who is responsible for replacing a damaged car seat?

24. United Airlines Contract of Carriage:
Southwest Airlines:
JetBlue Airlines:
Alaska Air:
Delta, Frontier, Spirit, Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin America and Allegiant Air all have wording
denying liability for “Fragile Items” that could include car seats.
American Airlines:

25. Risks of rental seats:
• Unknown history (is it crashed? Expired? Broken or missing parts? Cleaned improperly?)
• Missing manual
• Wrong type of seat for your child
• Soiled
• Incompatible with the car (will your 3 children fit 3 across?)
• Cost prohibitive ($10-15 per day, per seat)
Selection of seats from Advantage Rent-a-Car’s rental car seats, 200

26. GoGoBabyz Travelmate – designed to wheel
with child restrained in seat MSRP $90+
Two car seats
stacked on a
regular luggage
cart with
bungee cords

27. Tips for easier travel through airports and on
airplanes
• Bring a RFO seat when possible
• Consider purchasing light, inexpensive travel seats
Cosco Scenera Next is under $50, under 10 pounds,
narrow, and takes up little pitch space
• Familiarize yourself with the location of your ‘FAA certified’
label. Bring a printed copy of FAA regulations, along with your
car seat manual
**Some car seats have specific install instructions on
airplanes**
• Always be courteous to flight staff- despite FAA regulations,
flight staff can remove any passengers at their discretion

28. Restrained children make
caregiver’s flight easier
• Children are used to being
restrained for travel
• They may be able to sleep
comfortably
• Children can still come out
of their car seat when the
‘fasten seat belt’ sign turns
off for bathroom breaks or
stretch breaks.

30. • Train seats do not have seat belts, so there is
no way to install a child restraint on them.
• Children with a ticket can sit comfortably on
their own seat. Young children without a
ticket can sit on a caregiver’s lap.
• Car seats can be stored in on-board cargo
space or overhead storage. Parents may be
able to check your seat underneath the train,
but be aware there is always a risk the seat
could be lost or damaged during travel.

31. Comparison of fatalities for vehicles vs. trains
(includes both freight and passenger trains)
As you can see, trains are a very safe method of transportation for families,
despite the lack of seat belts and child restraint options
Sources:
http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_02_41.html
http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx
• Trains are most lethal to pedestrians and vehicle drivers- the number of
fatalities
for those incidents is closer to 1,000/year.

32. • Classes of RVs and how that effects crashworthiness based on frame
construction, seat belts, and projectile risks
• FMVSS as it applies to RVs
• Driver’s license requirements (lack thereof)
• RV crash scene photos and crash test video
• Safest choices for families choosing RV travel
We will discuss the following:

33. • Around 30 million RV enthusiasts in the U.S. (owners and renters)
• Around 9 million households own a Recreational Vehicle
• Average owner is 48 years old
• 39% of RV travellers have children under 18 living in their household
• No Commercial Driver’s License required
• Few states require a test
• 75,000 Hospitalizations per year, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA)
• Deaths are hard to track due to categorization (Heavy Truck, Motorized Home, RV’s, etc.)

34. Class A
-Typically built on a bus chassis, this is the largest type of RV
-Weigh between 15,000-30,000+ pounds
Photo from rv.org

35. Class A
Safety Concerns
• Not required to meet FMVSS for rear seatbelt standards (over
10,000 lbs.)
• Not required to meet Bus safety standards
• More difficult to drive- turning/backing up is cumbersome
• Frames may be structurally unsound- constructed of wood and
aluminum
• Significant projectiles (cabinets, appliances, furniture)
• High profile vehicle
• Wheelbase to length ratio
Wheelbase to length ratio
<50% is dangerous, according to RV Consumer Group

36. Class B
• Conversion vans
• Weigh between 6,000-8,000 pounds

37. Class B
• Required to meet seat belt standards for front
occupants, but NOT usually required for rear
occupants
• Lap/shoulder belts required for Class B vehicles
weighing 8,500-10,000 lbs.
• Rear vehicle seats may not face forward for car seat
installation
• Some manufacturers do meet federal standards and
do independent testing
• Projectile risks
Safety Concerns

38. Class C
• Most common type for owners and renters
• Constructed on a van chassis (“cutaway chassis”)
• Weigh between 10,000-12,000 pounds

39. Class C
• Required to meet seat belt standards for front occupants,
but NOT required for rear occupants (over 10,000lbs)
• Rear seats may not face forward for car seat installation
• Projectile risks
• High profile vehicle
Safety Concerns

40. These two photos from procarseatsafety.com
• Because they aren’t required to adhere to FMVSS standards,
most RVs will have lap only belts (or no belts!) in the back seat.
• Seat belts may or may not be bolted to the vehicle frame
• Side facing or rear-facing vehicle seats
are not allowed by any CR manufacturer
for car seat install or booster use
• How many usable seats are in the RV?

41. Non-motorized
• Fifth Wheel, Truck Camper, or Tent Trailer
• Not intended to transport passengers

42. Non-motorized
Safety Advantages
• Projectiles are separated from passengers
• Child Restraints are installed in vehicle
• Lighter-weight, easier to maneuver
Safety Risks
• High Profile Vehicle (wind)
• Still requires driver experience

43. RV crash statistics can be difficult to come by, as they can be categorized
differently, but here is what RV crashes can look like:
2011, Flaglerlive.com

49. • 2012
• 18 family members
• 5 fatalities- all unrestrained
• 13 injuries
• 17 year old driver, driving
legally

52. Safest choice:
Alternative Safest Choice option:
Not Recommended:

53. Source: http://procarseatsafety.com/rv-resources-cpsts.html