FAA Encouraging the Use of Child Safety Seats, Cabin Crews not Getting the Message
Jeff Edwards September 29, 2014
While the FAA encourages travelers to place children in child safety seats, airlines continue to prohibit the use of the devices.
The FAA wants travelers to know that “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,” as stated in the agency’s most recent safety guide for parents traveling with children.
The guide leaves little doubt about the FAA’s position on the matter, going on to state: “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device for the duration of your flight. It’s the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination.”
Forbes aviation columnist John Goglia recently reported that the airlines are not on the same page as the FAA when it comes to the use of child safety restraints. In his report, Goglia outlined incidents involving American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, in which FAA-approved child seats were prohibited by flight attendants for at least a portion of a flight.
The latest reported incidents occurred even after an FAA investigation took place in July and found that American had violated the agency’s rules by prohibiting the use of an approved infant seat.
Some of the confusion stems from the use of unapproved, booster-style child seats. The FAA specifically prohibits the use of these devices during takeoffs, landings and while the aircraft is taxiing. Delta, United and American put the onus on parents to certify that child seats are FAA-approved.
It appears that in at least one of the reported incidents where a child seat was prohibited by the cabin crew arose from confusion over the differences in rules covering FAA-approved seats versus unapproved devices. United and American do not allow the use of booster-style child seats at any point during flights. Delta, however, only prohibits booster-style child seats during takeoff, landing and taxiing.
[Photo: iStock]
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"And how many families have not arrived safely due to lack of a government-approved CRS?" So very true... Normally when we fly with the kids, we place them down in the seat and clip them in as we would do with ourselves. We did the lap baby thing with no problems (using the extension belts which both Qantas and Air New Zealand issue to infants).
wow I just witnessed this today as I was sitting in 1D on a USAir/American flight. They told the mother she could not use the seat for takeoff or landing.
Child restraint seats for cars have been labeled as safe for airplanes since at least 1991.
“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device for the duration of your flight. It’s the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination.” And how many families have not arrived safely due to lack of a government-approved CRS?