94-23880. Child Restraint Systems

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23880]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 27, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

 

Child Restraint Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is announcing the 
availability of a study entitled ``The Performance of Child Restraint 
Devices in Transport Airplane Passenger Seats'' (the study). Because of 
the FAA's concern that some child restraint systems that work well in 
automobiles may not provide the level of protection desirable in 
airplanes, the FAA conducted a study to evaluate the adequacy and 
effectiveness of child restraint devices on airplanes. The FAA is 
continuing to study child restraint systems and when further studies 
are completed, they will be made available to the public.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the study may be obtained by contacting: Mr. 
Jeffrey H. Marcus, AAM-630, Protection and Survival Laboratory, Civil 
Aeromedical Institute, 6500 South MacArthur, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, 
[phone], fax [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Jeffrey H. Marcus, AAM-630, Protection and Survival Laboratory, 
Civil Aeromedical Institute, 6500 South MacArthur, Oklahoma City, OK 
73125, [phone], fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1992, the FAA set forth in 
Secs. 91.107(a), 121.311(b), 125.211(b), and 135.128(a) the child 
restraint systems acceptable for use in aircraft by listing labeling 
requirements and certain use requirements. The FAA's 1992 determination 
as to which child restraint systems would be approved for use aboard 
aircraft was based on many years of work by both the FAA and the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In the mid 
1980's, the FAA and NHTSA undertook an effort to develop a common 
approach to the approval of child restraints. NHTSA Standard 213 was 
amended to provide criteria for the certification of child restraints 
that were appropriate for both aircraft and automobiles.
    NHTSA Standard 213, as revised, is the current U.S. standard, and 
has allowed hundreds of models of seats to be approved. The current FAA 
child restraint rules do not specifically refer to NHTSA Standard 213. 
However, NHTSA Standard 213 is the basis for the labels required under 
the FAA rules.
    Because of the FAA's concern that some child restraint systems that 
work well in automobiles may not provide the level of protection 
desirable in airplanes, the FAA conducted a study to evaluate the 
adequacy and effectiveness of child restraint devices on airplanes, to 
respond to questions from the Air Transport Association concerning 
which child restraint systems were approved for aircraft, and to 
respond to comments received from child restraint manufacturers, 
private testing organizations, the National Transportation Safety 
Board, foreign regulatory organizations, and consumer activists. The 
FAA is continuing to study child restraint systems and when further 
studies are completed, they will be made available to the public.

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 20, 1994.
Jon L. Jordan,
Federal Air Surgeon.
[FR Doc. 94-23880 Filed 9-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M