Comments on: Kid Car Seats aboard Aircraft?

By: Brad Kressin

Brad Kressin — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:12:04 +0000

I think were all asking the wrong question. For me, and I think for most parents, the question is when on earth are manufacturers going to provide LATCH attach points in the GA aircraft so our same kids who ride in LATCH based car seats every day will have the same safety, support, and comfort they have in the car applied to the airplane. To me this is negligence on the part of the mfg and me. If Cirrus can do it, then I’ll fly a Cirrus and if the others don’t want to compete in the market, fine.

By: Keith Mendoza

Keith Mendoza — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:11:30 +0000

At the end of the day, it’s the parents who are responsible with their children. Requiring car seats on GA and commercial airlines won’t really matter if the parents don’t want their kids in the seat. Parents already ignore car seat laws as it is, do you actually expect them to follow car seat laws in GA aircraft? In a commercial airliner the cabin crew can say bring a car seat or you’re not getting on that plane. Even in charter flight the flight crew can require it. More importantly, in GA crashes, will the car seat really help? Ask a mechanical engineer and they would agree that a person’s survivability is directly related to how well can the passenger be contained inside the vehicle and how well can the vehicle remain as intact as possible.

By: Kevin English

Kevin English — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 05:17:10 +0000

Government should not mandate. However My wife and chose to put our infant/Now toddler in her car seat because it secured her better, gave her a better view and was the same familiar seat she uses in the car. Commercial is an entirely different question.

By: Doug Milam

Doug Milam — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 14:30:34 +0000

We can make our own decisions about risk. There is one piece of information that should not be lost in the debate, however. Rarely can an adult successfully restrain a child in their arms through the deceleration of impact. I first became aware of this while on the pediatric surgical service at a major trauma center. A four place single made a successful off field landing with a sudden stop at the end. Both parents walked away from the crash. The child had a palpable crack through the length of his skull and didn’t fare well. Whether it is a seat, a booster, or a belt, the kids are much less likely to become injured if they are attached to the airframe.

By: Lewis Thomas

Lewis Thomas — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 06:15:50 +0000

These discussions provide great information to help parents decide how best to take care of their children. But the question posed is whether or not certain restraints should be required? Absolutely NOT! As a father, I trust my wife and myself to take care of our four children far more than I trust bureaucrats to tell me what to do with my children.

By: Walt C.

Walt C. — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:38:09 +0000

Are car booster seats safe and legal for part 91 (noncommercial)? I have a 6 year old grandson that is about 50 lbs. The seat belt in the back seat of the Cessna 172 SP I fly crosses his belly a bit too high, in my opinion Plus, I think he would be able to see outside better with the little bit of height the booster seat provides.

The reason I ask, is that I thought I saw in FAR-AIM that car booster seats have to be FAA-approved.

Thanks.

By: Rene

Rene — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:49:38 +0000

We have been flying consistently with out kids from the time they were babies, and were able to get 2 car seats into the back of our 1972 Cherokee 180. IT did take a little bit of searching to find the right seats, but once we did those stayed in the plane until the kids grew up enough to transition to different seats. Our daughter who is now 9 still prefers to use her booster seat so she can get a better view.

We did try this in a 172 once and the seats would not fit at the same time, so we chose not to fly.

By: John Rivas

John Rivas — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:00:34 +0000

I have been flying in family airplanes since Dad got his license when I was about six years old. With no car seat belts or car seats back then I’m totally amazed that I’ve reached the ago of almost 66 with all of my limbs attached. I flew on several long trips sitting in a custom small seat in the baggage compartment of a C140.

We first took our 2 children, who are in their 30′s now, flying in our plane when they were 3 weeks old. The worst incidence we had was when our 3 year old son threw up in the back seat – what a mess.

I feel that if people want to use some sort of car seat – fine, but if we had ever had any kind of serious accident, I doubt that a car seat would have made any difference. I’ve always been more concerned about accident when driving to and from the airport than in the relative solitude of being in the air. Put me down as opposed to another governmental program to “help” us.

By: Robert Booth

Robert Booth — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:32:05 +0000

I meant to say “in general aviation planes.”

By: Robert Booth

Robert Booth — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:31:03 +0000

Is the NTSB looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist? How many children have been killed in airline accidents in which their parents survived?
Putting the children in cars increases the chance that they will die.

Neither of these arguments apply to general aviation, which is already more dangerous than cars. Some sort of restraint for children should be in cars.