Here’s an odd case—one part of the federal
government criticizing other criticizing for lack of
action:

NTSB
Advisory
National Transportation Safety
Board
Washington, DC
20594
August 25,
2005

NTSB ACTING CHAIRMAN EXPRESSES
DISAPPOINTMENT AT FAA CHILD SAFETY SEAT
ANNOUNCEMENT

NTSB Acting Chairman Mark
Rosenker today expressed disappointment at the FAA’s refusal to require
effective action to ensure that infants and toddlers under age 2 are safely
restrained on airliners.

The FAA has
announced that it will not require the use of approved child restraints but will
allow their use on a strictly voluntary
basis.

“While the FAA’s new position may
provide more options for the voluntary use of safety seats, we continue to
believe that infants and young children deserve the same protection that is
provided to other aircraft passengers,” said Rosenker. “During takeoff, landing,
and turbulence, adults are required to be buckled up, baggage and coffee pots
are stowed, computers are turned off and put away, yet infants and toddlers need
not be restrained. This is an unnecessary risk to our
children.”

The NTSB recommended in 1995
that infants and small children be restrained on airliners in a manner
appropriate to their size. The recommendation has been on the Board’s list of
“Most Wanted” safety improvements since
1999.

Rosenker noted that the American
Academy of Pediatrics has made a similar
recommendation.

Information on this and
other “Most wanted” items may be found on the Board’s web site at
www.ntsb.gov.

—

Our
thoughts: as you might guess, we think the NTSB is right. Safety seats should be
mandatory for infants under age 2 on airplanes. It is sad that the FAA has
detailed regulations for carry-on bags and other items that can/can’t be carried
on planes . . . but child passenger safety is not a priority.


Here’s an odd case—one part of the federal
government criticizing other criticizing for lack of
action:

NTSB
Advisory
National Transportation Safety
Board
Washington, DC
20594
August 25,
2005

NTSB ACTING CHAIRMAN EXPRESSES
DISAPPOINTMENT AT FAA CHILD SAFETY SEAT
ANNOUNCEMENT

NTSB Acting Chairman Mark
Rosenker today expressed disappointment at the FAA’s refusal to require
effective action to ensure that infants and toddlers under age 2 are safely
restrained on airliners.

The FAA has
announced that it will not require the use of approved child restraints but will
allow their use on a strictly voluntary
basis.

“While the FAA’s new position may
provide more options for the voluntary use of safety seats, we continue to
believe that infants and young children deserve the same protection that is
provided to other aircraft passengers,” said Rosenker. “During takeoff, landing,
and turbulence, adults are required to be buckled up, baggage and coffee pots
are stowed, computers are turned off and put away, yet infants and toddlers need
not be restrained. This is an unnecessary risk to our
children.”

The NTSB recommended in 1995
that infants and small children be restrained on airliners in a manner
appropriate to their size. The recommendation has been on the Board’s list of
“Most Wanted” safety improvements since
1999.

Rosenker noted that the American
Academy of Pediatrics has made a similar
recommendation.

Information on this and
other “Most wanted” items may be found on the Board’s web site at
www.ntsb.gov.
—
Our
thoughts: as you might guess, we think the NTSB is right. Safety seats should be
mandatory for infants under age 2 on airplanes. It is sad that the FAA has
detailed regulations for carry-on bags and other items that can/can’t be carried
on planes . . . but child passenger safety is not a priority.