[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41304-41305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19739]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Child Restraint Systems (CRS)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on a proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO) pertaining to 
child restraint systems. The proposed TSO prescribes the minimum 
performance standards (MPS) that CRS must meet to identified with the 
marking ``TSO-C100b.''

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed technical standard order 
to: Bobbie Smith, Technical Programs and Continued Airworthiness 
Branch, AIR-120, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591. Or deliver comments to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591. Comments must identify the TSO file number: TSO-C100b.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Petrakis, Technical Programs and 
Continued Airworthiness Branch, AIR-120, Aircraft Engineering Division, 
Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-
9274 or FAX (202) 267-5340.

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on this proposed TSO by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they desire to the 
above specified address. Comments received on the proposed TSO may be 
examined, before and after the comment closing date, in Room 815, FAA 
Headquarters Building (FOB-10A), 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591, weekdays except Federal holidays, between 8:30 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All communications received on or before the closing 
date for comments specified above will be considered by the Director, 
Aircraft Certification Service before issuing the final TSO.

Background

    the proposed TSO provides MPS for CRS for use in aircraft to 
restrain infants and small children during all phases of flight.
    On February 12, 1997, the White House Commission on Aviation Safety 
and Security (the Commission) issued a final report to President 
Clinton that included a recommendation on CRS use on aircraft during 
flight. This report stated in pertinent part that ``[t]he FAA should * 
* * require that all occupants be restrained during takeoff, landing, 
and turbulent conditions, and that all infants and small children * * * 
be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system, such as child 
safety seats, appropriate to their height and weight.''
    On February 18, 1998, the FAA published an Advance Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), in part, to respond to the Commission's 
recommendation. the notice requested public comment on issues related 
to the use of CRS in aircraft in order to ascertain the best regulatory 
approach to ensure the safety of children who are passengers in 
aircraft.
    The FAA is developing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the 
use of CRS on aircraft. We are considering whether to mandate the use 
of approved CRS on aircraft. This proposed TSO is essential to 
establishing a new and improved alternate means of approval for CRS 
used on aircraft.
    Currently, Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
Secs. 91.107, 121.311, 125.211, and 135.128 set forth operational 
requirements on how CRS may be used on board aircraft. Under these 
regulations, today, a child under 2 years old may be held in an adult's 
lap throughout the flight, or parents may opt to use an approved CRS 
for children of this age group. If parents want to use a CRS, a 
separate passenger seat is required. If parents bought a ticket for the 
child, airlines are required to accommodate the use of approved CRS.
    Performance and labeling requirements for CRS sold for use in the 
United States for both aircraft and automobiles are in 49 CFR 571.213, 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, Standard No. 213 (FMVSS 213), 
Child restraint system. Certain CRS's that meet the requirements of 
FMVSS 213 for automobiles, such as booster seats and vest- and harness-
type child restraint devices are prohibited for aircraft. Specifically, 
on June 4, 1996, the FAA, with the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA), withdrew its approval for using booster seats 
and vest- and harness-type child restraint devices during takeoff, 
landing, and ground movement but not in-flight. At the same time, the 
FAA emphasized its existing prohibition against the use, in all 
aircraft, of lap-held CRS (including belly belts).
    We propose that TSO C100b, Child Restraint Systems (CRS) is 
suitable for any aircraft application. The proposed TSO references the 
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aerospace Standard (AS) 5276/1, 
``Performance Standard for Child Restraint Systems in Transport 
Category Airplanes.''

How To Obtain Copies

    You can get a copy of the proposed TSO-C100b via FAA Internet 
website @ www.faa.gov/avr/air/airhome.htm or by request from the office 
listed above under ``For Further Information Contact.''
    You may buy copies of SAE AS 5276/1, AS 8049A, ARP 4466 and RP J211 
from the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., Department 331, 400 
Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001. Copies also can be 
obtained through the SAE Internet website @ www.sae.org.
    You may buy copies of 14 CFR part 21, Subpart O, 14 CFR Part 25, 
and 49 CFR parts 571 and 572 from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325. Copies also can 
be obtained from the Government Printing Office (GPO), electronic CFR 
Internet website @ www.access.gpo.gov/ecfr/.
    You may get the following publications free of charge: Advisory 
Circular (AC) 20-110, ``Index of Aviation Technical Standard Order,'' 
AC20-36, ``Index of Articles Certified under the Technical Standard 
Order'' System,'' AC91-62, ``use of Child Seats in Aircraft,'' DOT/FAA/
AR-00/12, Aircraft Materials Fire Test Handbook'' and TSO-C22g, 
``Safety Belts'' may be obtained from the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Subsequent Distribution Office, Ardmore East business 
Center, 3341 Q 75th Avenue, Landover, MD 20785, telephone (301) 322-
44779 or FAX (301) 386-5394. Copies also may be obtained from the FAA 
Internet website @ www.faa.gov/avr/air/airhome.htm and select from the 
``Available Information'' drop down list.


[[Page 41305]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2001.
David Hempe,
Acting Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-19739 Filed 8-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M