Flying with a toddler, but DON'T want to take a car seat.

Murphy_The_Cat

I may have come up with the perfect compromise for parents who want to have a separate seat for their toddler on a plane, who want to keep their child safe/secure, but who don't want to take a carseat /or are unsure if the car seat will fit.

Its an American piece of kit called the Child Aviation Restraint System
and looks to me to be a really good idea.

You can order it online from the US and it costs less than £40.

Plus, its approved by the CAA, FAA & EASA

Engadine

The CAA may have approved it but that is not to say that UK airlines will allow it to be used onboard. I have asked a friend who is cabin crew and she has never heard of it.

If you are going to buy this and plan to use it this summer I would check with your airline that they will accept it before you part with your cash.

balimar

Engadine wrote: »

The CAA may have approved it but that is not to say that UK airlines will allow it to be used onboard. I have asked a friend who is cabin crew and she has never heard of it.

If you are going to buy this and plan to use it this summer I would check with your airline that they will accept it before you part with your cash.

a) An assessment of the aircraft seats to establish which are suitable for use with this restraint system. This should include the limitations imposed by the manufacturer.
b) Appropriate seating positions particularly with regard to emergency exit rows.
c) Training for check-in personnel as to the acceptability of the device with regard to height and weight limitations and seating restrictions within the cabin.
d) Training for cabin crew including acceptability, installation and acceptable seating locations.
[FONT=Arial,Arial]4 Recommendation
4.1 Operators who wish to permit the AmSafe Child Restraint System to be used on board their aircraft should submit to their assigned Flight Operations Inspector an appropriate Notice of Proposed Amendment to their Operations Manual and Training Manual to include information and training for their personnel, procedures for its use and any associated seating restrictions.
I agree with Engadine. A lot of money to pay, only to have the crew tell you that it can not be used on their airline. Would always check with airline first, before paying approx.£40 for something that is not permitted to be used.
[/FONT]

lynnexxxo

Surely strapping a child to a car seat will not help when the plane plumments 56000ft and crashes in a ball of flames?

elisebutt65

lynnexxxo wrote: »

Surely strapping a child to a car seat will not help when the plane plumments 56000ft and crashes in a ball of flames?

Wow!!! Please never let me sit next to you on a plane - those cheerful thoughts in your head must help you sleep so well!!

Woby_Tide

lynnexxxo wrote: »

Surely strapping a child to a car seat will not help when the plane plumments 56000ft and crashes in a ball of flames?

because all plane crashes involve dropping out of the sky from altitude

I mean if only there had been a recent high profile plane crash, at relatively low speed but probably enough to damage a child.....

x_raphael_xx

lynnexxxo wrote: »

Surely strapping a child to a car seat will not help when the plane plumments 56000ft and crashes in a ball of flames?

:rotfl: rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

fas3robinj

These types of child aviation restraint systems, would have been very effective in the recent Heathrow, Boeing 777 crash landing. Most aviation incidents happen during the landing phase anyway(not at 56000ft). I really think that these types of devices ought to be a matter of legislation. I hate to see infants sitting unrestrained on the lap of an adult.

Murphy_The_Cat

Engadine wrote: »

If you are going to buy this and plan to use it this summer I would check with your airline that they will accept it before you part with your cash.

balimar wrote:

[FONT=Arial,Arial] I agree with Engadine. A lot of money to pay, only to have the crew tell you that it can not be used on their airline. Would always check with airline first, before paying approx.£40 for something that is not permitted to be used.[/FONT]

Good idea. Even though it is approved and safe to use, you don't want a half trained/semi trained/ignorant of the authorisation member of flight staff, raining on your parade !

Saying that, if you're flying in the US or using a US Airline, it looks like you can install it anyway - regardless of what the flight attendant tells you

Q. Do I need permission from my airline to use CARES?A. No. CARES is certified by the FAA for use on all U.S. registered airlines. Because CARES is a new product and is a unique harness type child safety restraint, some airline personnel may not yet be familiar with it . Parents have the right to bring CARES on board for their children and airline personnel may not prevent you from using CARES for your child. This is a Federal Aviation Administration – not an individual airline - decision and it applies to all U.S. airlines.

duchy

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Saying that, if you're flying in the US or using a US Airline, it looks like you can install it anyway - regardless of what the flight attendant tells you

Q. Do I need permission from my airline to use CARES?A. No. CARES is certified by the FAA for use on all U.S. registered airlines. Because CARES is a new product and is a unique harness type child safety restraint, some airline personnel may not yet be familiar with it . Parents have the right to bring CARES on board for their children and airline personnel may not prevent you from using CARES for your child. This is a Federal Aviation Administration – not an individual airline - decision and it applies to all U.S. airlines.

Hmmm I wouldn't be so sure. The Patriot act basically allows for flight crew to have final say on anything-and if you choose to argue they *may* decide you are "a security risk" and have the authorities meet you upon arrivial. I find it rather odd that whoever is marketing this contraption feels the need to put all that blurb in anyway-and all airlines will refuse even car-seats if they are not on their own approved list.
Personally I'd check with the carrier in advance.

lynnexxxo

fas3robinj wrote: »

These types of child aviation restraint systems, would have been very effective in the recent Heathrow, Boeing 777 crash landing. Most aviation incidents happen during the landing phase anyway(not at 56000ft). I really think that these types of devices ought to be a matter of legislation. I hate to see infants sitting unrestrained on the lap of an adult.

I didn't think anyone was injured during this crash landing.

There are risks in life, personally I think that the risk that your flight will be involved in an incident is pretty small. Also, i'd say theres a much bigger risk of injury in the scrum to get out of a plane after a crash landing - thus you'd be better to get an emergency exit seat rather than a restraining device. .

I'm no expert it just annoys me that companies often sell products by hinting if you don't buy them your children will be in danger.