FAQs About CARES Child Aviation Restraint System

The FAA prohibited "crotch straps" on CARES because a croth strap would have had to go between the child's leg, under him and up behind his back to attach to the red loop, and if the child leaned or slid forward even a small amount he could be injured.  The FAA tested CARES for "submarining" (sliding under the lap belt) in carefully controlled dynamic sled tests with instrumented test dummies and determined that when CARES was correctly used, and all the straps and belts (including the regular seat belt) were "snugged down", submarining did not occur.

Most children fall asleep easily in a CARES.  You just tilt the airplane seat back as you might do if you wanted to nap.  If your child drops off to sleep and his head could use a little support, tuck an airplane pillow or rolled up T-shirt between his shoulder and cheek.  Once asleep the smooth "hum" of the plane often provides a good long nap but if there is unexpected turbulence you know your child is secure.

If your CARES requires cleaning, wipe it off with a damp cloth.  Do NOT put CARES in the washing machine.

Stores where You Can Buy CARES are listed here: www.kidsflysafe.com/where-to-buy

Yes. In rigorous dynamic tests conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), CARES, a totally new harness type child safety device, was certified as an ELOS – Equivalent Level of Safety –to a car seat. It is the only harness type child safety restaint that the FAA has certified.

There is no minimum age limit for using CARES, however, a child must meet the minimum wieght requirement of 22 pounds, and be able to sit "front facing" to use CARES.

The current upper limit of the CARES certification is 44 lbs and 40 inches tall.

CARES has been used successfully by many children with special needs. Parents should check with their physician or physical therapist to determine whether CARES provides sufficient upper body support for their child. If it does, parents need make no special or advance arrangements with the airline– just carry the CARES on board and install it as directed. Abilitations, a comprehensive catalog for equipment for children with special needs now carries CARES in their catalog,  see www.abilitations.com. 

If your special needs child is over the weight/height limitation for which CARES is currently certified, and your child’s medical advisor thinks CARES is an appropriate restraint, you can request an “Exemption” (from current regulations) from the FAA so you can use it. Larger special needs youngsters who are granted this exemption will be seated in the last row of a section of the plane, so no one sits behind the child who might brace against that seat. The FAA exemption will be valid on all US airlines. Click on  http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2007-0001-0001 and then click  “Submit Comment”. for the forms that will allow you to make your one-time request (good for all future flights) to use CARES for older kids and teenagers with Special Needs.  You can also Contact Nancy Claussen at Nancy.L.Claussen@faa.gov for more information.

Yes. CARES is certified by the FAA for all phases of flight: taxiing, take off, turbulence and, landing. Kids Fly Safe joins the FAA in urging all passengers to remain “buckled in” whenever they are in their seats. This applies to children in the CA

A child must be in his/her own seat to use CARES. Note: Airlines require all children age 2 and older to have their own tickets and to be in their own seats.

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

CARES has been certified by the UK (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales), Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland and Oman. Airlines registered in these countries permit CARES.

• Air Asia
• Air Baltic
• Air France
• Air Jamaica
• Air Lingus
  
• Aurigny
  
• British Airways
• bmi, bmi baby, bmi regional
• Cathay Pacific (On Cathay Pacific CARES is only approved for Economy section seats. CARES should never be used in any airplane seat with an airbag.)
• Condor
• Czech Airlines
• El Al
• Easyjet
• Etihad Airways
  
• KLM
• Korean Airlines
• Lufthansa
  
• Malaysia Airlines
• Monarch Airlines
  
• Olympic
• Royal Flight Oman
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airlines
• Thomson Airways
• TUIfly
• Virgin Atlantic
  

Our CARES owners report that they have also used CARES with much supportive interest from flight attendants on the following airlines:

• All Nippon Airways (ANA)
• Augsberg
  
• Batavia Air
  
• Brussles Air
• Croatia Airlines
  
• China Air
• Emirates Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• Iberia Airlines
• Jet Star (Australia and Indonesia)
• Nature Air (Costa Rica)
• SAS
• South African Airlines
  
• Ukrainian Airlines

Show airline personnel the FAA certification label sewn either inside or on the front of the red CARES loop, and the following documents which can be downloaded from the “In-Flight Documents” page of this website:

• FAA website “Child Safety on Airlines”
• Updated FAA Advisory Circular 120-87A “Use of Child Restraint Systems on Aircraft”, issued December 1, 2006

To insure that you will have a seat for your child, you must buy a ticket. If the plane is not crowded and your child is under 2, you may be able to use an empty seat.

Just check your car seat through as luggage, pick it up on the other end of the journey, and enjoy your airport time and air travel hassle free with the CARES aviation child safety harness. Many airlines permit free shipping for car seats.

Absolutely NOT. CARES is NOT certified for use in automobiles and does not work with a three-point (shoulder) harness. NEVER TRY TO USE CARES IN YOUR CAR.

CARES is manufactured by AmSafe Aviation, the foremost manufacturer of airplane seat belts and other aviation safety restraints. (Next time you’re in a plane, turn over the buckle on your own seat belt and chances are it was manufactured by AmSafe.) CARES uses the same industrial-strength materials and is designed to the same engineering standards as  all AmSafe Aviation safety equipment.

CARES is very easy to use. An instructional DVD and card is included in the carrying case for CARES. It takes about one minute to learn how to install and use CARES. Our website features a photo tutorial on installing CARES and an installation label is sewn to the CARES itself.

No. Ensuring that CARES did not adversely affect the functionality of the tray was an important FAA criteria for certifying CARES. The tray is lowered for only a minute while the red webbing loop is adjusted around the seat, and then is closed and locked in place, covering up the CARES loop. CARES does not affect the functioning or use of the tray.

In some older style seats found occasionally on small planes, the tray fits into a plastic cavity with recessed sides. In these the CARES red loop, when pulled taut, could prevent the tray from closing securely. In this case, the CARES loop should be installed around the seat and OVER the stowed tray for taxiing, turbulence, take off, and landing. (See FAA Advisory Circular 120-87A “Use of Child Restraints on Aircraft”, which can be found in the “In-flight Documents” section of this website.)

“Yes” to both questions! CARES can be shipped outside the U.S. but your order must be placed with an operator so the correct shipping charge can be determined. If you cannot use the toll free number (1-800-299-6249) send an email to CARESREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@ordering.com or a fax to 1-802-864-9846 including your name, phone number and address and a CARES customer representative will call you back at our expense to take your order.

CARES fits on virtually all Economy, Business, and First Class seats. It cannot be used on Continental's Angel Seats and some long-haul sleepers found on international routes of some airlines.

CARES is warranted by AmSafe Aviation, Inc., the manufacturer, to strictly conform to the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration, with respect to child aviation safety restraints, and that it complies with the product specifications provided by AmSafe. AmSafe’s warranties apply for a period of one (1) year with respect to webbing, and three (3) years with respect to hardware, after delivery. Warranty questions should be referred to miriam@kidsflysafe.com or call Customer Service at 800-299-6249.