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Flight attendants want to ban lap babies on planes
When the seat belt light blinks on, every passenger buckles up except for one group of fliers: lap babies. Unrestrained children sharing a seat with their parents are exempt from the safety mandate, presenting a growing concern amid recent incidents of severe turbulence. ... Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “The G-forces are not something even the most loving mother or father can guard against and hold their child. It’s just physically… (www.seattletimes.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I was in Oklahoma City's FAA test facility representing the Canadian Aviation Safety Board when tests of infants restraint systems for babies on adults' laps were being tested. They used mannequins which had the size and weight repartition similar to that of an average infant. They also had a bladder inside the mannequin to measure the internal pressure. The idea at the time was to evaluate the "loop and strap" system that some airlines were already promoting and using as a safety device for infants on parents' laps. It consisted of a loop around the adult's seatbelt strap and a belt around the baby with a short strap attaching the loop to the baby's strap. After the tests, the anthropomorphologist who designed the mannequins was stunned: he had never seen a bladder made of thick rubber explode inside one of his mannequins! The baby was doomed two ways: the pressure that would destroy the internal organs, and the hull fracture against the bottom of the seat in front of the baby in the adult's lap. Furthermore, this adult would also be killed because of his/her body's belly violently wrapping around the baby's body. For the adult, the internal pressure wouldn't be survivable. I can't remember for sure, but I believe the tests were done in the late 80's, early 90's. Seems like I am the only one to remember ...!
my daughter recently flew British Airways with her 6 month old snd they provided a seat belt extension as well as a baby seat with straps that was fixed to the aircraft. why dont all airlines do this.
The NIIMBY syndrome is alive and well. Why would we ever learn from the Europeans - and vice versa! BA is not the only European airline that enforces this sensible requirement. Aer Lingus does also.
And, another requirement that European airlines enforce is that window shades be open for take-off and landing. A small item - but it helps to orientate the passenger in the event a rapid evacuation is required. This requirement is simply given lip service - with no effort to ensure compliance in the US.
Why can't we all agree on safety requirements - especially those that make sense!
And, another requirement that European airlines enforce is that window shades be open for take-off and landing. A small item - but it helps to orientate the passenger in the event a rapid evacuation is required. This requirement is simply given lip service - with no effort to ensure compliance in the US.
Why can't we all agree on safety requirements - especially those that make sense!
In the event of a forward impact, that parent's forward momentum would squish that baby into Jello.
On some Canadian carriers, there were cribs provided on the bulkhead seats - one high, one low. Babies never bounced out
It's federal law and common sense that babies be strapped into an approved car seat anytime in a vehicle. Aren't airplanes vehicles?
And school buses too...
I like this thought but then the airlines would need to change the seats in order to have the child restraint anchors like the cars have