Lobbying For National Standard
Members of the Association of Flight
Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, last week briefed the National
Transportation Safety Board last week, hoping to convince board
members to continue their recommendation advocating child safety
seats be required for children under two onboard aircraft.
Currently, there is no requirement for children under two to be
placed in a safety seat onboard an aircraft, in stark contrast to
the laws adopted by all 50 states covering child restraints in
vehicles. Although the NTSB does not have regulatory authority, the
Board's safety recommendations are well respected in the aviation
industry and will pressure the Federal Aviation Administration to
keep this issue as a top priority.
"While we have made strides regarding protection of children in
motor vehicles, the same cannot be said for aviation," said AFA's
Director of Air, Safety, Health and Security Chris Witkowski. "To
withdraw this recommendation means that the safety of aircraft
passengers under two years of age is no longer a priority, and
these children will not be afforded the same protections as others
in the aircraft cabin."
Witkowski will appear along with Jan Lohr, a retired United
Airlines flight attendant who was working onboard United Airlines
flight 232 from Denver to Chicago on July 19, 1989. The aircraft
broke into three pieces during an emergency landing and a 22-month
old child, who did not have the benefit of a safety seat, died in
the accident.
"Flight attendants are required to
secure all items onboard an aircraft to comply with FAA
regulations, including carry on baggage and coffee pots, but not
infants and small children," Lohr said. "This is about the safety
of our smallest, most defenseless passengers -- and the safety of
those around them. If the FAA and the airlines continue to allow
children under two to be held on a parent's lap, many parents will
continue to have the false impression that this practice is
safe.
"When preparing the aircraft cabin for an emergency, flight
attendants should not have to look a parent in the eye and instruct
them to continue to hold a child on their lap when we know there is
a very real possibility that child may not survive without proper
restraints," Lohr said.
More than 45,000 flight attendants join together to form AFA,
the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the
700,000 member strong Communications Workers of America,
AFL-CIO.