NTSB -- DOT PANEL'S RECOMMENDATIONS IDENTIFY CHILD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN AVIATION BUT DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH, NTSB CHAIRMAN SAYS

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NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15, 2010

SB-10-48

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DOT PANEL'S RECOMMENDATIONS IDENTIFY CHILD SAFETY

IMPROVEMENTS IN AVIATION BUT DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH, NTSB

CHAIRMAN SAYS

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Washington, DC - National Transportation Safety Board

Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman said that the recommendations

issued today by a federal advisory panel dealing with child

safety in aviation are a step in the right direction, but

they do not go far enough to ensure the safety of the

smallest children in airplanes.

The Department of Transportation's Future of Aviation

Advisory Committee (FAAC) presented 23 recommendations to

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood today. Among those recommendations

was a call that Secretary LaHood utilize the full resources

of his office to educate the flying public about the dangers

of lap children in aviation. The FAAC also requested that

the Secretary to update economic and safety data concerning

small children, and to take decisive steps, which may

include rulemaking, to address child passenger safety in

aviation.

Chairman Hersman stated, "We appreciate the FAAC

acknowledging the dangers associated with children flying on

their parents' laps, but we would have preferred to see the

FAA be mandated to require that every person including our

youngest children be restrained appropriately for their age

and size." She continued, "We know that the safest place

for children younger than age two traveling on airplanes is

in an appropriate child safety seat. The era of the lap

child on airplanes should come to an end."

The NTSB recently held a Public Forum on Child Passenger

Safety in the Air and in Automobiles on December 9, 2010. A

webcast of that forum, and presentations and videos

concerning child passenger safety are available at

www.ntsb.gov/children.

The NTSB will continue its efforts to promote child

passenger safety in the coming year through education and

advocacy that is aimed toward the caregivers of children,

regulatory agencies, and the transportation industry.

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NTSB Media Contact: Bridget Serchak

Bridget.Serchak@xxxxxxxx.

Keith Holloway

hollowk@xxxxxxxx

(202)314-6100

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