THEY are more likely to be injured in a plane crash than adults, but now there's new hope a long-overdue safety overhaul for young Australian air travellers could be on the way.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has announced a review of how children and infants are restrained on planes following concern little has changed in this area since the beginning of aviation, despite advances in adult restraints and those in motor vehicles.
Australian airlines currently require children two years of age and older to have a separate seat, while younger children generally have to be seated on their parent’s lap with a "loop belt", in a bassinet or an approved child seat, though these rules vary between the airlines.
However, research by RMIT university, Human Impact Engineering & Britax Childcare Australia and CASA has shown children seated in their parents laps face an increased risk of injury or death in a crash compared to adults, as the loop belt restraints do not offer an equal level of protection to adult restraints.
There is also evidence an individual seat may be inappropriate, with some tests showing a higher rate of head injury for young children.
CASA has been working with Standards Australia to give manufacturers of automotive child restraints the option of making them suitable also for planes. The move is likely to become effective by early next year.
It would also look at new aviation-based child restraints developed and approved
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