WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3784/98 by Gerhard SCHMID Safety of small children on board aircraft
11. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 289/87 (1999/C 289/115) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3784/98 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission (11 December 1998) Subject: Safety of small children on board aircraft There are serious shortcomings in safety arrangements for small children travelling with European airlines. Children under two generally sit on their parent’s lap, while older children can only be fitted with adults’ seat belts, which are completely unsuitable for them. So children are inadequately protected, or not protected at all, in the event of turbulence or accidents. In the US there already exists a variety of restraint systems specially designed for children. Moreover, spare belts which can be attached to adult passengers’ lap belts are prohibited in the US but permitted in Europe, although they can cause severe internal injuries in children. 1. What is the Commission’s opinion of this state of affairs? Does the Commission intend to propose European rules to ensure the safety of children on board 2. aircraft? If not, why? Is the Commission considering prohibiting airlines from carrying children unless they have a seat of their 3. own? If not, why? 4. Would the Commission consider allowing selected child restraint systems designed for cars to be used in aircraft for a transitional period? If not, why? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (11 February 1999) The Commission refers the Honourable Member to the answer given to Written Question E-2751/98 by Mrs Breyer (1) on the same subject. The Commission recognises that the protection of children, and particularly of infants, is not sufficiently addressed by present aviation safety standards. That is why the Commission launched an important study called ‘European specification for infant and child restraint devices’ in which the feasibility of improved restraint systems will be assessed and a suggestion for a ‘European specification for infant passengers on aircraft’ will be developed. The Commission will submit the results of the project to the Joint Aviation Authorities of Member States and, if appropriate, invite this body to revise existing specifications for the safe use of such restraint systems. This would of course also lead to a revision of the existing Community legislation dealing with the same subject, the airworthiness codes contained in annex II to Council Regulation (EEC) 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (2). Until the results of these activities are available, the Commission would not wish to prejudge whether it is appropriate to prohibit the transport of infants that do not have a seat to themselves or whether it is appropriate to authorise restraint systems which are currently used in cars. (1) OJ C 118, 29. 4. 1999, p. 134. (2) OJ L 373, 31. 12. 1991