Infant restraints??
Just watched "Aircraft Emergency" on Meridian ITV...programme was the usual sensationalist rehash of incidents over the last decade or so, however one point the programme raised was quite valid.....
The stewardess from the UA DC10 at Sioux City mentioned a survivor who had lost her baby, having been instructed by the crew to place the infant on the cabin floor as per FAA regs. The stdss questioned this practice after the incident and now campaigns for improved safety for the under 2's in the US.
As the programme mentioned legislation on this differs greatly....here in the UK infants are restrained on the parents lap by means of an extension seatbelt (a separate belt attached to that of the adult), which would seem inherently safer than FAA practice.
Having started my flying career in France I know of DGAC (French CAA/FAA) legislation which states that infants should be held on the parents lap without being restrained by a belt - the argument being that if the baby was restarined by a belt there would be a significant risk of spinal injury to the child as the adult could jerk forward on top of the child in an impact. However with French practice the infant also faces a significant risk of being hurled forward onto a bulkhead/seatback...
I'm sure other regulatory bodies around the world have equally differing regs, however I believe the only way to ensure an infants safety is to have it restrained in an approved infant seat securely strapped to a passenger seat and if the airlines charge a child fare then so be it......
Your thoughts....??