CARES for Special Needs Travelers

For Airlines purchasing the CARES product, this site will not provide an FAA authorized 8130 tag.  The 8130 tag does NOT apply to retail customers, only airline businesses purchasing the product.  For all retail customers the CARES restraint is labeled with all appropriate FAA approvals and information. For Special Needs Travelers If your child has a disability that requires hauling a brace to provide upper body support in an airplane seat, you know what a hassle it is to make arrangements months in advance with the airline. And you have to do it again before each subsequent trip! Check with your child’s physician or physical therapist to determine if the CARES child aviation restraint provides sufficient upper body support for your child. If it does – no more having to make arrangement weeks or months in advance with airlines because CARES is already certified for kids 22-44 lbs for all phases of flight. So, just book your flight, carry your 1 pound CARES on board in your pocket or purse, install it on any seat in one minute. And know that your child is secure for taxiing, take off, turbulence and landing. IF YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS FLYER IS  OVER 44 LBS AND 40 INCHES TALL, YOU CAN ALSO USE CARES WITH A SPECIAL EXEMPTION FROM THE FAA. Be sure you ask for the row in front of the bulkhead (this may be the last row of seats in the plane). This will allow you to use it during all phases of flight from takeoff to landing. To use CARES on US airlines, older children, teens, and adults with special needs must make a request to the FAA for an “exemption” from the standard CARES height and weight limits. This “exemption” will apply to ALL future flights. Instructions on how to file an exemption request can be found below in the CARES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS FLYERS SECTION OF THE WEBSITE. When you are ready to purchase your CARES – if your special needs flyer is under 5 ft tall, the regular CARES will fit. If your special needs flyer is close to, or over 5 ft tall, you want to purchase “SPECIAL CARES” which extends to accommodate an adult flyer up to 6 ft.” Please see the table below for additional help. Help Me Choose: CARES or Special CARES for a Special Needs Traveler? Child Size CARES Special CARES Requires FAA Permit* 22-44 lbs; up to 40″ tall      X Special needs flyers 41-56″ tall      X                   X Special needs flyers over 5 ft. tall             X                   X Note:  CARES / Special CARES is only FAA approved for children 22-44 lbs and up to 40 inches tall. Key features: CARES and Special CARES are only FAA certified for children up to 40 inches AND 44 pounds. If the user is taller than 40 inches and over 44 lbs., a  SPECIAL PERMIT (EXEMPTION LETTER) MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE FAA. * The user should carry this letter every time she/he flies. FOR STEPS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FAA EXEMPTION LETTER, see the section titles CARES for Special Needs Flyers. Any child less than 44 lbs and 40 inches tall, can use it on any U.S. air carrier. * The FAA permit is actually a letter, (called an exemption letter), which ‘exempts’ a flyer from the FAA rules regarding size restrictions and allows a larger special needs individual to use CARES. This letter may be needed for CARES (if the flyer is larger than 44 lbs and 40 inches), and is always needed when using Special CARES.