All airlines operating in India will have to provide for a child restraint system in aircraft to protect infants and children, the civil aviation watchdog instructed on Sunday, following recommendations of an expert panel that looked into the crash of an Air India Express flight in Kerala’s Kozhikode in August 2020.
“It is not possible for a parent to physically restrain an infant or child, especially during a sudden acceleration or deceleration, unanticipated or severe turbulence, or impact,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement. “The safest way to secure an infant or child on board an aircraft is a CRS, in a dedicated seat, appropriate for that infant or child.”
The restraint for children is a combination of a harness and safety belt that can be secured to an aircraft seat. The regulator said proper use of these restraints is a crucial factor in surviving accidents.
