Biography
Bob Matthews has been with the FAA since 1989, where he is the Senior Safety Analyst in the Office of Accident Investigation. His previous professional experience includes 9 years in national transportation legislation with the US DOT, a consultant with the European Union and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, and several years as an aviation analyst for the Office of the Secretary at the US DOT. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Political Economy from Virginia Tech, and he was an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland for 12 years.
Abstract: Assessing Child Restraint Systems in GA and On-Demand Part 135
FAA’s reluctance to require the use of child restraint systems (CRS) in Part 121 air carrier operations has been controversial for a long time. However, the issue has not been assessed seriously in general aviation (GA) and Part 135 operations due largely to a lack of data to define who is onboard in those operations.
This paper starts to fill that void with newly developed data, and then uses that new data to assess the issue in GA and Part 135. That assessment must answer at least three questions. First, how many infants travel in the GA and Part 135 system? Second, how many infants’ lives might be saved if CRS were required for children under two years of age in GA and Part 135? Third, what costs and trade-offs might such a requirement incur?
Robert Matthews, Ph.D.
Senior Safety Analyst
Office of Accident Investigation
Federal Aviation Administration