This came up decades ago when Bob Machol was chief scientist at the FAA. A plane had pitched downward, and the parent lost their hold on the baby, which fell to the front of the cabin and died. A ban on lap babies was proposed.
Machol pointed out that requiring parents to buy separate tickets for babies would price some families out of the market for air travel, leading them to drive instead.
But driving is much more dangerous than air travel. Many more babies would have been killed by the rule change.
Machol was able to persuade the FAA to keep the rule.
Machol pointed out that requiring parents to buy separate tickets for babies would price some families out of the market for air travel, leading them to drive instead.
But driving is much more dangerous than air travel. Many more babies would have been killed by the rule change.
Machol was able to persuade the FAA to keep the rule.