Now, flights to have wheelchairs on board

New Delhi: In order to make flying a comfortable experience for the disabled, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has made it mandatory for all airlines to carry aisle wheelchairs by July 31.
This chair will be used for taking physically challenged passengers from their seats to toilet during flight or for being wheeled around on long or ultralong sectors.
Interestingly, the DGCA had prepared its civil aviation requirement (CAR) for providing certain minimum facilities to the physically challenged last year but it remained a draft so far. Recently the court of chief commissioner for persons with disabilities pointed out that the DGCA had prepared a draft CAR but without the power to enforce the same, it may serve little purpose.
The directorate then sought time to change its rules and has now amended them. “The CAR for persons with disabilities is going to be strictly implemented. If the things this rule provides for like having aisle wheelchairs on all flights by July 31 are not adhered to, action will be taken against airlines,” said a senior official.
In the past, there have been several instances where airlines have refused to take physically challenged passengers on their flights. Now under CAR, airlines will be able to do so only in extreme cases where safety of aircraft or fellow passengers could be endangered. In fact, airlines can’t refuse an assistive device or even guide dog if the passenger has told them that he or she would be using them at time of booking. It also lays stress on training employees to take care of special needs of the physically challenged, including at the airport.
31/03/09 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Mar 2009