Accessible Skies: The Push for Personal Wheels On Board
Passengers aren’t allowed to use their personal wheelchairs while flying on commercial aircraft. Could this change?
By Erin Crowder, FAA
In February 2024, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg proposed a rule that would be the biggest expansion since 2008 of rights for airline passengers who use wheelchairs. The rule would introduce more training for airline employees, improved standards and additional penalties for wheelchair mishandling.
In the meantime, FAA researchers are leading efforts to determine what safety testing and requirements would be necessary to allow passengers to use their wheelchairs on board aircraft.
Challenges faced by wheelchair users
A critical issue that people with disabilities face while flying is damage to their wheelchairs. In 2022 alone, the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection reported that airlines mishandled 11,389 wheelchairs and scooters. This damage is not simply a travel concern, but one that significantly affects a person’s life as the replacement or repair process can span several months.
Personal dignity is an additional concern. People who use wheelchairs often must rely on flight attendants for assistance, enduring physical transfers to an aisle chair or receiving help to access the lavatory, or waiting until they reach their destination for restroom access.
Research and information sharing
In 2023, the FAA kicked off a research agreement with the National Institute for Aviation Research to investigate the testing and requirements necessary to incorporate wheelchair tie-down systems into aircraft cabins. If successful, this would allow some passengers to remain in their personal wheelchairs during flight.
The agency also is supporting research examining whether non-FAA wheelchair crash-testing standards conform to FAA safety requirements. The National Institute on Disability and Independent Living Rehabilitation Research is testing a variety of wheelchairs.
Some of the safety concerns under investigation include the structural compatibility of any wheelchair to aircraft, cabin interior issues, occupant safety and egress of all passengers.
Reaching a solution to this longstanding issue will be a time-intensive process. Nevertheless, the ongoing efforts across various fronts are encouraging, signaling a collective commitment to advance us towards aviation that is truly accessible for all.
