Accessible Airplane Petition

mgwmgw · 07-13-2012, 05:39 PM

http://www.change.org/petitions/plea...air-accessible

People want to fly in their own wheelchairs. Is this a good idea?

Mary-Anne

cass · 07-13-2012, 10:49 PM

no. it's a terrible idea.

t8burst · 07-13-2012, 11:33 PM

Yeah, I am with Cass on this one.

Rdhudson · 07-14-2012, 06:11 AM

Why is this a bad idea?

cass · 07-14-2012, 07:06 AM

airline seats are tested for 16g. no way can every wheelchair be tested and locked down anywhere near there. that's just part of it. i am an aero engineer, did faa cert testing. an airplane is NOT a bus. this topic has been discussed here before.

i can only assume ppl proposing this have no experience in airplane interiors, faa cert or basic safety, for everyone on board. it is a ridiculous idea put forth by ppl who equate it to buses. buses do not travel 600 mph or have 3 degrees of freedom in motion.

how would you cert every w/c out there to 16g? how would you lock all the types down? with straps? and you think that would pass faa req? most dis can fly now. look up acaa (air carrier access act). that predates ADA. and yeah, i am quad, flown many times since 1986. and it is airport crew who have helped me into airline seat so it is nonsense for any family member/pca to say they have to do it. i have flown to australia alone, for god's sake.

Rdhudson · 07-14-2012, 10:15 AM

Thank you for explaining it out to me. I was just curious as to why and it sounds like the right person answered.

RJC · 07-14-2012, 11:37 PM

would be nice but not safe

lynnifer · 07-15-2012, 12:09 AM

But I agree it would be nice. I understand why not though. It would be nice to board in your own chair and then transfer though. Even T8 and Cass must agree that there's room for improvement?

cass · 07-15-2012, 02:21 AM

i never get in an aisle chair except right outside the airplane door. i am only in it long enough to instruct airport personnel how to handle my power chr. if, in a folding manual, request it be stored in pass closet. lynnifer, i have boarded in my own chair, on southwest, where the front row is accessible w/o aisle chair (737s, w/no classes). i always flew kimberly on southwest and encourage others to do so.

rdhudson, you are welcome. i hope i didn't sound harsh in my post, but the petitioner really doesn't seem to understand.

funklab · 07-20-2012, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cass

i have boarded in my own chair, on southwest, where the front row is accessible w/o aisle chair (737s, w/no classes). (

I got upgraded to 1st class on a flight last spring, and I did the whole aisle chair rigamarole, and then when they rolled me onto the plane I realized that for that one rear 1st class seat there was plenty of room for my wheelchair (also 1st row of coach as well), so I hopped into my own chair on the way out... much nicer than the aisle chair, but 90% of the plane's I've ridden on aren't set up for it.

Flying in your own chair is an unrealistic idea... and in most cases so is boarding in your own chair.

07-13-2012, 05:39 PM	#1
mgwmgw Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 41	Accessible Airplane Petition http://www.change.org/petitions/plea...air-accessible People want to fly in their own wheelchairs. Is this a good idea? Mary-Anne

07-14-2012, 07:06 AM	#5
cass Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: WA Posts: 5,710	airline seats are tested for 16g. no way can every wheelchair be tested and locked down anywhere near there. that's just part of it. i am an aero engineer, did faa cert testing. an airplane is NOT a bus. this topic has been discussed here before. i can only assume ppl proposing this have no experience in airplane interiors, faa cert or basic safety, for everyone on board. it is a ridiculous idea put forth by ppl who equate it to buses. buses do not travel 600 mph or have 3 degrees of freedom in motion. how would you cert every w/c out there to 16g? how would you lock all the types down? with straps? and you think that would pass faa req? most dis can fly now. look up acaa (air carrier access act). that predates ADA. and yeah, i am quad, flown many times since 1986. and it is airport crew who have helped me into airline seat so it is nonsense for any family member/pca to say they have to do it. i have flown to australia alone, for god's sake. Last edited by cass; 07-14-2012 at 07:31 AM.

07-15-2012, 12:09 AM	#8
lynnifer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Windsor ON Canada Posts: 15,323	But I agree it would be nice. I understand why not though. It would be nice to board in your own chair and then transfer though. Even T8 and Cass must agree that there's room for improvement? __________________ I think over again my small adventures, My fears, Those small ones that seemed so big, For all the vital things I had to get and to reach; And yet there is only one great thing, The only thing, To live to see the great day that dawns And the light that fills the world. Anonymous (Inuit, 19th century) T-11 Flaccid Paraplegic due to TM July 1985 @ age 12

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07-13-2012, 10:49 PM	#2
cass Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: WA Posts: 5,710	no. it's a terrible idea.

07-13-2012, 11:33 PM	#3
t8burst Moderator Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6,505	Yeah, I am with Cass on this one.

07-14-2012, 06:11 AM	#4
Rdhudson Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bryant Arkansas Posts: 24	Why is this a bad idea?

07-14-2012, 10:15 AM	#6
Rdhudson Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bryant Arkansas Posts: 24	Thank you for explaining it out to me. I was just curious as to why and it sounds like the right person answered.

07-14-2012, 11:37 PM	#7
RJC Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,033	would be nice but not safe

07-15-2012, 02:21 AM	#9
cass Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: WA Posts: 5,710	i never get in an aisle chair except right outside the airplane door. i am only in it long enough to instruct airport personnel how to handle my power chr. if, in a folding manual, request it be stored in pass closet. lynnifer, i have boarded in my own chair, on southwest, where the front row is accessible w/o aisle chair (737s, w/no classes). i always flew kimberly on southwest and encourage others to do so. rdhudson, you are welcome. i hope i didn't sound harsh in my post, but the petitioner really doesn't seem to understand.