Plans are underway to enable individuals with disabilities to go on commercial aircraft in their wheelchairs.
A Delta Air Lines subsidiary is requesting approval for a seat arrangement from the Federal Aviation Administration. According to a corporate official, that will accommodate a passenger in a wheelchair.
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Delta Flight Products, a Delta division that develops airplane interiors for airlines throughout the world, has shown off concepts for redesigned First Class and economy cabin seats at industry events in the last two years. Both seats are designed to provide passengers with disabilities with amenities comparable to those found in regular seats, and they can be positioned without reducing the number of seats on the aircraft.
The applications submitted to the FAA are the first step in what is expected to be a lengthy process, officials said.
Applications from Delta Flight Services, which could eventually enable the installation of this first-of-its-kind seat on an aircraft, represent a significant advancement in the industry’s goal to make flying more accessible to everyone,” the airline said in a statement. “Delta has consistently led efforts to make air travel more accessible, and it will continue to make investments in new ideas and technology to benefit all of our guests.
The US Department of Transportation informed Disability Scoop this month that the FAA is investigating whether commercial airplanes can safely accept wheelchair passengers, with a judgment on feasibility likely by the end of next year. At this stage, the agency stated that no big concerns have arisen, and solutions to smaller ones are being created.
The Transportation Department is also anticipated to perform a study on the economic implications of accommodating wheelchairs on airplanes, and will finally decide whether to propose a rule to make this happen.
Many people with disabilities have long advocated for the ability to remain in their wheelchairs on flights, noting the risks of injury and potential damage to their often highly tailored mobility devices when required to move to specialist aisle seats to be seated on airliners.
According to federal data, US airlines mishandled 11,527 wheelchairs and scooters in 2023 alone.
“This has been a 15-year adventure that we have worked so hard to see come closer to fruition,” stated Michelle Erwin, CEO of All Wheels Up, a nonprofit organization that funds commercial aviation wheelchair space research. “There is still work to be done, but it’s not a question of why or how anymore, it’s a question of when.”
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