Air Travel With Dignity & SafetyIncredible India- Accessible India For many years, air passengers- those with reduced mobility, whether due to disability, age or otherwise, have faced discrimination and careless or undignified treatment at the airports and at the hands of all airlines. Commonly reported problems range from being denied boarding simply because a person has a disability, lack of required assistance being provided to persons with some types of disabilities, lack of good quality aisle chairs and wheelchairs, not respecting individual autonomy and freedom of choice and forcing persons with visual impairment to sit on wheelchairs, etc.

1. Ai T lWi h Di i & S fAirTravelWith Dignity & Safety
Incredible India- Accessible IndiaIncredible India Accessible India
Anjlee Agarwal
Executive Director

2. Common IssuesCommon Issues
For many years, air passengers- those withFor many years, air passengers those with
reduced mobility, whether due to disability, age or
otherwise, have faced discrimination and careless
r ndi nified treatment at the air rts and ator undignified treatment at the airports and at
the hands of all airlines.
Commonly reported problems range fromCommonly reported problems range from
◦ being denied boarding simply because a person has a
disability,
◦ lack of required assistance being provided to persons
with some types of disabilities,
◦ lack of good quality aisle chairs and wheelchairs, notlack of good quality aisle chairs and wheelchairs, not
respecting individual autonomy and
◦ freedom of choice and forcing persons with visual
impairment to sit on wheelchairs etcimpairment to sit on wheelchairs, etc.

3. Accessible Infrastructure- Airport and
Aircraft
Universal AccessibilityUniversal Accessibility
Access to all services and facilities
Accessible Websites
InformationInformation
Communication

4. AirTravelAirTravel
Kerb-side assistanceKerb side assistance
Check-in counter
Seat allocation
Wheelchair maneuvering and transfers
Security checky
Going around the airport
Boarding
Aisle chair
In flight service
Disembarkation and luggage belt
Egress

5. Kerb side assistance?Kerb-side assistance?
Helpers at T3 New Delhi not willing to come on call from the kerb side
phone. Helpers at kerb side are not available in other cities

6. Check in?Check-in?
Check-in counter not accessible and no direct communication
with passenger with disability

7. Limited Release Tag (LRT)-
whose responsibility
L i h i i d li d h dl i h i i l fLuggage tag with priority delivery and handle with care is essential for
assistive devices such as wheelchairs

8. Scanning of wheelchair?Scanning of wheelchair?
Passenger should be allowed to use their own wheelchair and scanning
should be done by ETD which safeguards passenger with disability from
multiple transfers and harassment: CAR

9. ETD scanner hassle free & dignifiedETD scanner- hassle free & dignified

10. Passenger carePassenger care
A sticker of ‘I am being assisted’ should be provided, which helps in
differentiating between PRM and passenger with disabilities. Should be
d l bl h k d d d ll bl dmade available at check-in counter, provided on request and well publicized
by all Airlines. Colour and message should be standardized.

11. I am being assistedI am being assisted
It also helps in priority in shopping, boarding, etc.

12. Inaccessible washrooms at many
airports
Jodhpur Airport

13. Accessible washroom?Accessible washroom?
Hook came off while hanging bag, no space for wheelchair
maneuvering and slippery flooring

14. Accessible washroom/changing stationAccessible washroom/changing station
Changing stations are required in accessible washrooms for persons with disabilitiesChanging stations are required in accessible washrooms for persons with disabilities

15. Accessible washbasinAccessible washbasin
Accessible washbasin with lever handleAccessible washbasin with lever handle

16. No standardization of aisle chairsNo standardization of aisle chairs

17. Aisle chair without front wheels, arm
rests and seat belts?
Abuse of women with disabilities can easily happen in such situations

18. Aisle chairs with seat belt, arm rests,
and foot rests are required

19. Broken aisle chairs whose responsibility?Broken aisle chairs- whose responsibility?
Unsafe for persons with disabilities, PRMs and even for helpers

20. Unsafe and dangerous to useUnsafe and dangerous to use
Assistive device and equipment audit is a must

21. Non-availability of aisle chairs after landing: passengers with disabilities
wait for long time (20 min 45 min at times ) and cleaning staff arewait for long time (20 min-45 min at times ) and cleaning staff are
offending and disturbing especially for women passengers

22. External accessExternal access
Non-availability of aero bridge/ ambulift

23. Internal access via AerobridgeInternal access via Aerobridge
Equal and safe access should be provided and helper should be of
same sex of the passenger

24. Non availability of ambu-lift/ aerobridge is a
safety hazard for passenger and helper

25. Ambu lift: accessible and safe for allAmbu-lift: accessible and safe for all

26. Ambu lift: accessible and safe for allAmbu-lift: accessible and safe for all

27. L shape ramp: universal designL-shape ramp: universal design

28. Female assistance is a must for female
passengers: gender safety

29. Female assistance is a must for femaleFemale assistance is a must for female
passengers: gender safety

30. Safety packing of assistive devicesSafety packing of assistive devices

31. Safe deliverySafe delivery

32. CAR: Standardization of practices to provide
passenger’s personal wheelchair at boarding gate
AI-102, 14th June 2015 , T3. Own wheelchair was not delivered in
spite of many messages sent to Air India ground staff

33. Safety, security and dignity
compromised….
AI-102, 14th June 2015 , T3.Waiting time 35 min after the message sent, J , g g
from inflight crew and personal wheelchair was not available

34. Cleaning and checking of aircraft
continues and personal wheelchair notcontinues and personal wheelchair not
delivered!

35. Crew left and personal wheelchair not
delivered!
Standardization of process
by all airlines: CAR
1) Take passenger’s request
for use of personal
wheelchair at airport
2) Message delivered at) g
destination for delivery of
personal wheelchair at
boarding gate
3) Safe handling and packing
f h l h b dof wheelchair by ground
staff
4) Luggage tag to be
provided and wheelchair
t b t d i h ldto be stored in hold
5) Personal wheelchair to be
provided at destination
along side cabin/aisle
chair if requiredchair, if required.

36. Handbook
Air Travel: Sensitization and Training
Sensitization
Training module
prepared by
Samarthyam:
1. Training package
for 3 hr, I day andy
2 days available
2. Trainers available
t t i tto train master
trainers

37. Training ModuleTraining Module
Demystifying Disability
Disability Simulation
Communication and etiquettes
Transfers and maneuvering of assistive devices with
passenger
◦ People with visual impairments needs wheelchair
◦ Two people using wheelchairs are alikeTwo people using wheelchairs are alike
◦ Talk to attendant and not to passenger
Non-availability of the Braille instruction and signy g
language interpretation
Awareness and Sensatisation trainings

38. Guidance Material on Accessible
Airport Infrastructure
2012, Committee constituted to review
the existing guidelines for carriage of
persons with reduced mobility/disability
CAR Report- Annexure 3 (Pg. 43-67)
http://civilaviation.gov.in/cs/groups/public/documents/docume
nt/moca_003352.pdf
Printed & Online version is required for
circulation reference and implementationcirculation, reference and implementation

39. Th kThanks
Contact info:
S hSamarthyam
National Centre for Accessible Environments
New Delhi-110015 IndiaNew Delhi 110015, India
Ph: +91-9810558321, 9711190806
Email : samarthyaindia@yahoo.com
Web site: www.samarthyam.com
Facebook: Non-discrimination when I fly
https://www facebook com/whenifly?ref=hlhttps://www.facebook.com/whenifly?ref hl