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From page 1...
... 1 Executive Summary Congress mandated in Section 432 of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254) that the U.S.
From page 2...
... 2 WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT CONCEPT FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL the development and implementation of in-cabin wheelchair securement systems are so formidable that the service that wheelchair users have grown accustomed to in other transportation settings is infeasible for airline travel. This report identifies and examines potential technical challenges to the development and implementation of an in-cabin wheelchair securement system that could be installed on enough airplanes to provide nonambulatory people with airline flight offerings in enough markets to provide meaningful (and not niche)
From page 3...
... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 entering and exiting an airplane and maneuvering to and from a securement area located near the boarding door. A large majority of airplanes have a main boarding door with sufficient width to enable a large majority of personal wheelchairs to pass through.
From page 4...
... 4 WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT CONCEPT FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL dynamic loading along the airplane's longitudinal axis, such as from a survivable crash or emergency landing impact when the airplane is primarily moving forward. To meet the WC19 standard, secured wheelchairs must demonstrate crashworthiness, occupant restraint, and battery and component retention in a frontal motor vehicle crash occurring at 30 mph.
From page 5...
... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 level of securement system availability on scheduled flights. This study's assessment of technical issues provides insight into how some of these requirements could be addressed.
From page 6...
... 6 WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT CONCEPT FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL many more people who use wheelchairs choose to fly and whether people with significant disabilities constitute a smaller or larger share of securement system users. The level and nature of demand will affect an airline's motivation to equip more airplanes with securement systems and affect service agent training requirements.
From page 7...
... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 likely be of moderate technical complexity for many individual airplanes. Further assessments, including efforts to fill the information gaps identified in this report, would appear to be warranted, particularly to understand how secured personal wheelchairs are likely to perform relative to FAA's safety criteria in restraining and protecting occupants during a survivable airplane crash or emergency landing.
From page 8...
... 8 WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT CONCEPT FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL studies should estimate the total demand for this service as well as the nature of this demand, including the demand by people with varying degrees of impairment. The studies should assess both the extent to which and how people with different disabilities are likely to use the securement systems, which could better define the space needed in the airplane cabin for wheelchair maneuvering and securement, provide insight into passenger support and service assis tance requirements, and inform airline decisions about needed levels of fleet coverage and flight availability.

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