20 May 2011 Airline Campaign

Hi my name is Hayleigh and this is the first Trailblazer blog I have written...so dont judge me too harshly.

As most of you know last year Trailblazers began campaigning for airlines to create better access for disabled passengers. The campaign resonated with me especially since trying to find an airline which allows wheelchair users to remain seated in their own wheelchair on board the flight. The situation right now is that no airline has an aircraft which can secure a wheelchair into place which means that a disabled passenger must transfer into the seating provided or find another mode of transport. The condition I have means that for comfort and practicality my only option would be to remain in my own wheelchair which means that air travel is impossible. Naiively I thought I was the only one with this problem but after reading the report from Trailblazers I discovered otherwise. It was then I decided to carry on the campaign.

Last year I contacted four of the main airlines however the only one to reply was Virgin Airlines who I have to admit have been brilliant in offering advice and even offered me the opportunity to visit their base to see if there is any other way I could travel in comfort. I declined this offer as I feel that although the situation may be sorted for myself, others including some friends really need to remain in their wheelchairs and so a more long term solution has to be found.

I also contacted the Boeing Company to enquire about the design of their aircrafts and was informed that due to safety regulations wheelchairs are not allowed on board because of the need for protection in the event of an accident. As I am not an engineer I am not qualified to argue with this point and as Boeing has to adhere to safety regulations I think their stance has to be respected.

I also contacted the Airbus Company to see where they stand regarding aircraft design. They sent me a message back again stating that they have to fulfill safety regulations. They also suggested that my main focus should be contacting EASA ( European Aviation Safety Authority ) who deal with these regulations therefore any changes made to aircraft design or legislation would have to go through them before any airline company could even consider making wheelchairs on board a possibility.

So... I contacted EASA and again fond them to be very helpful. Basically they have to be submitted a design for any equipment or structure which has to be safety tested before any changes to regulations can be made. Obviously the safety of all passengers and crew members has to be of absolute importance and so this has to be respected.

So it would seem that what is needed is for a design company to take on the challenge which I am considering as my next step but I need people to help. If anyone would like to know more about the information I have collected please contact Bobby Ancil who can pass on my details and I can send you what you want to know. Also any ideas about how to go forward would be great. I feel that the more people who come forward about their needs the more people will listen. I have found that the organisations I have contacted have been very responsive and without being confrontational I am being adult about the situation a better dialogue can be formed. I really think this campaign can be successful and I hope that some of you would like to join in.

12 Comments

• Tanvi Vyas replied on 23 May 2011 at 10:22
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  Hi Hayleigh,

  This sounds like a brilliant campaign, it seems you have done lots of research and I am really interested in what you have done so far! It sounds really exciting actually to go and see Virgin. maybe you would consider going with more trailblazers?
  
  I just have a couple of thoughts

  1 was investigating internationally- do you know if perhaps the lock down has been done in the USA/anywhere yet??

  The second was looking at transferable seating solutions, safety regulations must of course be paramount but there does seem a disinclination to invest further in this sort of design.

  A key issue- correct me if im wrong- is the seating of the aircraft chairs, if there was an airline chair designed to embrace/take/fix our own seating solutions, could this be another way forward.

  There could even be additional fixtures for comfort with legs and feet like adjustable footrests as found in business class

  would be great to hear what you and others think!

  Tanvi

• Hayleigh replied on 23 May 2011 at 14:17
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  Hi Tanvi thanks for giving me your thoughts. Your idea for the chairs to be fixed into place is exactly what my own thoughts have been. I dont know if a design such as clamps like the ones that are provided in taxis or in ambulances maybe a possibility? Again this would have to be designed properly by a qualified designer who could also work with the safety regulations. The good news is that I a list of reputable design organisations who can be contacted for information.
  As for your question on transatlantic regulations I think the issues are pretty much the same. The regulations monitored by a different authority and so my feeling was to start with European authorities as that is where we are based and so that is why I am concentrating on the regulations set by EASA.
  All we need is for an organisation to take a chance at a design and to see if a prototype would be possible. The more people we have on board the better. Like I said previously the people I contacted have all been very helpful. I dont think the problem is people being ignorant or trying to discriminate against wheelchair users, its just that people have to work more closer together and to understand peoples needs and to investigate what is and what is not possible.
  Again if anyone would like to get involved that would be fantastic.

• Bobby Ancil replied on 23 May 2011 at 15:37
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  Hi Hayleigh

  Thanks for putting this blog together. I'm not sure if you've seen this? Jagz and a few other Trailblazers are thinking of applying for Battefront 3. http://www.battlefront.co.uk/
  Have a look and join in the discussion on the TB Facebook group page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_23258209549

• Catherine Alexander replied on 23 May 2011 at 16:00
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  Hi Hayleigh,

  I'm definitely interested in getting involved with your campaign. I find it very uncomfortable and painful sitting anywhere except for in my wheelchair - during my last flight to Florida and back, I ended up lying across 3 seats with the armrests digging into my ribs - less painful, but still uncomfortable and not very ladylike! I really want to go travelling after uni, but don't think I am prepared to go through it all again or risk my new powered wheelchair to a baggage handler.

  If you want to get in touch with me, I'm on the Trailblazers facebook group, if you're on it already :)

• Lauren West replied on 24 May 2011 at 13:09
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  Hi Hayleigh,

  This is such a good campaign idea. I can fly by using a seating insert in a normal airplane seat but it's not the comfiest experience especially on long-haul flights, and I've also wondered why they couldn't find a way for us to stay in our chairs, at least then it would also stop the usual damage to our wheelchairs. The idea I did have about possible design ideas was something similar to what they use to lock down wheelchairs in cars, something like this:

  http://www.unwin-safety.com/wheelchair-restraints/73/dock-n-lock/59/dock-n-lock

  This probably wouldn't meet the safety requirements for flying but it may be worth investigating. I use one similar in my car and it does feel incredibly safe.

  I'd really like to get involved, and I'm on the facebook group too :)

• Tmara Senior replied on 24 May 2011 at 15:29
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  Hayleigh I think what your doing as a campaign is briliant and I support it all the way.
  I hope you can find a company that can design something so that people who are in wheelchairs can be just as comfortable as other disabled and non disabled people when they take flights.

• Jennifer Gallacher replied on 24 May 2011 at 18:24
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  I have been saying the same thing for years!! To be able to travel in my wheelchair on a plane would be fantastic! I would never be at home if I were given this opportunity :)

  If you need my views to put forward to people I will be happy to do so.

• Carrie-Ann Fleming replied on 25 May 2011 at 10:05
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  Hi Hayleigh

  I work for Tourism for All UK - www.tourismforall.orh.uk - and we'd definitely be interested in having more info on your campaign. Please drop me an email to info@tourismforall.org.uk.

• Hayleigh replied on 25 May 2011 at 13:56
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  Hi everyone. Thanks for posting. It's good to know that a change of design would benefit so many people. I hate the idea that anyone has had the experience of having to sit in pain and discomfort and feel at anytime undignified. I would love for you all to get involved. I don't use the facebook page but if you could contact either Bobby Ancil or Tanvi Vyas I would be happy for them to pass on my email address to you. Thanks hope to hear from you soon.

• Jessica Berry replied on 5 Jun 2011 at 13:24
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  Hi Hayleigh, I'm a tad late to the party here as usual! But it's odd I came across your blog today as I was reading around on this internet this morning about what steps could be taken to actually try to pursue this ongoing issue with planes that seems to affect so many of us. I don't travel anymore, which really is a shame. The last time I flew was before my health got worse in 2007 (which involved being carried onto the plane by my mum with my bum being bumped along every aisle seat on the way to our seats, definitely not something I want to go through again any time soon!) I have a three year old son who actually asked me the other day why we've never been on a plane...I didn't know what to say! As Jennifer said in the post above, if I knew we could easily we'd never be at home! I'm going on my honeymoon in August this year (a cruise...not that it won't be great, but it seems the only option, at the moment at least, to avoid the pain, embarrassment, and stress involved in flying). Basically, if there's any way that I can help with this campaign please let me know!!

• Hayleigh replied on 8 Jun 2011 at 10:12
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  Hi Jessica, thanks for posting on the blog. Your story sounds so familiar! You're so right, how do you explain to a 3 year old that the world isn't as perfect as we would all like. If you want to get in contact with me you can find me on facebook and you can drop me an e-mail. It would be great to have you onboard. x

• Laura Brennan-Probets replied on 29 Apr 2012 at 07:47
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  Hi i have Spina Bifida and use a wheelchair My Family and i have stopped flying to our fav destination which is Florida because i get so uncomfortable on the flight,i have said many a time why cant planes have proper wheelchair spaces so we can travel in comfort not sure its the design and safety that stops this being done,
  money and bums on seats comes to mind i hope this campaign brings awareness to our plight on a flight

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