Evac+Chair International: on-board wheelchair getting ready for launch. The Disabled Person’s Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) is a UK Government advisory body established under the Transport Act 1985. In 2007 it released a design specification for an On-board Wheelchair to be carried on commercial passenger aircraft. This is the first public document created in response to the European Union Regulation 1107/2006, which gives disabled people and people with reduced mobility opportunities for air travel comparable to other citizens when they fly out of EU airports.

According to the regulation, airport operators and operating air carriers within the Community shall not refuse to “embark a disabled person or person of reduced mobility provided that the person concerned has a valid ticket and reservation”(art.3b). “If the size of the aircraft or its doors make embarkation or carriage of that person physically impossible” they “shall make reasonable efforts to propose acceptable alternative to the person in question”.

This is not intended to allow derogation of duty, but to make positive steps to assist with embarkation, to make reasonable efforts to arrange seating to meet individual needs, and to assist in moving to toilet facilities if required (annex II).

Although the DPTAC design specification is not a statutory requirement, it is intended to promote best practice in meeting the needs of disabled people. It will be a matter for regulators, providers and operators to decide whether to adopt these specifications for themselves. The picture of the Air+Chair illustrates how the specification has been interpreted by Evac+Chair International, a well know company with a range of products suitable for passenger handling in airports.

The Air+Chair is currently in its prototype stage of development and some of its unique features have been registered with the UK Patent Office. The Air+Chair will weigh less than 6 kgs, with a folding back rest, and gull-wings which allow for easy transfer into the aisle. The payload will exceed 250 kg due to the intelligent design of the load bearing support legs and cross beams.

Evac+Chair International is interested to speak to Air Carriers and other potential users to assist with the next phase of trials. In the company’s range of products is the Ibex Transeat which has been in production for over five years and provides a non-motorized means of stairway ascent/descent.

The Ibex is tested to exceed 150 kg payload and is recognised as an award winning leader in its field.

Contact:

Barry Scholes
Evac+Chair International Ltd,
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 121 706 6744
info@evacchair.co.uk
www.evac-chair.co.uk