broken wheelchairs and the pure indignity of the transfer will hopefully be a thing of the past. The community has supported this campaign
around the world and without their support none of this would have been possible – for that I thank them. I am staring down the barrel of 60 years of age and I am keen to keep the deadline open with my maker, so I may argue I am also making air travel better for my older self. Indeed, as we all start to live longer albeit with less mobility, this will also keep another generation flying in a world where families are now often living their lives on different continents. If you do want wheelchair air travel to be a
reality, I still need your help. I must present the business case to airlines, to do this I need your voice in the short survey below, I would like to think this will be the last ever survey on this subject.
government’s aviation strategy. Alas, like many government initiatives, COVID-19 has parked that on a shelf gathering dust but it will rise like a phoenix from the flame. Nevertheless, I have spoken directly to many other governments who are enthusiastic about establishing this solution. Canada have implemented initiatives such as free PA/carer airline ticket. I am confident they will be very keen to adopt this. In an ideal world legislation will not be necessary and the industry will adopt this initiative without a regime staring above the parapet. This will also offer the opportunity to adopt and innovate on their own terms.
As a father to two young adults who live their lives in a power wheelchair, I know this will be life changing for them – they are the reason I do this. For millions around the world this will have a similar impact. So many have either given up flying or just simply refuse to fly. Manhandling,
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8j VC708mH1sepyhTNiKXVeWWPZbZoyejAj0BYnw Jz4Kw8VQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2bDiiagvATZ8n -AFqxA6T7UqYcvF63SzopICBYTjxmfqT- 6UhFvjzqGRU
In conclusion, and by way of managing expectations, change will come. Not unlike when wheelchairs where made safe to travel in cars, there will now be another revolution for wheelchair standards in air travel. There will no doubt be some compromises to be made, but I am working hard with those stakeholders to ensure these are minimal. In many ways a power wheelchair is a ‘carry on’ in aircraft phraseology as it not a permanent fix to the aircraft. Safety agencies and regulators know this disruption is coming, they are keen to be flexible with and even waive some of the usual parameters. For many in the airline industry this subject is very close to home and are keen to see the right solution integrated into a new generation of air travel. Things are really looking up, about 30,000 feet to be precise.
Christopher Wood is the founder of
www.flyingdisabled.org.uk Twitter@FlyingDisabled Instagram@FlyingDisabled
Linkedin: Christopher Wood | LinkedIn Facebook: Christopher Wood | Facebook Ability Needs Magazine 39
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