There is some good news for passengers with disabilities travelling in the US. Right now, a new mandate is being finalised that will include regulations from the US Department of Transport that ensure new commercial aircraft will be made more accessible. As an NDSI provider on the Gold Coast, we are delighted to hear that more is being done to make air transport better for those who travel with disabilities.
Bathroom Sizes
Until this new legislation is introduced, bathrooms on aeroplanes have been very difficult for those travelling with disabilities. Accessible toilets are only required on aircraft that have more than one aisle. However, as things change, single-aisle planes are being increasingly used for longer flights. Since 1991, the distance flown by single-aisle planes has more than doubled and now 86% of flights using such aircraft travel between 1,500 and 3,000 miles.
This can be very difficult for passengers with disabilities if the small bathroom spaces provided are not adapted and, therefore, cannot accommodate wheelchair users. Flights travelling that far can mean four hours or more in the air and has led to people having to remain dehydrated, use catheters or wear adult diapers in order to travel, which is clearly unacceptable.
New airliners that have a single aisle and more than 125 seats will now have to provide accessible toilet facilities. This means a space big enough to accommodate both a passenger with a disability and their carer. The space has to accommodate two adults, equivalent to the 95th percentile of males, and provide both parties with enough space to manoeuvre.
A Lot of Support
This is just one change that will be mandated, and Pete Buttigieg, who is the transportation secretary, spoke about his view of the changes. “Traveling can be stressful enough without worrying about being able to access a restroom; yet today, millions of wheelchair users are forced to choose between dehydrating themselves before boarding a plane or avoiding air travel altogether. We are proud to announce this rule that will make aeroplane bathrooms larger and more accessible, ensuring travellers in wheelchairs are afforded the same access and dignity as the rest of the travelling public.”
Roll Out Approach
Once the new ruling has been officially issued, it will sit under the Air Carrier Access Act and will come into effect 60 days after the publish date. There will be a rollout approach, which means that changes will begin to be phased in over several years. A lot of the changes relate to new aircraft being built, which obviously won’t be flying for some time.
Wheelchair Changes
Other changes are also in the pipeline, with a ruling that would enable disabled passengers to keep their own wheelchairs rather than have to transfer when using commercial flights. United Airlines has also added braille signage and information to the interior of its aircraft. They intend to make this standard for the whole of its mainline fleet by the end of 2026 and will indicate seat numbers, row markings, lavatories, and more.