Govt issues draft guidelines to ensure ease during air travel for disabled people
New Delhi Oct 26 PTI The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday issued draft guidelines for aviation sector stakeholders such as airlines and airports to ensure disabled people can travel at easeActor and dancer Sudha Chandran had last week in a video posted on social media narrated her ordeal of how she was made to remove her prosthetic limb every time during a security check at any airportAccording to the draft guidelines airport operators must make special arrangements to facilitate screening of persons with special needs so that the process is carried out efficiently keeping the dignity and privacy of the passenger in mind During the screening of prosthetics the airport security — which is handled by the CISF at most of the airports — might use X-ray explosive trace detection devices or visual checks according to their requirement it mentionedThe passenger — who has a prosthetic limb — will first pass through the door frame metal detector and should then be taken to a private screening point and made to sit comfortably it noted This passenger will then receive additional screening including a pat-down the draft guidelines saidA prosthetic appliance which does not have any foam padding cover under which any weapon or explosive can be concealed and in which the steel rod of the appliance is clearly visible may be screened by visual inspection and ETD checks only without removing it However in rare cases where there is sufficient justification including profiling of the passenger X-ray screening may be resorted to it stated adding the justification for subjecting a prosthetic limb to X-ray screening shall be recorded by the screener in a register Prosthetic appliances that are covered in foam padding and in which the steel rod is not visible must undergo X-ray screening it mentionedThe draft guidelines also said that passengers who have external devices including insulin pumps hearing aids cochlear implants spinal stimulators bone growth stimulators and ostomies will not have to disconnect them for X-ray screeningUnder most circumstances a passenger can conduct a self-pat-down of these devices followed by ETD screening of his or her hands it addedDisabled passengers should inform the airline about their complete requirement 48 hours before the scheduled departure so that the carrier can make necessary arrangements it mentioned If a passenger wants to check-in their wheelchair at the airport the airline must ensure that the wheelchair is duly taxed and sent to the baggage make-up area with a service partner to avoid any damage it noted Passengers should check with the airline on the specific requirements of bringing service animals on flights A low floor coach or a ramp should be used for comfortable boarding or debarring of wheelchair users the draft guidelines mentioned Airlines should ensure that a disability awareness training is conducted for new hires and ensure periodic refreshers are conducted for all staff to reiterate policies and standard operating procedures on customer assistance with different types of disabilities it mentioned The Civil Aviation Ministry has given three weeks for people to send their comments and suggestions on the draft Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Civil Aviation after which final guidelines will be issued PTI DSP NSD NSD
New Delhi Oct 26 PTI The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday issued draft guidelines for aviation sector stakeholders such as airlines and airports to ensure disabled people can travel at easeActor and dancer Sudha Chandran had last week in a video posted on social media narrated her ordeal of how she was made to remove her prosthetic limb every time during a security check at any airportAccording to the draft guidelines airport operators must make special arrangements to facilitate screening of persons with special needs so that the process is carried out efficiently keeping the dignity and privacy of the passenger in mind During the screening of prosthetics the airport security — which is handled by the CISF at most of the airports — might use X-ray explosive trace detection devices or visual checks according to their requirement it mentionedThe passenger — who has a prosthetic limb — will first pass through the door frame metal detector and should then be taken to a private screening point and made to sit comfortably it noted This passenger will then receive additional screening including a pat-down the draft guidelines saidA prosthetic appliance which does not have any foam padding cover under which any weapon or explosive can be concealed and in which the steel rod of the appliance is clearly visible may be screened by visual inspection and ETD checks only without removing it However in rare cases where there is sufficient justification including profiling of the passenger X-ray screening may be resorted to it stated adding the justification for subjecting a prosthetic limb to X-ray screening shall be recorded by the screener in a register Prosthetic appliances that are covered in foam padding and in which the steel rod is not visible must undergo X-ray screening it mentionedThe draft guidelines also said that passengers who have external devices including insulin pumps hearing aids cochlear implants spinal stimulators bone growth stimulators and ostomies will not have to disconnect them for X-ray screeningUnder most circumstances a passenger can conduct a self-pat-down of these devices followed by ETD screening of his or her hands it addedDisabled passengers should inform the airline about their complete requirement 48 hours before the scheduled departure so that the carrier can make necessary arrangements it mentioned If a passenger wants to check-in their wheelchair at the airport the airline must ensure that the wheelchair is duly taxed and sent to the baggage make-up area with a service partner to avoid any damage it noted Passengers should check with the airline on the specific requirements of bringing service animals on flights A low floor coach or a ramp should be used for comfortable boarding or debarring of wheelchair users the draft guidelines mentioned Airlines should ensure that a disability awareness training is conducted for new hires and ensure periodic refreshers are conducted for all staff to reiterate policies and standard operating procedures on customer assistance with different types of disabilities it mentioned The Civil Aviation Ministry has given three weeks for people to send their comments and suggestions on the draft Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Civil Aviation after which final guidelines will be issued PTI DSP NSD NSD
