Air Transport Advice - January 2012
Information to Assist With the Safe Carriage of Powered Wheelchairs and Scooters by Air
Transporting Powered Wheelchairs & Scooters in an Aircraft Hold
Under European law, passengers that are disabled or have difficulty moving around, for example, due to their age or a temporary injury, are entitled to receive assistance when flying to and from Europe, including domestic flights. To take full advantage of this free service, passengers need to pre-book with their airline 48 hours in advance of their flight (ideally when making the booking).
Airlines need specific information to accommodate the handling and transportation of powered mobility products. Some products may be too large or heavy to carry, particularly on smaller aircraft.If instructions on how to inhibit electrical circuits to prevent the inadvertent operation of a mobility aid are not available; this too will prevent it from being carried. Giving the airline plenty of notice of the carriage of an electric mobility aid will help resolve any potential problems in good time.
A datasheet detailing the weight and dimensions of many electric mobility aids and how they should be prepared for safe carriage can be downloaded below.
Datasheet Download