If you follow accessible travel at all, you’ve probably noticed an uptick of articles about the possibility of staying in your own wheelchair to fly. A few airlines have released prototypes of “accessible” flip up seating units with wheelchair tie-downs; and a number of disability rights organizations have championed the “flying in your wheelchair” movement.

And to be honest there are a number of good reasons for flying in your wheelchair. First and foremost, if you stay in your own wheelchair on a flight, you won’t give the airlines the opportunity to lose or damage it. Second, it’s much more dignified than being transported to your seat in an aisle chair. And lastly, it’s just healthier, as it could help prevent skin breakdown.

The bottom line is, flying in your wheelchair would just be more comfortable. On the other hand, despite a definite push to make this desire a reality, the timeline for actual implementation could be decades away.

FAA Approval

Although there are a number of prototype accessible seating systems out there, the first hurdle to flying in your wheelchair is getting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for these prototypes. Just like car seats need FAA approval to be used aboard an aircraft, so does other equipment, like removable seats and tie-downs.

The big issue is safety. The FAA wants to make sure that the seating systems can withstand the rigors of takeoff and landing and even emergency maneuvers. So these seating systems have to be tested and retested and then evaluated by the experts. And all of this takes time.

Another point that the FAA needs to consider is the airworthiness of individual wheelchairs. Sure a wheelchair can be tied down on a city bus, but a city bus isn’t going 150 miles per hour before coming to a dead stop in a few seconds. And that’s exactly what an airplane does when it lands. Even if the tie-downs can withstand the landing, individual wheelchair models also have to be evaluated for their airworthiness. Furthermore, even if a wheelchair model is deemed airworthy there may have to be some inspections of individual wheelchairs prior to boarding. 

The FAA has already released a preliminary report on the feasibility of passengers staying in their own wheelchair to fly. It was released in 2021 and it addressed many of the issues noted above. Some recommendations were made, and of course the need for further study and testing was noted. The FAA is currently conducting research to determine the testing and requirements needed for wheelchair seating units with tie-down in aircraft cabins. And the FAA hopes to define the safety criteria for wheelchairs in the cabin by the end of 2025.

Amending the Air Carrier Access Act

Once the FAA signs off on the safety criteria, then things are handed over to the Department of Transportation (DOT). Their job is to then update the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) to incorporate rules and regulations for flying in your wheelchair. And although this sounds simple, it can be a long drawn out process.

First the DOT solicits public comments on the issue. These public comments come from consumers, the companies that make the accessible seating systems, disability organizations and the airlines. After the DOT has gathered these public comments — usually from public meetings — they set to work crafting the regulations.

Once the preliminary regulations are completed, they are published in the Federal Register, and are open for public comments. After the comments are read the DOT may release the final regulations, or if there are some highly contested issues they may solicit more public comments.

One key issue most likely to be debated during the public comment period is, should the DOT allow or require airlines to use an onboard securement device for wheelchairs. There’s a big difference between the two. For example, the FAA allows airlines to provide on-board oxygen for customers, but it does not require them to do so. And that’s why some airlines don’t provide the service — because they don’t have to. So there may be a considerable debate about this, especially since two rows of standard airline seats need to be removed to accommodate one row of the accessible tie-down seats. That’s quite a chunk of real estate, and a lot of potential lost revenue for a struggling airline industry

Finally, when the DOT feels it has enough input, they publish the final regulations in the Federal Register. But that’s hardly the end of things. 

Implementing the Regulations

Next comes the implementation of the new regulations. In most cases new regulations do not take effect immediately, especially where aircraft retrofitting is concerned. It’s not unusual for the regulations to be scheduled for implementation three years after they are adopted. And then they are usually only required on new aircraft, not the existing fleet.

Then there’s the catch. According to DOT figures, the usual life of a commercial aircraft is 25 years, so only 4 percent of the fleet is replaced annually. Using those numbers it would take 25 years for this amendment to be fully implemented. It’s just like the new accessible lavatories on single aisle aircraft — that amendment won’t be fully implemented until 2051. (https://emerginghorizons.com/new-accessible-airline-lavatory-rule-when-will-it-happen/).

If things go the same way for the “staying in your own wheelchair to fly” issue, here’s the expected timeline, based on past timelines for major changes in the ACAA. And this is a best case scenario — if the FAA testing is actually completed on schedule and there are no other issues.

FAA Testing Completed  — end of 2025

ACAA Regulations Updated – 2030 (5 years)

New ACAA Implemented – 2033 (3 years)

All Aircraft Outfitted with Tie-Downs – 2058

Perhaps a Compromise

This timeline is a tad bit optimistic because this is an extremely controversial issue — between the airlines and wheelchair-users. I actually expect there will be a compromise, as that’s what usually happens with controversial issues.

I expect that the DOT will allow, but not require the restraint system so you can fly in your wheelchair. I still think it will take at least five years to craft the regulations, but a possible end result could be that the airlines that want to retrofit their aircraft with the accessible restraint systems will be allowed to do so. The other airlines would not be required to do so. I expect the accessible restraint systems will only be installed on a few showcase aircraft at first, but who knows.

In any case, this is a step forward for the possibility flying in your wheelchair, but I believe the full realization is a long way off. Still you have to start somewhere. Before the ACAA was passed in 1986, the airlines were not even required to accept wheelchair-users. And then they made them sit on a towel because they were afraid they would soil their seat.

We’ve come a long way, but we still have a ways to go. And it might take some time.