"No airline shall refuse to carry persons with disability or reduced mobility and their assistive aids/devices, escorts

NEW DELHI: Aviation authorities have yet again asked airlines not to refuse boarding to the differently-abled. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief Prabhat Kumar has issued a categorical order saying "no airline shall refuse to carry persons with

disability or reduced mobility and their assistive aids/devices, escorts and guide dogs including their presence in the cabin, provided that such persons or their representatives" inform the airline of their requirements at the time of booking tickets. 

The stern directives come in a fresh "civil aviation requirement (CAR)" on "carriage by air (for) persons with disability and/or with reduced mobility" issued by Prabhat Kumar recently. It has also asked people with reduced mobility to inform airlines about their requirements at least 48 hours before schedule departure time. 

Kumar's CAR reiterates that airlines allow guide dogs in aircraft. "Airlines shall develop procedures for carriage of guide dogs, if required in cabin, for the assistance of persons with disability or reduced mobility. Guide dogs may be permitted in cabin (if) they are properly trained, remain on floor at passenger's feet, properly harnessed and vaccinated." Passengers carrying guide dogs will have to produce a written proof to this effect for their guide dogs. The CAR makes it mandatory for all airports have all facilities for differently-abled. Both airlines and airports will have to put on their websites the facilities they have for the disabled and also train their staff for assisting them. 

The DGCA has also told airlines not to insist on medical certificates or special forms from such persons who wish to travel without an escort. Only if the condition is feared to be such that may aggravate during flight, can an airline seek such a certificate. 

"Airlines may require medical certificate only when they have information that the passenger: a. suffers from disease which is believed to be actively contagious and communicable; who (could affect flight safety); would require medical attention during flight," it says while listing the conditions when airlines may seek a medical certificate. 

The DGCA has asked airlines and airports to have low floor buses for transfer between aircraft and terminals. The regulator has many times in the past issued directives to airlines on the subject. But primarily lack of proper training for staff has meant that the disabled continue to be denied boarding every now and then. The regulator has now asked airlines and airports to have nodal officer for speedy grievance redressal in case of complaints by the differently-abled. 

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