Federal Aviation Administration Draft Advisory Circular 150/5360-14A, Access to Airports by Individuals with Disabilities

2.8 Aircraft and Air Carrier Facility Accessibility.

Aircraft accessibility is generally addressed by the ACAA, which applies to U.S. and foreign air carriers. However, Section 504 of the RA does place some responsibility for access to aircraft (U.S. and foreign air carriers) on the airport operator. (49 CFR § 27.72).

2.8.1 Airport Facilities.
Airport terminal facilities include parking and ground transportation facilities, owned, leased, or operated by commercial service airports that are recipients of DOT financial assistance. (49 CFR § 27.71(a)). Under 14 part 382, an air carrier is responsible for accessible facilities to the extent that it controls the selection, design, construction, or alteration of the property. (14 CFR § 382.51). It is the airport’s responsibility to ensure that leases or contracts between airports and air carriers concerning the use of airport facilities define the respective responsibilities for providing accessible facilities and services to individuals with disabilities. (49 CFR § 27.71(f)). Carriers have a reciprocal responsibility regarding such leases and contracts. (14 CFR § C.382.51(a)(4)).

2.8.1.1 Accessible Path.

It is the airport’s responsibility to ensure that a passenger with a disability can move through the airport to the aircraft boarding area. (49 CFR § 27.71(c)).

2.8.1.2 Shared-use automated airport kiosks. 

This paragraph applies to U.S. airports with 10,000 or more annual enplanements. (49 CFR § 27.71(j)).

2.8.1.2.1 Airports that jointly own, lease, or control automated airport kiosks with carriers at U.S. airports must ensure that all shared-use automated kiosks installed on or after December 12, 2016, meet the technical accessibility standards with respect to their physical design and the functions they perform as detailed in 49 CFR § 27.71(k) until at least 25 percent of kiosks provided in each location at the airport (i.e., each cluster of kiosks and all stand-alone kiosks at the airport) meet this specification.

2.8.1.2.2 Airports must ensure that at least 25 percent of shared-use automated airport kiosks they jointly own, lease, or control with carriers in each location at the airport conform to the technical accessibility standards with respect to their physical design and the functions they perform as detailed in 49 CFR § 27.71(k) by December 12, 2022.

2.8.2 Boarding Assistance for Small Aircraft.
Lifts, ramps, or other suitable devices not normally used for the movement of freight must be available, if the terminals at such airports are not equipped with passenger loading bridges or passenger lounges for boarding and deplaning. (See AC 150/5220-21C, Aircraft Boarding Equipment). Each airport operator must negotiate in good faith with each U.S. and foreign air carrier serving the airport concerning the acquisition and use of assistance devices. The airport operator and the U.S. and foreign carrier(s) must sign a written agreement allocating responsibility for meeting the boarding assistance requirements of this section between or among parties. The agreement must be made available, on request, to representatives of the DOT. All U.S. carriers and airports involved are jointly responsible for the timely and complete implementation of the agreement. (49 CFR § 27.72(c)(1) and (2)). The airport operator has the responsibility to train personnel to be proficient in using airport owned or operated boarding assistance equipment for small aircraft and be knowledgeable of boarding assistance procedures that safeguard the safety and dignity of passengers. (49 CFR § 27.72(d) and (e)). Carriers also have responsibilities concerning their written agreements with airports to provide the boarding and deplaning assistance required by 14 CFR § 382.95 where level entry loading bridges are not available (also see 14 CFR § 382.99).