Air Carrier Access Act Technical Assistance Manual (2005)

A. Aircraft Accessibility

In order to assist passengers with a disability, it is important for you to have some understanding of how aircraft have been made accessible to accommodate those passengers. The following features are required for aircraft ordered by the carrier after April 5, 1990, or delivered to the carrier after April 5, 1992. In addition, different size airplanes must be equipped with different features according to the law. For example:

• Aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats must have movable aisle armrests on at least half of the aisle seats where it is feasible and it does not interfere with safety. [Secs. 382.21(a)(i) and (ii)] (Movable armrests are not feasible where tray tables and video entertainment systems are installed.);

• Aircraft with 100 or more passenger seats must have priority storage space within the cabin to stow at least one passenger’s folding wheelchair [Sec. 382.21(a)(2)] and DOT has interpreted that to mean a space at least 13 inches wide, 36 inches high, and 42 inches long;

• Aircraft with more than one aisle in which lavatories are provided must include at least one lavatory accessible to passengers with a disability accessing the lavatory with an on-board wheelchair [Sec. 382.21(a)(3)];

• Aircraft with more than 60 passenger seats having an accessible lavatory must be equipped with an on-board wheelchair [Sec. 382.21(a)(4)(i)]; and

• Aircraft with more than 60 passenger seats having an inaccessible lavatory must be equipped with an on-board wheelchair when a passenger with a disability informs the carrier (providing advance notice under Sec. 382.33(b)(8)) that the passenger can use an inaccessible lavatory but cannot reach the lavatory from a seat without the use of an on-board wheelchair. [Sec. 382.21(a)(4)(ii)]

Aircraft in service on April 5, 1990, are not required to be retrofitted for the sole purpose of enhancing accessibility. [Sec. 382.21(b)(1)] However, with respect to all aircraft with more than 60 passenger seats operated under 14 CFR part 121, regardless of the age of the aircraft, carriers must provide on-board wheelchairs if (i) the aircraft has an accessible lavatory; or (ii) a passenger with a disability gives up to 48 hours’ notice that the passenger can use an inaccessible lavatory. [Sec. 382.21(b)(2)] Whenever an aircraft operating under 14 CFR part 121 which does not have the accessibility features set forth above undergoes replacement of (i) cabin interior elements or lavatories, or (ii) existing seats with newly-manufactured seats (i.e., previously unused), the carrier must comply with the accessibility features set forth above with respect to the feature being replaced. [Sec. 382.21(c)]

Where Part 382 requires a particular aircraft to have an on-board wheelchair and a stowage space within the cabin for at least one passenger’s folding wheelchair, that aircraft must have stowage spaces for both of these chairs and must accommodate both of these chairs as required by law. [Secs. 382.21(a)(4)(i) and 382.21(a)(2)]

Any replacement or refurbishing of the aircraft cabin must not reduce existing accessibility to a level below that specified under the law. [Sec. 382.21(e)] Carriers must maintain aircraft accessibility features in proper working order. [Sec. 382.21(f)]