Air Carrier Access Act Technical Assistance Manual (2005)

A. Introduction

Purpose of the Manual

This manual is a guide to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and its implementing regulations, 14 CFR part 382 (part 382). It is designed to serve as a brief but authoritative source of information about the services, facilities, and accommodations required by the ACAA and the provisions of part 382. The manual does not expand air carriers’ legal obligations or establish new requirements under the law. It contains suggested practices and procedures for carriers to use on a voluntary basis to implement Part 382.

The primary purpose of the manual is to help you, employees/contractors of air carriers and employees/contractors of indirect air carriers that provide services or facilities to passengers with disabilities, to assist those passengers in accordance with the law. Knowing your legal responsibilities will help ensure consistent compliance with the law and protect the civil rights of air travelers with disabilities when providing services, facilities, and accommodations to them.

Throughout the manual, rather than talking about air carriers' or indirect air carriers' employees/contractors such as yourself in the third person, the word “you” is used. In most instances, the word “you” refers to personnel who deal directly with the traveling public. Moreover, the obligations and responsibilities under the law as set forth in the manual must be read within the context of each specific employee’s duties on the job.

A second purpose of this manual is to offer air travelers with disabilities information about their rights under the ACAA and the provisions of part 382. Accordingly, in addition to the other useful information in this manual, Appendix I contains a list of “Tips for Air Travelers with Disabilities” to help ensure a smooth and comfortable trip. In addition, Appendix III provides a list of “Frequently Asked Questions” and answers and Appendix IV contains a list of “Recent DOT Enforcement Orders Related to the ACAA.”

These DOT enforcement orders are useful because they provide examples in which DOT has interpreted some of the provisions of the ACAA and part 382 under particular circumstances.