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DOT Fact Sheet
Steps Taken to Ensure New Security Requirements Preserve and Respect
the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and the Department of
Transportation's implementing rules prohibit
discriminatory treatment of persons with disabilities in air
transportation. Since the terrorist hijackings and tragic events of
September 11, the Federal Aviation Administration FAA)
has issued directives to strengthen security measures at
airline checkpoints and passenger screening locations. In securing our
national air transportation system, where much of FAA's efforts have been
directed to date, steps were also taken to ensure that the new security
procedures preserve and respect the civil rights of passengers
with disabilities. This Fact Sheet provides information about the
accessibility requirements in air travel in light of strengthened
security measures by providing a few examples of the types of
accommodations and services that must be provided to passengers
with disabilities. The examples listed below are not all-inclusive and
are simply meant to provide answers to frequently asked questions since
September 11 concerning the air travel of people with disabilities.
Check-in
Air carriers must provide meet and assist service (e.g., assistance
to gate or aircraft) at drop-off points. The lack of curbside check-in,
for certain airlines at some airports, has not changed the requirement for
meet and assist service at drop-off points.
Screener checkpoints
Individuals assisting passengers with disabilities are allowed beyond
the screener checkpoints. These individuals may be required to
present themselves at the airlines' check-in desk and receive a "pass"
allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without a ticket.
Ticketed passengers with their own oxygen for use on the ground are
allowed beyond the screener checkpoints
with their oxygen canisters once the canisters have been thoroughly
inspected. If there is a request for oxygen at the gate for a qualified
passenger with a disability, commercial oxygen
providers are allowed beyond the screener checkpoints with oxygen
canisters once the canisters have been thoroughly inspected.
Commercial oxygen providers may be required to present themselves
at the airlines' check-in desk and receive a
"pass" allowing them to go through the screener
checkpoint without a ticket.
The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or
briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies
and/or assistive devices. Passengers with
disabilities generally may carry medical
equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the
aircraft.
All persons allowed beyond the screener checkpoints may be searched. This
will usually be done through the use of a hand-held metal
detector, whenever possible. Passengers may also be patted down during
security screenings, and this is even more likely if the passenger
uses a wheelchair and is unable to stand up.
Private screenings remain an option for persons in wheelchairs.
Service animals, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are
not concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft. Any backpack or
sidepack that is carried on the animal will be manually inspected or put
through the X-ray machines. The service animal's halter may also be
removed for inspection.
Assistive devices such as walking canes, once inspected to ensure
prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an
aircraft. Assistive devices such as augmentative communication devices and
Braille'N Speaks will go through the same sort of security
screening process as used for personal computers.
Syringes are permitted on board an aircraft once it is determined that
the person has a documented medical need for the syringe.
Personal wheelchairs and battery-powered scooters may still be used
to reach departure gates after they are inspected to ensure that they do
not present a security risk. Any backpack or sidepack that is carried on
the wheelchair will be manually inspected or put through the X-ray
machines.
Personal wheelchairs will still be allowed to be stowed on board an
aircraft.
Air carriers must ensure that qualified individuals with a disability,
including those with vision or hearing impairments, have timely
access to information, such as new security
measures, the carriers provide to
other passengers. For example, on flights to Reagan Washington National
Airport, persons are verbally warned to use the restrooms more than
a half an hour before arrival since after that point in time passengers
are required to remain in their seats. Alternative formats are necessary
to ensure that all passengers, especially deaf persons, understand new
security measures such as the one at Reagan Washington National.
We hope this information is helpful to you. Members of the public, who
feel they have been the subject of discriminatory actions or treatment by
air carriers, may file a complaint by sending an
email, a letter, or a completed complaint form
to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD).
ACPD's e-mail address is
airconsumer@ost.dot.gov and its mailing
address is: Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Room 4107, C-75, Washington, DC 20590. Complaint
forms that consumers may download and/or print are available at
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm
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Issued on 10/29/01 by the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for
Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings and its Aviation Consumer
Protection Division. |