A new airline seat prototype offers hope that wheelchair users could eventually remain in their own chairs during flight.
The prototype, which transforms from a regular seat into a space that secures a power wheelchair, was unveiled by Delta Flight Products in partnership with U.K.-based consortium Air4All at the Aircraft Interiors Expo on June 6. To make space for a wheelchair user, an airline employee simply flips the seat up and removes the back cushion and headrest. Once the seat is converted, a wheelchair user can back their wheelchair into the space before an employee secures it with straps.
John Morris, creator of wheelchairtravel.org, was the first wheelchair user to put the prototype to the test at AIX. “I first attempted to do so with my own wheelchair, a Permobil F3 with a wheelbase that is 24 inches wide,” he says. “Although my Permobil proved to be a few inches too wide to fully enter the space in this prototype, the Delta Flight Products team assured me that future iterations will be expanded to accommodate a larger range of wheelchairs.” Watch the video below to see Morris trying out the seat with a demo Quickie wheelchair.
Kenny Salvini has been advocating for greater airline accessibility since his power wheelchair was damaged twice in the span of one year in 2016-2017. He has worked directly with airlines and manufacturers to improve accessible air travel. His excitement is tempered by the reality that with crash testing, regulations and a reluctant industry, it will be years before a wheelchair-accessible airline seat comes to market. “But this is how it starts,” he says. “This is part of the process of discovering new technologies. And it’s a promising step in the right direction.”
To speed progress along, advocates are pushing for the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act of 2023, which calls for more protections for disabled travelers. “This is why we need people to really get out there and hammer their representatives in Congress,” Salvini says. “Because it’s still pretty dangerous to fly for me being outside of my wheelchair.”
Look for Salvini’s in-depth article on the state of accessible air travel in the September-October issue of New Mobility, and read his award-winning 2017 article, “Flying the Unfriendly Skies.”
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THAT’S GREAT, BUT FIRST THEY NEED ACCESSIBLE BATHROOMS!!!! THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE
I would love to travel in my chair, it’s so comfortable since it was custom made for me by Wheelchairs for Warriors.
I usually use the airport chair and transfer to a seat because it’s easier to get through security.
After Delta has broken my chair numerous times they would do this?!
Great first start, but where will the space be to turn and back up the chair?
From the pic, chair engages at an angle. Don’t know it that is a full answer to your question.
OMG This an exciting time for wheelchair users if this comes to pass. I just wonder if it will happen in my lifetime
👍😍👍
I think this is very unlikely. The aisles aren’t nearly wide enough for a wheelchair. Last time I flew, I felt like Hannibal Lecter strapped in the chair they take you down the aisle in.
That’s F#&%ING Historical.Great metaphor! Never flew before but that was funny
I would love to take my American Husband to the UK so he can see my home land, however the worry of him and his chair from getting hurt/damaged has prevented this from happening. A long journey in a plane seat would not be practical for his health.
He is quadriplegic and paralyzed from neck down. His own chair allows him to reposition himself which an airline seat cannot do. It also allows him independence to be able to have his flask which is attached to his chair so he can help himself to a drink via a straw that is positioned alongside his sip and puff control straw. This can easily be refilled by a flight attendant. Using a mouth stick on his removeable tray allows him to use a computer/laptop so he could pre load his own entertainment.
The only time he flew was with Delta from Minneapolis to Florida in 2017 he had to be man handled from his own wheelchair into a boarding chair then into a seat. He was unable to give himself a drink and flight attendants were busy and he did not have the use of his arms to press the attendant button or attract attention. His catheter got pulled badly during the man handling and the internal pain pump that supplies medication directly to his spine became severed (this not discovered until he had to be admitted to hospital).
His chair that was put in the hold was badly damaged which in fairness to Delta got repaired by them but his visit was ruined because he had not got the use of his own chair and spent the best part of the time in hospital. It also made transfers to connecting flights difficult.
The bathroom for him would really be difficult because of the width of the airline
s isles his chair 28inches wide. However his catheter could be emptied into a bowl/urinal although discretion would have to be used so as not to disturb other passengers.
We really look forward to travelling so much more if the airlines are able to supply the seating area for his chair after that we have then to tackle the problem of hotels that think being disabled means just needing a super large bathroom with hand grabs:)
I hope we able to see this happen in my husbands and my lifetime. His Permobil chair is beast. I just don’t know how it would even maneuver on any airline. Thats why we never fly with it. Just my 2 cents.
I would love to travel more with my quantum electric…I need a hoyer lift to transfer…I would love to go to Europe so bad!!!
I’m a Tetrapeligic,never flew before but always thought my power wheel chair +me would be too much weight for jet bridge. My nurse had said we automatically upgrade to first class. I guess that’s baloney. I also suffer from autonomic disreflexia.l don’t think I couldn’t stay in sitting position for to long. Would have to elevate my leggs plus be able to put my head back. Furthermore, I only get transferred by my personal so accidents don’t happen. Thanks for the heads up about the damage to equipment.