DISABLED AIR TRAVELLERS

Joint Aviation Requirements in Commercial Air Transportation (JAR-OPS)

These operational rules for airlines are aimed at providing a consistent approach to the way health and safety issues are dealt with in airline operating manuals. There is concern at the growing number of complaints about the refusal of airlines or pilots to carry disabled people on the often spurious grounds of safety risks. The European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) has been working on guidance material aimed at explaining the differences between safety risks from different types of disability, and establishing appropriate ratios of Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRMs) to staff and seating positions. The EC is supporting this work as a means of ensuring compliance with the PRM Regulation.

ABTA’s Position

ABTA represents ECTAA on the ECAC PRM group and is contributing to the guidance as a means of raising awareness among Members and avoiding potential complaints and claims from disabled passengers. Through ECAC, discussions are under way with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) over practical implementation of the JAR-OPS rules.

Last updated: 8 April 2008