Air Carrier Policies on Transport of Battery Powered Wheelchairs



United States Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board

December 1988



This brochure provides a quick reference of air carrier policies for the

transport of battery powered wheelchairs.  Included is a contact

person, a citation for the carrier's policy, a description of the

policy and a list of aircraft types flown by each air carrier.



U.S. ATBCB has prepared a separate brochure describing the government

guidelines, known as 49 CFR 171 et. seg., for the packing and labeling

of wheelchair batteries.  All airlines should follow these minimum

procedures.



Widebody aircraft are able to load and stow battery powered wheelchairs

in an upright position, however, only some narrow body aircraft can

load and stow upright.  



The following chart lists the most commonly used aircraft and indicates

which are widebody.



Widebody Airbus A300, A310, A330, A340 Boeing B-747,B-767 Lockeed L-1011

McDonald Douglas DC-10



Narrowbody Airbus A320 Bac 1-11 Bae 146 Boeing B-707,

B-720,B-727,B-737,B-757 Convair 580 Dehavilland DHC-7,DHC-8 F28 F100

Mcdonald Douglas DC-8,DC-9,MD-80 Shorts S330



Air Canada



Contact Person:  Thomas Illing (514) 879-7925 Citation:  PUB 343 Chap 6

pages 9-16 Policy: 



All types accepted at no charge             



Must check in 1 hour prior to flight             



Must be packed in special Battery Kit designed and supplied by company 



Aircraft: 



Aloha



Contact Person:  Patty Yoshino (808)836-4993 



Citation:   Wheelchair Section in Computer Reservation System 



Policy:  Can accept all types



Must be leak proof container with absorbent material



Must be labeled "This Side Up" 



Aircraft:   B-737,DC-9,MD-80



American Airlines



Contact Person:  Medical Acceptance Coordinator  (800) 433-7300 or 

Public Relations (817) 355-1575 



Citation:   In computer Reservation System 



Policy: Max height on narrow body aircraft-36"             



Must be disconnected and terminals covered with non-conducting tape 



wet cell or spillable need not be drained but must be capped.           



Must check in 1 hour prior to departure 



Aircraft:  B-747, B-757, B-767, B-727, B-737, MD-80, DC-10, A300,BAE146



Feeder Partners:  American Eagle may not accept due to size of aircraft



Braniff



Contact Person:  General information  (800) BRANIFF or Walt Young (214)

929-1246 



Citation:  No specific policy other than FAA regulations 



Policy: Handled on a case by case basis



Give as much notice as possible 



Aircraft: B-727, B-737, BAC 1-11 



Feeder Partners:  Braniff Express may not accept due to size of

aircraft.		 	



Contintental



Contact Person:   Sylvia Crofton (713) 987-6630 



Citation:  Customer Service Bulletin 87-03 March 19, 1987 



Policy: Accepted at no extra charge as cargo.



Must be primary means of mobility 



All types of chairs - wet or dry 



give 24 hours notice and check in 45 minutes ahead of departure 



At ticket counter Contintental will perform for passenger: 



Battery will be detached and placed in Contintental Container available

for $9.50 package part CS139



Caps removed and replaced with non-spillable type part CS144 or CS 145  



Zip lock bag sealed around battery Clearly Mark 



Aircraft:B-747,B-737,B-727,DC-9,DC-10,MD-80,A300 



Feeder Partners: Continental Express may not accept due to size of

aircraft



Delta



Contact Person: Joe Koda (404)765-2463 



Citation:  In the computer reservation system 



Policy: Dry battery accepted without restriction 



Wet battery (spillable and non-spillable are accepted with restrictions 



Coordinate in advance with reservations 



Deactivate cables 



Load separately, battery is removed and packed in a leak proof container

with enough absorbent material to completely absorb any

spillage             



Clear Label 



Aircraft: B-767, B-757, B-727, B-737, L-1011, DC-8,DC-9,DC-10, MD80 



Feeder Partners:  Delta Connection may not accept due to size of

aircraft



Northwest 



Contact Person:  Martin Thor (612)726-3970 



Citation: Wheelchair in Computer Reservation System 



Policy: Notify when making reservation 



Wet cell not accepted on narrow body



Only one battery powered chair per wide body 



Aircraft:B-747,B-757,B-727,A320,A330,A340,DC9,DC10,MD80, Convair 580 



Feeder Partner:  Northwest Airlink may not accept due to size of

aircraft



Pan American 



Contact Person:  Mitsie Liecht (212) 880-1215 



Citation:   Passenger Service Manual Bulletin 602 Pages 3 & 4 

Restricted and Irregular Baggage Acceptance and Handling 





Policy:  All types of batteries are accepted



Dry or Non-spillable are accepted attached to the chair, with the

terminal disconnected and capped. 



Wet cell batteries carried in cargo compartments that can accommodate

the upright loading and storage are required to be attached to the

chair, and deactivated             



Wet cell batteries carried in cargo compartments that cannot accommodate

upright loading or storage are required to removed from the chair and

packed in a container approximately 11 1/2" wide, 14 1/2" long, 11"

high; "This Side Up", and "Wet Battery for Wheelchair" Marked on the

box; and absorbent material sufficient to absorb the total liquid

contents 



Aircraft: B-747,B737,B727,A300,A310,A320 



Feeder Partners:  Pan Express may not be able to accept due to size of

aircraft



Southwest Airlines



Contact Person:  Bob McNeil (214) 902-1270 



Citation: Customer Service Manual Sec 1 Page 14 Para 1.80.00 



Policy: Transported free of charge dry or non-spillable



Must have cables disconnected and terminals insulated



Cannot load and stow upright on Boeing 737 Aircraft 



Aircraft: B-737



TransWorld Airlines



Contact Person: 



Citation: Wheelchairs in Reservation Manual 



Policy: Must give advance notice



Check in 1 hour prior to departure 



Wet cell not accepted on narrow body 



Must be deactivated 



Feeder Partners:  TWA express may not be able to accept due to size of

aircraft



United Airlines 



Contact Person:  Diane Sena (312) 952-6796 



Citation: Baggage Manual Resolution 65 page 48 - 50 



Policy: Regardless of type (dry, non-spillable, or wet cell) must remain

attached to the chair; battery cables must be disconnected from the

battery terminal; terminals must be taped 



Aircraft: B-747,B-757,B-767,B-727,B-737,DC-8,DC-10,L-1011 



Feeder Partners: United Express may not be able to accept due to the

size of the aircraft



USAir Contact Person: L.W. Donahue (703)892-7518 



Citation: Passenger Service Manual 4-11-1 



Policy: All types are accepted at no charge



Passengers are responsible for packing and labeling



On Boeing 737-2000 and 727-200 air craft Non-spillable and dry batteries

may be attached to wheelchair with the terminals protected against

short circuits. Or battery power pack, storage tray, and steering 

control may be detached,securely boxed, and marked "Fragile- This Side

Up" with the wheelchair collapsed and loaded in a flat position.        



Spillable batteries must be presented in a container, protected against

short circuits, placed upright, and surrounded by absorbent material. 

Outside container must be marked "This Side Up","Battery, Wet with

Wheelchair" and have a "Corrosive" label 

Aircraft:B-7237,B737,B-767,DC-9,MD-80,BAE-146,BAC1-11,F28, F-100 



Feeder Partners: USAir Commuter/Allegheny Commuter/Piedmont Regional may

not accept due to size of aircraft



NOTE:  Names of contact persons have been provided where a specific

individual has been assigned responsibility rather than the

department.  Since personnel changes occur frequently, the

responsibilities may have been assigned to another person; if the

specific individual is no longer present, ask for the person

responsible for policies dealing with disabled passengers. 

      





.TCEL.

.

