12-Aug-2009

12 August 2009
 

Clearer skies ahead for flyers with disability
 
There’s been a long history of people with disability experiencing difficulties when flying around Australia.

Late last year, the Australian Government set up an Access to Aviation Working Group under the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (DOI) to bring together the airline industry (operators and airports), government agencies and organisations advocating for the rights and welfare of people with disability, including NDS.
 
In particular, the working group is

• Contributing to the National Aviation Policy Statement (White Paper);
• Contributing to the government response to the report on the Transport Standards Review;
• Advising the government on the practicality and interaction of the existing aviation legislation with the 
   Disability Discrimination Act; and
• Considering other measures and actions that can provide people with disability access to air travel 
   while ensuring the safety and security of all fare paying passengers.
 
The airlines involved (Qantas, Virgin Blue, Rex, Tiger) have committed to
developing voluntary Disability Access Facilitation Plans to improve their communication with people with disability. Regional Express (Rex) has already updated its terms and conditions for the provision of special assistance and
these can be read at
http://rex.com.au/FlightInfo/BI_SpecialRequirementsConditions.aspx.
 
The Civil Aviation Act has been amended to make it clearer to aircraft operators their obligations in the allocation of seats, particularly in exit rows, to people with disability. The Disability Discrimination Act is being amended to clarify the carriage of assistance animals in an airline’s cabin.
 
Following a review of aviation security screening, guidelines for security screeners at airports are being revised. Background to the review and links to the report
are at
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/security/aviation/screening/index.aspx.
 
More detail about the working group, including summary records of meetings is available at http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/aawg/index.aspx.
 
________________________________________
Contact Information: Margaret Verick, NDS National Office, Ph 02 6283 3214, margaret.verick@nds.org.au
 
This News Update is one of a series issued by National Disability Services.
A list of recent News Updates are available on our website. If you have forgotten your login and password to NDS's website, contact emerson.riley@nds.org.au.
 
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