14 CFR Part 382 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel (Air Carrier Access Act): Preamble and Section-by-Section Analysis (with amendments issued through July 2010)

4. Passenger Information

We explained in the Oxygen NPRM that carriers would be required to inform passengers, on request, about any restrictions on using their personal respiratory assistive devices aboard the carrier’s flights (e.g., device can only be used after takeoff and before landing, availability of electrical outlets). In this regard, we indicated that we thought carriers would need to maintain some type of list of approved or disapproved devices and sought comments as to what extent carriers should be required to provide information to disabled air travelers. We also asked about the issues that are raised if carriers are required to provide information on the limitation of the carriers’ codeshare partners to accommodate the use of respiratory devices.

The Department received a number of comments from consumers strongly urging that a centralized list of approved and disapproved devices be provided by carriers, airports and/or the government. Industry comments varied, with some carriers indicating a willingness to provide this information, while others believed a list of approved and disapproved devices would be difficult to maintain and would open the airline up to liability. Many carriers suggested that the Department provide a list of approved devices through its website and by phone. Carriers also expressed concern about any requirement to provide information on the limitation of its codeshare partners to accommodate the use of respiratory devices. According to these carriers, some carriers have up to ten codeshare partners and the burden of knowing the limitation of its codeshare partners’ ability to provide accommodations would be substantial.

Because this final rule shifts the responsibility for testing the electronic respiratory assistive devices from the carriers to the manufacturers of such devices and requires carriers to permit passengers to use these devices aboard aircraft only if appropriately labeled, we do not see a need for carriers or any other entity to produce a central list of approved or disapproved devices. A passenger can simply look to see if the label on his/her electronic respiratory assistive device indicates that the device has been approved for air travel (i.e., no restriction on the device’s use during any phase of travel).

However, we do see a need for carriers, during the reservation process, to inform passengers who express a desire to use a respirator, ventilator, CPAP machine, or FAA- approved POC aboard an aircraft of the conditions that must be met before these devices can be approved for such use. For instance, this final rule requires carriers through their reservation agents to inform passengers of the maximum weight and dimensions of a device that can be accommodated in the aircraft cabin, the requirement that an electronic respiratory assistive device be labeled appropriately, any requirement for advance check-in, any requirement for the individual to contact the carrier before the scheduled departure to learn the expected maximum duration of his/her flight, the requirement to bring an adequate number of fully charged batteries (i.e., battery is charged to full capacity) to power the electronic respiratory device and to ensure that extra batteries are packaged properly, and the requirement that an individual who wishes to use a POC provide a physician’s statement. While a carrier can require a physician’s statement (i.e., medical certificate) from an individual who wishes to use a POC during flight, we note that it normally would not be appropriate for a carrier to ask for such a certificate from someone wishing to use a ventilator, respirator or CPAP machine aboard a flight. Consistent with section 382.23, a medical certificate should be required of an individual who uses a ventilator, respirator or CPAP machine only if the individual’s medical condition is such that there is reasonable doubt that the individual can complete the flight safely, without requiring extraordinary medical assistance during the flight.

The Department understands the concerns expressed by carriers regarding the difficulty and the costs associated with providing information to passengers about the limitation on the ability of its codeshare partners to accommodate users of respiratory devices. The Department also believes that it is imperative that users of electronic respiratory assistive devices receive, in advance, accurate information concerning any limitation on the ability of the carrier to accommodate their need to use such a device in the cabin of the aircraft. The Department has tried to balance these somewhat conflicting concerns/needs. The final rule requires that, in a codeshare situation, the carrier whose code is used on the flight must either advise an individual who inquires about using his/her electronic respiratory assistive device onboard an aircraft to contact the carrier operating the flight for information about its requirements for use of such a device in the cabin, or provide such information on behalf of the codeshare carrier operating the flight. For example, consider a passenger who buys a codeshare ticket from carrier A for a connecting itinerary from New York to Cairo through London ,where carrier A operates the New York to London leg and carrier B operates the London to Cairo leg under carrier A’s designator code. In this example, carrier A must upon inquiry from the passenger: (1) inform the passenger about carrier A’s requirements for the use in the cabin of a ventilator, respirator, CPAP machine or POC and (2) inform the passenger about carrier B’s requirements for the use in the cabin of the aforementioned devices or tell the passenger to contact carrier B directly to obtain this information.