Delta Airlines are developing a specialized prototype to allow wheelchair users to stay in their chairs during flights.
Delta Flight Products recently made an announcement, revealing their collaboration with Air4All, a UK-based consortium. The collaboration will introduce better seating options for wheelchair users.
Presently, individuals who rely on powered wheelchairs must utilize wheelchairs provided by airlines when navigating airports and boarding airplanes. This process involves transferring from one chair to another and being escorted down the jet bridge before undergoing another transfer into a designated seat.
The airline inspects and usually stows the passengers’ personal wheelchairs in the cargo hold. But unfortunately the stowing has resulted in numerous instances of carriers mishandling and damaging these valuable and custom-made mobility devices. These devices often have significant financial worth and are specifically customized to meet the user’s unique needs.
Recognizing the associated risks, Delta and Air4All aim to eliminate the current procedure by introducing a product that enables passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) to remain seated in their own chairs throughout the entire journey.
The official unveiling of a functional prototype is scheduled to take place at the Aircraft Interiors Expo on June 6. However, before the specialized seat can be implemented in aircraft cabins, it must undergo certification and rigorous testing processes.
