As part of our advocacy, #OneAccesibility, we will share information about differently able and profile one location with accessible trails. Look out every week for this enlightening post.
Last week, I traveled from FCT Abuja (the capital city of Nigeria) to Owerri (my hometown) via Air Peace. What would have been a 10-hour journey by car ended up being 50-minute journey by flight. While the plane ride was smooth and peaceful (minus the long wait at the airport), I could not help but reflect on how fortunate I was to be able to enjoy such experiences.
As much as I love traveling, these days I find my journeys being more reflective as I imagine myself in other people’s situations. In this journey, particularly, I kept thinking about what my air travel experience would have been like if I was differently able.
What are some criteria for an accessible airplane?
We already know that accessibility is the design of products, services, or spaces for people with disabilities. A transport deemed accessible would mean that the vehicle has mitigated the barriers or discomfort that a person with disabilities would face during travel. Similar to buildings and locations, airplanes have their own guidelines that deem them accessible.
— Spacing. Since airplanes are narrow, the space is limited for those with mobility restrictions. Appropriate leg space for each seat, wider aisles, and higher overhead space would be what to look out for.
— Bathroom. Most toilets in the airplanes would currently receive poor ratings in regards to not them being accessible-friendly. While some companies take a few seats out to make the room more inclusive, others do not want to face the downside of having fewer seats to sell to make profit.
— Hearing. Be honest, how many of us actually listen whenever the flight attendants are going through the instructions? Have you looked through the pamphlets that are placed in front of you? Many airlines have been great at this particular aspect by using microphones and speakers to deliver the message. Those who are not able to hair can refer to the visuals provided in each seat.
— Ramps. Being able to actually board the airplane is the first crucial experience. During my recent trip, we used airstairs to board the plane. Fortunately, no passenger needed physical aid but this situation could have been a nightmare if someone required more assistance.
What is the future of accessibility and airplanes?
The future of accessible airplanes is an affordable travel experience while keeping up with the technological advances. The unfortunate truth is there are additional costs to receive some of these features on airplanes. While most airports have wheelchairs on standby, people to assist and other provisions as needed, requesting for a seat with extra legroom on the plane may cost more depending on the airline. Airlines with lower rates often charge extra to receive those services while major airlines often have complimentary services, but you still pay the high fare price. A suggestion would be to have accessible passes (similar to the sunflower lanyards at London Heathrow Airport) and dedicated areas on planes at no additional cost.
Suggestion for Google Map Integration
Google Maps already has a fantastic integration for airplanes being able to track the flight route. You can use the Google maps offline option (in airplane mode) to see where exactly you are. In terms of accessibility, there is not much integration needed as I believe the airline industry as a whole should hold the manufacturers accountable in ensuring that airplanes are accessible-friendly.
Do you have a question, suggestion or contribution? Feel free to leave a comment! You can read last week’s roundup clicking here, and check the list of our other articles under “Accessibility Uncovered”.
Learn more about our project and team at oneaccessibility.org.