AVIATION ACCESS WORKING GROUP
SUMMARY RECORD: MEETING 2, 7 APRIL 2009

The Chair opened the meeting and invited the group to introduce themselves. An
attendance list can be found at Attachment A. Apologies were noted. Qantas and
Tiger Airways representatives joined the meeting via teleconference.

The Chair asked if members agreed to a summary record of meetings being published
on the Department’s website; it was agreed that summary records would be published,
focusing on substantive issues. Action items from the previous meeting were
reviewed.

Qantas reported on an item from the previous meeting noting that it had had no
success in finding suppliers of tactile components for aircraft. The Australian
Federation of Disability Organisation’s (AFDOs) representative offered to research
the issue further in conjunction with Blind Citizens Australia and report progress at
the next meeting. In particular, several members emphasised the desirability of fitting
out toilets on aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) noted that any modifications to aircraft
cabin features would need to be approved and certified by the aircraft manufacturer
and CASA prior to implementation.

Summarising the outcomes of the Practicalities sub-group, the representative of the
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
(FaHCSIA) noted the need for further discussion on the supply and availability of
Braille cards for pre-flight safety briefings. Members acknowledged there were still
some issues to resolve and committed to providing a list of issues for future
discussion. One issue is the lack of clarity in the wording of the relevant legislation.

The representative for the Australian Human Rights Commission summarised the
outcomes of the Legislation sub-group. Regarding amendments to Civil Aviation
Order 20.16.3 in relation to exit row seating, the Attorney-General’s Department
advised possible drafting instructions were close to finalisation for CASA
consideration.

On various issues relating to assistance animals, the airlines reiterated the desirability
of stronger policy guidance. Qantas and Rex agreed that a list of government
accredited organisations was needed to streamline the decision making process for the
safe and legal carriage of assistance animals in the aircraft cabin. Members noted the
varied purposes and types of assistance animals for people with special needs and the
need for recognised criteria for each stage of travel (from booking to disembarkation).
It was also observed that the general requirements for assistance animals differed to
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the specific requirements in-flight and that the animal needed to have a particular
purpose during the flight to justify carriage in the cabin. FaHCSIA offered to
coordinate the steps to be taken on assistance animals, including appropriate criteria
and guidance for industry and passengers.

CASA undertook to look into the possibility of more appropriate wording for a
standard applicable to pre-flight briefing and information for blind/vision impaired
passengers. The Cabin Safety Inspector has already requested input from a cabin
safety industry group and will report back at the next meeting.

One disability advocate sought guidance on the pre-flight briefing question - ‘How
best can I assist you in case of an emergency?’ – with some members considering this
phrasing to be unhelpful. Other industry members explained the intent of the question
was for the cabin crew to ascertain the particular movement capabilities of the
individual in the event of an evacuation. A member of the Department of
Infrastructure emphasised that cabin crew are trained to handle passengers with a
range of disabilities in emergency evacuation procedures.

Two representatives of disability advocate groups indicated they had occasionally not
been given an individual pre-flight briefing. CASA and the airline industry members
emphasised the seriousness of such a complaint and the airlines noted their processes
required counselling of individual crew members in such circumstances. Members
agreed to progress the issue by looking at ways the pre-flight briefing language for
people with special needs might be improved.

Disability advocates asked for clarification on wheelchair size standards and why
restrictions on the carriage of wheelchairs had tightened in the last two years.
Industry representatives explained it was a combination of the wheelchair weights
becoming an occupational health and safety issue for baggage handlers, and
space/weight restrictions in cargo holds. It was also noted that electric wheelchairs
had to be transported upright as turning them on their side for transportation may void
the warranty. Airlines would continue to try to find alternative flights on larger
aircraft, refund tickets, not charge for extra route costs and/ or request the wheelchair
be modified to address the issue. Rex, which has a 140kg wheelchair weight
restriction appropriate to the smaller aircraft used in regional air transport, reported
that some wheelchairs can weigh up to 280 kg. Qantas offered to provide a
presentation to members on the issue.

The Department’s Office of Transport Security Division gave a full report on the
Security Screening Practice Guidelines and thanked those members who had made
contributions to the draft Guidelines. AFDO representatives indicated they would
provide some further feedback. The Australian Airports Association suggested that
protection of passengers’ property during the screening process be considered in the
Guidelines, as well as guidance on screening passengers with assistance animals and
the animal itself.
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
The Department’s Infrastructure and Surface Transport Policy Division reported that
there had been further delays to the Review’s release. They hoped the Review could
be finalised within the next two months, and advice provided to Minister Albanese
and the Attorney-General by the end of June.

The Regional Aviation Association of Australia and Rex had previously raised the
possibility of an onsite (airport) visit by non-industry members to inspect aircraft of
varying capacities to assist understanding of aspects of the handling of passengers
with disabilities and their aids in a realistic environment. Qantas indicated it would
have a number of logistical problems in providing access to aircraft but could assist
with a video presentation and photos for discussion purposes.

At the Chair’s invitation, representatives of Physical Disability Australia and AFDO
gave members a brief oral summary of their submissions to the White Paper process.
Both submissions can be viewed in full on the Department’s website.

The Chair requested all members consider the progression toward a thematic
approach to disability access issues for the next meeting. Members indicated broad
support for a cohesive strategy, such as a regulatory code, to be discussed and
implemented as an ultimate goal.

Members agreed to schedule the next meeting for early June.
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ATTACHMENT A
ATTENDANCE – MEETING 2, 7 APRIL 2009
Organisation
Australian Human Rights Commission
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
National Disability Services
Physical Disability Australia
Deafness Forum of Australia
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Qantas
Regional Express
Tiger Airways
Australian Airports Association
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Attorney-General’s Department
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs
Aviation and Airports, Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development and Local Government
Infrastructure and Surface Transport Policy, Department of
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local
Government
Office of Transport Security, Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development and Local Government
Apologies
Transport Workers Union
Regional Aviation Association of Australia
Flight Safety Foundation
Virgin Blue
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