Aircraft Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

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Code of Practice

Aircraft Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
The Canadian Transportation Agency
The Purpose of this Code
Administration

THE CODE
Section 1 - General
Carriers and Aircraft Covered by this Code
When and How Air Carriers Should Follow this Code

Section 2 - Accessibility Criteria
Signage
Lighting
Integrated Boarding Stairs
Handrails
Floor Surfaces
Seats with Floor Space to Accommodate a Service Animal
Tactile Row Markers
Supplemental Passenger Briefing Cards
Communication of Announcements
Storage Space for Passenger-owned Wheelchairs
Armrests
Washrooms
On-board Wheelchairs Provided by Air Carriers

Section 3 - Maintenance

APPENDIX 1
Washrooms Accessible to Persons with Disabilities Including Persons in an On-board Wheelchair

APPENDIX 2
Washrooms Accessible to Persons with Disabilities Not Including Persons in an On- board Wheelchair

CODE OF PRACTICE

AIRCRAFT ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

(fixed-wing aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats)

INTRODUCTION

A. The Canadian Transportation Agency

The Canadian Transportation Agency (formerly known as the National Transportation Agency of Canada) is a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal of the federal government. Under Canadian legislation, the Agency has the responsibility for ensuring that persons with disabilities obtain access to this country's transportation system by eliminating unnecessary or unjustified barriers. One way in which it can achieve this goal of accessible transportation is to develop and administer accessibility standards covering the transportation network under federal jurisdiction. Other ways include resolving complaints and consulting with stakeholders.

B. The Purpose of this Code

The purpose of this Code of Practice is to improve the accessibility of air travel for persons with disabilities. In the 1995 TransAccess Information BaseSee footnote 1, it is estimated that 3.8 million adult Canadians have some level of disability. It is further estimated that 715,000 of these adults with disabilities travelled by air in 1995. Since the incidence of disability increases with age, the demand for accessible transportation will be even greater as Canada's population ages.

Two sets of regulations regarding accessible transportation have already been implemented by the Canadian Transportation Agency's predecessor. One set - Air Transportation Regulations, Part VII, Terms and Conditions of Carriage of Persons with Disabilities - ensures that air carriers provide uniform services to passengers with disabilities travelling in Canada on aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats so that they may confidently expect to travel with a minimum, reliable and consistent level of service. The other - Personnel Training for the Assistance of Persons with Disabilities Regulations - ensures that personnel in the air (as well as the federal rail and marine) transportation network have the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to assist passengers with disabilities in an effective and sensitive fashion.

With this Code of Practice, the Agency is now addressing the physical accessibility of equipment used in air transportation. It deals with features to make aircraft more accessible to persons with disabilities. Where possible, it avoids precise measurements and rigid descriptions of exact procedures to be followed. Instead, it offers practical, functional, operations-oriented solutions to problems faced by persons with disabilities who travel by air.

This Code also strives to foster harmonization with standards implemented in the United States and with international standards being developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC).

This Code has been produced by the Agency in close consultation with its Accessibility Advisory Committee. This Committee is made up of representatives of organizations of and for persons with disabilities as well as representatives of industry, manufacturers and other government departments. Its mandate is to provide input toward the development of the Agency's regulations and standards on the accessibility of transportation.

C. Administration

The Agency will conduct periodic surveys to monitor the progress on the implementation of this Code, and will report the findings to its Accessibility Advisory Committee.

In addition to these surveys, periodic reviews of the Code will also be undertaken. Any problems identified will be addressed through consultations with the Accessibility Advisory Committee, and any proposed amendments to be distributed to the public for comment will be made with input from this Committee.

Throughout this process, the Agency will continue to exercise its authority to deal with individual complaints to determine whether there is an undue obstacle to the mobility of persons with disabilities.

THE CODE

Section 1 - General

1.1 Carriers and Aircraft Covered by this Code

It is expected that this Code of Practice will be followed by all CanadianSee footnote 2 air carriers that provide passenger service, especially those that provide scheduled and resaleable-charter passenger service. In general, this Code applies only to fixed-wing aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats used for providing passenger service, and only to those areas of an aircraft that may be used by the general public. (In determining whether an aircraft is subject to this Code, an air carrier should consider a passenger seat as a seat on board an aircraft that is ordinarily occupied by a passenger.)

There are a few instances, however, where just larger aircraft are referred to. Also, air carriers that lease a foreign-registered aircraft for longer than 90 days for operational requirements or to replace an aircraft undergoing scheduled or non-scheduled maintenance or servicing are urged to make every effort to ensure that the aircraft satisfies the criteria set out in this Code of Practice.

1.2 When and How Air Carriers Should Follow this Code

In general, this Code of Practice should be followed in respect of any aircraft in service or coming into service on or after January 1, 1999. Exceptions to this generality relate to washrooms (where air carriers are expected to retrofit aircraft by January 1, 2002) and to on- board wheelchairs (where air carriers are expected to begin carrying an on-board wheelchair on those aircraft with a washroom able to accommodate a person in such a wheelchair as of January 1, 1997).

Although it is recognized that the Canadian Standards Association Standard CAN/CSA-B651- 95 Barrier-free Design was developed as a standard for buildings, it contains many criteria that are just as applicable to accessibility features on aircraft, such as accessible controls and operating mechanisms, handrails and grab bars. Therefore, air carriers are invited to refer to this standard and, where it is appropriate to do so, to adopt the technical specifications contained in it.

It should be kept in mind that safety on board aircraft is the responsibility of the Department of Transport (not the Agency) and, in this regard, the Department has made safety regulations under the Aeronautics Act. There is nothing in this Code of Practice that relieves any air carrier from complying with the provisions of any of these safety regulations.

It should also be emphasized that this Code presents minimum standards that air carriers are expected to meet. Carriers are urged, however, to exceed these standards wherever feasible and to consult with consumer groups when developing and testing new designs.

Section 2 - Accessibility Criteria

2.1 Signage

Signage provided on an aircraft to aid passengers should satisfy the criteria set out below. (Since safety and crew signage are regulated by the Department of Transport, they are not covered by these specifications.)

Signage should be positioned to avoid shadow areas and glare.

Characters and symbols should be glare-free and presented in contrasting coloursSee footnote 3.

Letters should be sans serif, numbers should be Arabic and both should have at least a width- to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1 and a stroke-width-to-height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10.

Characters, symbols and pictographs on tactile signs should be raised at least 0.8 mm and should be between 16 mm and 50 mm high. If a tactile sign is mounted on a wall, its centre should be at a height of 1500 mm plus or minus 25 mm above the floor.

If symbols and pictographs are supplemented with braille, it should be located at the bottom of the sign and presented in Grade One Braille that meets the standards of the Canadian Braille Authority in English and in Braille intégral that meets the standards of the Comité interministériel sur la normalisation du braille in French.

2.2 Lighting

Lighting on an aircraft, except reading and other lighting under the control of a passenger, should be directed and controlled so as not to create glare or shadows.

Lighting should not result in any sharp contrasts in intensity throughout the passenger cabin.

2.3 Integrated Boarding Stairs

Integrated boarding stairs on an aircraft should have uniform riser heights and uniform tread depths, and a first step on and a last step off of a height that does not exceed the uniform riser height.

The tread surfaces of the stairs should be firm and non-slippery and should not create glare.

The top outer edge of each step should be marked by a contrasting colour strip that runs the full width of the step and is readily apparent from both directions of travel.

Handrails should be provided on both sides.

If structural limitations of an aircraft prevent any of the above criteria concerning uniform heights and depths, first and last step and handrails from being satisfied, an air carrier should provide assistance, if requested, to a person with a disability in ascending and descending the stairs.See footnote 4

2.4 Handrails

Handrails on integrated boarding stairs should be sturdy, rounded, smooth and slip-resistant. They should have an exterior diameter that permits easy grasping and not have any obstructions that could break a handhold.

Handrails should be colour contrasted from their surrounding area or marked with a contrasting colour strip that runs the full length of the handrail.

Handrails should also return to a wall or the head and foot of the stairs in a smooth curve.

If structural limitations of an aircraft prevent the above criteria concerning obstructions that could break a handhold and returning to a wall or the stairs in a smooth curve from being satisfied, an air carrier should provide assistance, if requested, to a person with a disability in ascending and descending the stairs.See footnote 4

2.5 Floor Surfaces

Floor surfaces on an aircraft should be glare-free and slip-resistant.

2.6 Seats with Floor Space to Accommodate a Service Animal

Each class section of the passenger cabin of an aircraft, e.g. first class, business class, economy class, should have a number of passenger seats, other than exit row seats, that each provides enough floor space for a service animalSee footnote 5 to lie down.

2.7 Tactile Row Markers

Tactile markers to indicate row numbers should be placed on overhead bins or on passenger aisle seats.

2.8 Supplemental Passenger Briefing Cards

An air carrier should provide large print and braille supplemental passenger briefing cards on an aircraft that include a recommendation that passengers make sure they receive a personal briefing.

A sufficient number of these cards (at least two is recommended) should be made available in 14 point or larger sans serif type with dark characters on a light background and in Grade Two Braille that meets the standards of the Canadian Braille Authority in English and in Braille abrégé étendu that meets the standards of the Comité interministériel sur la normalisation du braille in French.

2.9 Communication of Announcements

If an air carrier makes announcements to passengers, such as announcements concerning stops, delays, schedule changes, connections, on-board services and claiming of baggage, the carrier should have the means within the aircraft of visually and verbally providing these announcements to persons with disabilities.

2.10 Storage Space for Passenger-owned Wheelchairs

If the configuration of an aircraft with 100 or more passenger seats permits it, the aircraft should have storage space in the passenger cabin to carry at least one manually-operated folding or collapsible wheelchair owned by a passenger.

If it is not possible to carry a passenger's manual wheelchair in the cabin, an air carrier should make every reasonable effort to ensure that the passenger has prompt access to their own wheelchair stored in the baggage compartment of the aircraft, not only at their destination but also at every stop between their origin and destination at which the passenger requests the use of their wheelchair and all passengers are permitted to deplane.

2.11 Armrests

With respect to a newly manufactured aircraft that is ordered, purchased or leased by an air carrier to be used on or after January 1, 1999, at least 50 per cent of the aisle armrests on the passenger aisle seats in the aircraft should be movable. If possible, the passenger seats with movable aisle armrests should be evenly distributed throughout the aircraft.

For existing passenger seats in an aircraft that are being replaced with newly manufactured passenger seats, the aisle armrests on the newly manufactured passenger seats should be movable. This practice should continue until such time as the above criteria concerning 50 per cent movable armrests and even distribution are satisfied.

Also, in those instances where the space around a passenger seat in first or business class permits the transfer of a passenger to and from an on-board wheelchair without the requirement to lift the passenger over the armrest, that seat can be considered as one with a movable armrest for the purpose of satisfying the 50 per cent and even distribution criteria.

With respect to passenger seats in first or business class that do not have enough space for such a transfer and whose current design does not permit the armrest to be movable, air carriers are encouraged to explore new designs and technology that would result in a passenger in an on-board wheelchair being able to transfer with ease to and from these seats.

2.12 Washrooms

There are two categories of aircraft: those with one aisle and those with more than one aisle. Aircraft with more than one aisle have more space. Air carriers are therefore expected, as set out in Sections 2.12.1 and 2.12.2, to have these aircraft designed or retrofitted to include a wheelchair-accessible washroom, that is, a washroom that contains features that make it accessible to persons with disabilities including features related to space and the location of fixtures so that they are usable by a person in an on-board wheelchair. Carriers are also encouraged to be innovative and to pursue the possibility of having a washroom on these aircraft that is large enough to accommodate a person in an on-board wheelchair and their attendant.

Aircraft with only one aisle have space limitations that, in most cases, prevent a washroom from having enough room to accommodate a person in an on-board wheelchair. For this reason, air carriers are not expected to have these aircraft designed or retrofitted to include a wheelchair-accessible washroom. However, as set out in Sections 2.12.3 and 2.12.4, these aircraft are still expected to have a washroom that contains accessibility features other than those space and location features that would make it accessible to persons in an on-board wheelchair. Again, carriers are encouraged to be innovative and to pursue possibilities of devising means to accommodate a person in an on-board wheelchair in a washroom on these aircraft.

2.12.1 Washrooms on Newly Manufactured Aircraft with More than One Aisle

With respect to a newly manufactured aircraft with more than one aisle that is ordered, purchased or leased by an air carrier to be used on or after January 1, 1999, that aircraft should have at least one washroom that is accessible to persons with disabilities including persons in an on-board wheelchair. This means that the washroom should satisfy the criteria set out in Appendix 1.

2.12.2 Washrooms on Other Aircraft with More than One Aisle

For all aircraft with more than one aisle other than newly manufactured aircraft, it is expected that, by January 1, 2002, those aircraft will have been retrofitted so that at least one washroom is accessible to persons with disabilities including persons in an on-board wheelchair, i.e. so that at least one washroom satisfies the criteria set out in Appendix 1.

2.12.3 Washrooms on Newly Manufactured Aircraft with One Aisle

With respect to a newly manufactured aircraft with one aisle that is ordered, purchased or leased by an air carrier to be used on or after January 1, 1999, that aircraft should have at least one washroom that is accessible to persons with disabilities with the exception of persons in an on-board wheelchair. This means that the washroom should satisfy the criteria set out in Appendix 2.

2.12.4 Washrooms on Other Aircraft with One Aisle

For all aircraft with one aisle other than newly manufactured aircraft, it is expected that, by January 1, 2002, those aircraft will have been retrofitted so that at least one washroom is accessible to persons with disabilities with the exception of persons in an on-board wheelchair, i.e. so that at least one washroom satisfies the criteria set out in Appendix 2.

2.13 On-board Wheelchairs Provided by Air Carriers

As of January 1, 1997, if an air carrier operates an aircraft with a washroom able to accommodate a person in an on-board wheelchair, the air carrier should carry at all times at least one on-board wheelchair on that aircraft.

The on-board wheelchair should have a design that permits easy transfer of an occupant and easy manoeuvring of the chair with assistance in the aircraft. It should have footrests, armrests that are movable or removable, an occupant restraint device and wheel locks.

In some instances, a person may be able to use a washroom that cannot accommodate an on- board wheelchair but is not able to reach the washroom from a passenger seat without the use of an on-board wheelchair. To satisfy a request for this type of wheelchair made in advance by such a person, an air carrier that operates an aircraft with 60 or more passenger seats that does not have a washroom able to accommodate an on-board wheelchair should ensure that, by January 1, 1999, it can carry an on-board wheelchair in the passenger cabin of such an aircraft.

Section 3 - Maintenance

An air carrier should have procedures in place to ensure that all aircraft accessibility features are maintained in good working order.

APPENDIX 1

Washrooms Accessible to Persons with Disabilities

Including Persons in an On-board Wheelchair

1. Identification

The washroom should be identified by the international symbol of access in pictograph and tactile form by or on the door.

2. Privacy

The washroom should afford privacy to a person in an on-board wheelchair.

3. Doors

The doorway should be wide enough to accommodate a person in an on-board wheelchair and should have enough space outside the door to manoeuvre that wheelchair.

If thresholds are necessary, they should not be more than 13 mm high and they should be bevelled.

Door handles, pulls, latches, locks and other operational devices should be mounted at a height that permits use by a person in an on-board wheelchair. They should be operable with one hand and minimal force and should not require fine finger control, tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist. They should also be colour contrasted from their surrounding area.

4. Floor Space

The floor space should permit a person in an on-board wheelchair to enter the washroom and use all the washroom facilities.

5. Toilets

The toilet should have a height and location that allow easy transfer for a person in an on- board wheelchair.

The toilet should have a flush control that is colour contrasted from its surrounding area. The flush control should be operable with a closed fist and minimal force or be automatically controlled.

The toilet should have a back support if there is no seat lid, and a toilet paper dispenser within reaching distance that does not interfere with the grab bars.

6. Grab Bars

The washroom should have fixed or flip-up grab bars that are sturdy and conveniently located - on the wall behind the toilet, if possible, and on one of the walls beside the toilet. They should have a height and length that permit use by a person in an on-board wheelchair.

Grab bars should be rounded, free of any sharp or abrasive element and slip-resistant. They should have an exterior diameter and a clearance from the wall surface to which they are attached that permit easy grasping.

Grab bars should be colour contrasted from their surrounding area or marked with a contrasting colour strip that runs the full length of the bar. They should also return to the wall in a smooth curve.

7. Sinks, Faucets and Other Controls

The sink should be positioned such that it is usable by a person in an on-board wheelchair.

Faucets and other controls should be colour contrasted from their surrounding area. They should be operable with a closed fist and minimal force or be automatically controlled.

8. Accessories

Accessories, such as soap dispensers, towel dispensers and waste receptacles, should be easy to use and positioned such that they are usable by a person in an on-board wheelchair.

These accessories should be colour contrasted from their surrounding area and identified by tactile signs.

9. Mirrors

The mirror should be mounted such that it is usable by a person in an on-board wheelchair.

10. Coat Hooks

The coat hook should have rounded edges and not project more than 40 mm from the wall.

It should be positioned such that it is usable by a person in an on-board wheelchair.

11. Call Buttons

The washroom should have a call button that is colour contrasted from its surrounding area and identified by a tactile sign.

The call button should be positioned such that it is usable by a person in an on-board wheelchair. It should be operable with one hand and minimal force and not require fine finger control, tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist.

APPENDIX 2

Washrooms Accessible to Persons with Disabilities

Not Including Persons in an On-board Wheelchair

1. Doors

Door handles, pulls, latches, locks and other operational devices should be operable with one hand and minimal force and should not require fine finger control, tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist. They should also be colour contrasted from their surrounding area.

2. Toilets

The toilet should have a flush control that is colour contrasted from its surrounding area. The flush control should be operable with a closed fist and minimal force or be automatically controlled.

The toilet should have a back support if there is no seat lid, and a toilet paper dispenser within reaching distance that does not interfere with the grab bars.

3. Grab Bars

The washroom should have fixed or flip-up grab bars that are sturdy and conveniently located - on the wall behind the toilet, if possible, and on one of the walls beside the toilet.

4. Faucets and Other Controls

Faucets and other controls should be colour contrasted from their surrounding area.

They should be operable with a closed fist and minimal force or be automatically controlled.

5. Accessories

Accessories, such as soap dispensers, towel dispensers and waste receptacles, should be easy to use, colour contrasted from their surrounding area and identified by tactile signs.

6. Coat Hooks

The coat hook should have rounded edges and should not project more than 40 mm from the wall.

7. Call Buttons

The washroom should have a call button that is colour contrasted from its surrounding area and identified by a tactile sign.

The call button should be operable with one hand and minimal force and not require fine finger control, tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist.

Footnote: 1 1 Values in the TransAccess Information Base are age-adjusted projections of the figures for adults residing in households determined by Statistics Canada in its 1991 Health and Activity Limitation Survey.

Footnote: 2 2 As defined in the Canada Transportation Act, i.e. "Canadian" means a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration Act, a government in Canada or an agent of such a government or a corporation or other entity that is incorporated or formed under the laws of Canada or a province that is controlled in fact by Canadians and of which at least seventy-five per cent, or such lesser percentage as the Governor in Council may by regulation specify, of the voting interests are owned and controlled by Canadians.

Footnote: 3 3 "Contrasting colours" means a light colour on a dark background or a dark colour on a light background, with light on dark being preferable for signage.

Footnote: 4 4 If there are no structural limitations, this in no way reduces an air carrier's responsibility to provide requested assistance in boarding and deplaning as required by the terms and conditions of carriage provisions contained in Part VII of the Air Transportation Regulations.

Footnote: 5 5 "Service animal" means an animal that is required by a person with a disability for assistance and is certified, in writing, as having been trained to assist a person with a disability by a professional service animal institution.


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	Last Updated: 2001-03-29	[ Important Notices ]