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The Physics (and Economics, and Politics) of Wheelchairs on Planes

• A detailed article highlighting the stress of flying as a wheelchair-user, involving being picked up and strapped into an ill-fitting seat while your wheelchair is put in the hold (and subsequently lost or damaged in transit, as happens in a lot of cases). The principle reason cited is one of safety, but a lot of research has been done to show that wheelchair tests are actually more stringent and can withstand more G-force than the airline seats themselves. A new aircraft design is proposed where wheelchairs can be securely fastened into the floor, or an airline seat fitted at the last minute if there are no wheelchair-using passengers. It could be two years before the American Transportation Research Board releases its initial findings to “the feasibility of the restraint system”, bearing in mind the myriad of different wheelchair types and sizes. The final fight would be persuading each airline to adapt and get on board.

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