-----Original Message----- From: Mahesh Chandrasekar [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:46 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Revised Guidelines by DGCA for Air Travel by Persons with Disabilities 4th Sep 2007 Dear Friends, Greetings, It gives me great pleasure to keep you informed that I received a letter from R.P. Sahi, Jt. Director General, DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation) today. Their letter dated 30th Aug 2007 reference JDG/AT/2007.
They have appreciated our keen interest and contribution in the process of development of the 'Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), Section 3, Series M, Part I on Carriage by Air of Disabled Passengers or Person with Reduced Mobility' (Note the change in language - earlier it was called Carriage of Physically Challenged Passengers by Air). DGCA have considered our comments/ feedback and the CAR has undergone substantial revision for the better. Unfortunately, DGCA have not posted this revised version on their website. They have send me the revised 10 page CAR as a hard-copy and asked me to send the feedback within 2 weeks time as this revised CAR would be made effective from 1st Oct 2007. Some of the salient features of the revised version that 'Promotes independent air-travel and empowers persons with disabilities' are: 1. It is no longer - the 'wooly' Physically Challenged. The revised definition which is more comprehensive reads - "3.1 Disabled person or person with reduced mobility means any persons whose mobility when using transport is reduced due to physical disability (sensory or locomotor, permanent or temporary), intellectual disability or impairment, or any other cause of disability, or age, and whose situation needs appropriate attention..." 2. 4.4 - Many persons with disabilities do not require constant assistance for their activities. Therefore, if the passenger declares independence in feeding, communication with reasonable accommodation, toileting and personal needs, the airlines shall not insist for the presence of an escort. 3. 5.1 No Medical clearance or special forms shall be required from persons with disabilities or persons with reduced mobility who only required special assistance at the airport for assistance in embarking. disembarking and a reasonable accommodation in flights, but are otherwise independent. I personally think this as a Victory and a time to Cheer. Once we are through with Air Travel we must target the 'Rail Travel' and 'Road Travel' and insist them to come up with Guidelines that creates an enabling environment for persons with disabilities to travel freely and as independently as possibly. I am travelling on work today, if you would like to get any further details do write to me and I will reply in the following week... Warm regards Mahesh -- C. Mahesh Advocacy Coordinator CBR Forum 14, CK Garden Wheeler Road Extension Bangalore - 560 084 Tel - 080- 2549 7387 or 2549 7388 [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
