Article:
REGULATIONS THAT COULD TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY!
New Air Travel Rules for
Respiratory Equipment
Air travelers using respiratory equipment must follow new labeling
regulations - or risk losing their seats
Travelers with respiratory difficulties who use commercial airlines need to
be aware of a new labeling requirement for ventilators, respirators,
positive airway pressure devices (i.e., CPAP, BiPAP) and personal oxygen
concentrators.
The new regulations require special labels on these machines to ensure that
they meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements for medical
equipment. Trying to travel without following the new regulations may
result
in passengers being denied a seat, or being required to turn off the
respiratory equipment during the.
Learn more about this new regulation that is already in effect in the Quest
Online article, and about other issues that are important to the MDA
community at:
_www.mda.org/
<blocked::http://www.mda.
Annie Kennedy
Vice President - MDA Advocacy
____________
New Department of Transportation Regulations for Passengers Using Oxygen
Devices on Airplanes
On May 13, 2008, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a
final rule regarding traveling on airlines with devices, including
ventilators, respirators, continuous positive pressure (CPAP) machines and
portable
oxygen concentrators (POC). The rule, which has wide sweeping implications
for travelers with lung diseases who require oxygen, will go into effect on
May 13, 2009. The Department of Transportation says the one-year period is
necessary for the airlines to implement these changes. Always check with
your airline when booking travel to understand how and when these rules are
being implemented.
_http://www.lungusa.
<blocked::http://www.lungusa.
=3961901&> org/site/apps/
content_id={
(http://www.lungusa.
<blocked::http://www.lungusa.
=3961901&content_
org/site/apps/
1C7-D238-4B04-
New Department of Transportation Regulations for Passengers Using Oxygen
Devices on Airplanes
On May 13, 2008, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a
final rule regarding traveling on airlines with devices, including
ventilators, respirators, continuous positive pressure (CPAP) machines and
portable
oxygen concentrators (POC). The rule, which has wide sweeping implications
for travelers with lung diseases who require oxygen, will go into effect on
May 13, 2009. The Department of Transportation says the one-year period is
necessary for the airlines to implement these changes. Always check with
your airline when booking travel to understand how and when these rules are
being implemented.
Requirements
U.S. airlines worldwide and foreign airlines on flights that depart or
arrive in the U.S. will be required to allow travelers who use POCs to carry
them on board for use during the flight as long as devices have been tested
and labeled as meeting Federal Airline Administration (FAA) requirements
and the device can be stowed safely.
Communicating the Need to Use a Respiratory Assistive Device
Airlines are required to inform passengers, through the reservation
process, who express a desire to use a device, including a POC, the
following
information to help travelers prepare for their trip:
* Any weight or size limits for devices to ensure they can be
accommodated in the aircraft cabin.
* Any labeling requirements to permit use on board (In a future
rule, the FAA may require device manufacturers to label devices if they are
FAA
approved and therefore permitted on aircrafts).
* Any requirements for advance check‐in. Airlines may require
travelers to notify the airline up to 48 hours in advance if the traveler
wishes
to use a device on a domestic or international flight.
* Airlines may also require one hour advance check‐in for flights.
However, airlines may not deny boarding on a connecting flight because of
this additional hour requirement.
* Any requirements about contacting the airline regarding the
maximum flight duration and battery capacity requirements, and
* The airline may require travelers to provide a statement from a
physician (medical certificate) stating that the passenger requires the use
of a POC under this rule. Other devices may require a physician statement
only if there is reasonable doubt that the passenger can complete the flight
safely without requiring extraordinary medical assistance during the
flight.
In the event the travel has connecting or codesharing flights, airlines
must also inform travelers of any requirements of the other airlines or
direct the passenger to contact that airline directly.
Batteries
The airlines may require travelers to bring an "adequate number" of fully
charged batteries required to operate their POC or other device for at
least 150 percent of the expected maximum flight duration.
That time period is defined as the total duration of the flight from the
departure gate to arrival gate, as well as adding in additional time for
wind and weather conditions, traffic delays, instrument approach and
possible
missed approach at destination, as well as any other conditions that may
delay arrival at the gate. The only exception to this requirement is if
travelers contract directly with the airline to have the airline supply
oxygen
during the flight. If travelers contract directly with the airline, they are
not required to have batteries that can operate their device for 150
percent of the time required. For more information regarding battery
requirements, please visit the DOT's website at _safetravel.
(http://safetravel. <blocked::http://safetravel.
Airlines are not required to allow travelers to plug in their devices nor
are airlines required to provide priority seating. However, the Department
of Transportation encourages the airlines to permit passengers to plug in
their devices where the service is reliable.
Airlines may deny boarding on the basis of safety if the passenger does
not have the requisite number of batteries or the batteries are not properly
packaged. If this does occur, the airline must provide the individual
traveler a written statement on why the airline refused to provide
transportation to the traveler within 10 days of the incident.
Airline Supplied Oxygen
The Department of Transportation has not yet decided whether to require
airlines to provide free inflight medical oxygen to passengers. The
Department instead announced it will soon seek additional comments about the
cost of
carrier supplied oxygen. The American Lung Association will submit
comments on behalf of travelers requiring oxygen.
For more information:
_safetravel.
<blocked::http://safetravel.
_www.faa.gov_ (http://www.faa. <blocked::http://www.faa.
************
steps!
(http://pr.atwola.
<blocked::http://pr.atwola.
redir=http://www.freecred
d=>
com/promoclk/
report.com/pm/
JunestepsfooterNO62
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
No comments:
Post a Comment