Congressman Brown Advocates for the Rights of Airline Passengers with Disabilities
Press Release
Congressman Anthony G. Brown, made the following statement during a Subcommittee On Aviation hearing on "The Airline Passenger Experience: What It Is and What It Can Be" in support of modern and inclusive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards that take into account the needs of passengers who may have disabilities:
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In 2018, the GAO found that airlines' operation performance generally improved from 2008 through 2017. As measured by DOT data on denied boardings; mishandled baggage; and late and cancelled or diverted flights. This is due, in part, to the airlines making investments in technology, airport infrastructure and expanding flight options. However, there is always room for improvement- especially regarding safety.
In November 2019, the Committee held a roundtable on the air travel experience for persons with disabilities. The roundtable highlighted safety concerns regarding seat size and passenger evacuation. Federal Aviation Regulations require that the design of an airliner must permit all passengers to evacuate the aircraft within 90 seconds with half of the exits blocked. Recent accidents have raised concerns about whether all passengers can, in fact, evacuate an airliner in 90 seconds. An example of this is an uncontained engine failure and fire at Chicago O'Hare in 2016
I am concerned that current standards do not take into account passengers with disabilities. Aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus are responsible for successfully demonstrating to the FAA that each new aircraft design meets this bar. But, FAA standards like seat size and aisle width, that have not been updated in 20 years, make it extremely difficult for passengers with disabilities to evacuate. In November 2019, the FAA started tests aimed at setting a minimum standard for seats and the space between rows to ensure safety. However, there was no indication that the volunteers being used for the tests encompassed all demographics and legal requirements.
We must ensure that the FAA considers all groups of people when testing cabin evacuations, to ensure the safety and consumer experience of the passenger."
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