Airports will be obliged to purchase lifts for the disabled
The Ministry of transport is preparing proposals to the Air code and other documents.
Resonant incident forced down on his hands on the plane with paraolympian the Zamir Skachova can lead to changes in the rules of service of passengers at airports and other transport objects.
Today, the State Duma Deputy Chairman of state Duma Committee on labor, social policy and veterans Affairs Mikhail Terentiev will hold a special meeting with representatives of the Ministry of transport, Ministry of labor, representatives of Russian airlines and airports.
The Federal air transport Agency (subordinated to the Ministry of transport) said that already preparing amendments to the Air code, relating to services for persons with disabilities
We want to discuss the issues of improvement of normative-legal regulation in the sphere of air transport. Our goal is to improve the accessibility of transport infrastructure for passengers with disabilities, — told “Izvestia” Mikhail Terentyev.
According to him, the reason for this discussion was the situation that occurred in early March at the airport of Cheboksary, where you have any difficulty with the descent ladder Paralympic Skachova Zamira, who came to the championship in athletics. The results of the discussions will lead to concrete recommendations to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
On March 2, the international airport could not provide the Paralympic ambulift (vertically raising and lowering the platform) and offered the assistance of movers, from which the athlete refused. The press-Secretary of the Cheboksary airport Irina Minaeva claims that Samira Skachova offered services is not an ordinary porters, and the porters, passed special training in transporting passengers with disabilities.
Unfortunately, many people, including the representatives of some media, instead of trying to understand the situation, went on about their emotions and disseminated by a particular case, imagines himself to be “fishers of witches,” — told “Izvestia” press-Secretary of the Cheboksary airport Irina Minaeva.
Expert on services for passengers with limited mobility, Institute of air and space law “Eurohelp” Sergey Detenyshei argues that carrying passengers with disabilities at the hands of the forces of the movers of the airport poses a direct threat to the life and health of passengers, because the risk that it may drop, that is the notorious human factor fatal.
This case clearly shows that still few people know that the service is disabled with the landing of the aircraft using ambulift is standard and mandatory on request of the passenger, in the absence of air bridges. It is provided by article 106.1 of the Air code and by the order № 24 of the Ministry of transport of the Russian Federation. In violation of the law airport denied passengers for this service, instead offering an unacceptable option for him service, — said Sergey Detenyshei.
The Ministry of transport stressed that the Agency stands for unconditional observance of the legislation in the field of ensuring accessible environment for people with disabilities
— Together with deputies, public organizations and other involved agencies will prepare proposals for extending liability in this area, — told “Izvestia” in the Ministry of transport.
Last year, Sony has developed and sent to all airports plan to equip special equipment for servicing passengers with disabilities.
— But it was not a legal act, the document has recommendatory character. Currently, we are preparing proposals for changes to the Air code, which will be sent to the Ministry of transport, — told “Izvestia” in the Federal air transport Agency.
Rostransnadzor on the results of the analysis of the situation has also sent proposals to the Ministry of transport on the development of legal norms, according to which all airports must be equipped with ambulette. Yet, in the opinion of the Supervisory authority, this requirement is vague. In addition, after the incident, the Federal Agency for transport supervision have been given strong recommendations about the purchase of equipment Cheboksary and other airports, who are now trying to buy ambulift.
To the management of the airport we have no complaints, as there is no formal violations of laws and regulations. We can apply sanctions if there are violations of requirements of the legislation. If the law is clear requirements, we can only admonish that we did. This incident showed that there is a problem and it should be systematically addressed, — told “Izvestia” the representative of Rostransnadzor.
Soon to the Federal Agency for transport supervision will be entrusted with monitoring and oversight of the accessibility of transportation by air, rail, inland waterways, road transport
One of the reasons that airports are not in a hurry to buy ambulift is their high price. However, according to Sergey Detenyshei, airports should be guided by the principle of the Convention about reasonable accommodation, according to which in small airports and small aircraft ambulift may be any inexpensive suitable for the security requirements of the linkage, the “scissor” type.
It is not necessarily have to be from expensive specialized closed platform on a truck chassis.
— Reasonable sufficiency in the choice of means and the creation of airport barrier-free environment, along with adequate staff training will allow in the shortest time and at the lowest possible cost to make available the services of any airport. Urgent need to change the law or to strengthen supervision in this situation is not observed, the expert concluded.
By order of the regulatory authorities in the near future, the airport plans to acquire ambulift. The time of delivery of such equipment is 3-5 months. Thus, it may appear in June-August of this year. Also, the airport authorities found it necessary to purchase miniboden for boarding and alighting passengers with reduced mobility in a small aircraft. Employees Cheboksary airport, directly serving passengers, will be equipped with individual means of video recording.