SUMMARY RECORD: MEETING 12
Date: / Tuesday 17 April 2012Venue: / Qantas Meeting Rooms, Terminal 3, Sydney Airport
Time: / 9:30am – 12:10pm
Attendees: / Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)
National Disability Services
Physical Disability Australia
Deafness Forum of Australia
Qantas
Jetstar
Virgin Australia by phone
Tiger Airways
Regional Express
Board of Airline Representatives of Australia (BARA)
Australian Airports Association (AAA)
Mayor of Ballina
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)
Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DOIT)
Secretariat: / DOIT
1 (a) Welcome
The Chair noted there had been several changes in representation and welcomed new representatives.
Members accepted the record of outcomes from the previous meeting of 23 November 2011.
(b) Review and report on action items arising from the last and previous meetings.
In relation to Action Item 1/11 DOIT advised that changes had been made to the AAWG page on the website to include a more prominent section of “Advisory Material”. Members were encouraged to review the webpage and DOIT would welcome any further suggestions for improvement.
The remaining Action Items were discussed under the relevant agenda items.
ACTION (1/5) AAWG members to review the AAWG web page http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/aawg/index.aspx and provide any suggestions for improvements to DOIT.
2 (a) Disability Access Facilitation Plans (DAFPs) – Update on status of Plans
Members noted that further progress had been made on the completion of DAFPs with 41 plans now published (10 airlines and 31 airports).
Tiger Airways advised that their DAFP plan was published on their website on 16April2012.
In relation to implementation by other international airlines, BARA advised that airlines had been encouraged to actively participate in the DAFP initiative and that airlines operating out of the United States and Europe should already have applicable access policies. DOIT will continue to encourage international airlines participation and will liaise with the Human Rights Commission as required.
The AAA advised that a recent survey of airport operators indicated that there are an additional 15 DAFPs that have been published that are not on the AAWG list.
DOIT noted that there is no requirement for approval of the content of DAFPs but the Department is available to provide comments and airlines and airports should consult with disability groups and the AHRC when developing or reviewing their DAFP.
ACTION (2/5) AAA to provide DOIT with a list of completed airport DAFPs.
2 (b) Further improvements to Kerbside arrangements.
DOIT introduced the paper it had prepared in response to AAWG’s request at the previous meeting outlining regulatory requirements and services provided overseas.
It was acknowledged that in Australia, airlines are responsible for assisting passenger with disabilities from the check in counter to the gate and from the gate to baggage collection. The issue remains as to what assistance could be provided and by whom to people with a disability from the point of arrival at the airport to check in. Members agreed that the primary focus should be on assistance from/to the kerbside, rather than the car park.
ACTION 3/5) DOIT to prepare a discussion paper on kerbside assistance for the next AAAWG meeting examining: options for services to be provided from kerbside to check in and from baggage collection to the kerbside; what implications these services may have for existing arrangements at airports; who would provide these services and how would they be funded.
The draft paper will be developed in consultation with a subgroup consisting of representatives from AAA, BARA, Jetstar, National Disability Services, Physical Disability Australia, Regional Express, Virgin Australia and Tiger.
3. Transport Standards Review – Guidance material on carriage of mobility aids.
The final draft of the guidance material for passengers and operators on the carriage of mobility aids on aircraft was circulated with the meeting papers, and DOIT sought feedback from members.
Qantas requested that the documents include a clear statement up front that they are intended as guidance material on good practice and are not statements of regulatory requirements.
Members discussed the wording of section 5.2 regarding the provision of manual self propelled wheelchairs. As manual wheel chairs are not provided by all airlines, members agreed that this section be reworded to focus on the objective of maintaining the individual’s independence, which might be achieved through a range of options.
ACTION (4/5) DOIT to provide a revised version of the guidance material to AAWG members with the draft record of the meeting with any further comments to be provided within two weeks. The guidance material will then be published by DOIT on the AAWG webpage.
4. Assistance Animals – Draft Civil Aviation Safety Regulation.
CASA advised it was considering a range of industry and public comments it had received on the consultation draft of proposed new Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Part 91, including on the proposed provisions about carriage of assistance animals.
CASA indicated that the intention is to have a performance based regulation supported by guidance material to assist airlines and passengers in assessing the carriage of assistance animals
Airline representatives expressed the view that the regulatory arrangements should provide certainty for the airline operators as to what was acceptable in terms of the carriage of assistance animals. Airlines are looking for clear provisions which provide a basis for efficient and consistent decisions.
CASA expects a draft regulation will be available for public comment within the next six to eight weeks.
ACTION (5/5) CASA to circulate to AAWG members the draft regulation (and guidance material) for comment as soon as it is available.
5. Other Business
a) Aviation Security Training Working group
Regional Express advised that rather than having a separate disability awareness module in the Certificate II course for Aviation Protection Staff, training requirements to assist people with a disability will be embedded into each module. It is expected that the course will be approved by the Transport Logistics Council by the end of 2012.
b) Information on exit/bulkhead rows
Jetstar advised that row 1 (seats D, E and F) were designated as an emergency exit row on Jetstar Airbus A320 aircraft based on operational requirements. On the Airbus A320, row 1 seats D, E and F are an equal distance from the exit row as seats A, B and C. It is expected that in the absence of a cabin crew member, passengers in these seats would have a role in assisting with managing the exit of passengers.
c) ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices Pertaining to Persons with Disabilities
DOIT advised that comments provided by AAWG members on an earlier version of the Standards and Recommend Practices (SARPS) and the Manual of Accessible Air Transportation have been incorporated into the current versions. Minimal changes have been suggested on the SARPS mainly around the terminology used.
DOIT will participate in an ICAO Facilitation Panel Meeting discussion in November 2012 and will keep AAWG informed of any developments in relation to disability access issues from that meeting.
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