Acceptance and Carriage of Persons with Special Needs
(if a wheelchair is needed)
Passenger safety has always figured high on Jat Airways' agenda.
Since its formation, the company has been observing and continues observing international regulations pertaining to air transport and has been adjusting its rules to comply with them.
One such regulation is the IATA Resolution 700 (an International Air Transport Association resolution) defining rules governing transportation of persons with special needs that is binding upon all its members.
Another important document is the EU regulation adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU (Regulation EC No 1107/2006) valid since July 26, 2008 and applicable to all Jat Airways flights departing from airports within the EU.
Passengers with special needs are those with physical disabilities or developmental impediments, who require individual attention or assistance on embarkation /disembarkation, in flight and during ground handling.
Under the above IATA resolution, all air carriers - IATA members - are required at acceptance to divide special needs passengers into three main categories. Rights and obligations of both the carrier and the passengers are determined depending on the category. However, the underlying criterion and priority in all cases is SAFETY.
- Persons with special needs requiring wheelchair or ambulance to/from the aircraft; but are able to embark/disembark the aircraft on their own, and able to make own way to/from cabin seat as well as use the toilette without assistance. They do not require escort, unless specifically demanded by physician.
- Persons with special needs requiring wheelchair to/from steps to aircraft and need assistance to ascend/descend steps but are able to make own way to/from cabin seat and use the toilette without assistance. They do not require escort, unless specifically demanded by physician.
- Persons with special needs who are completely immobile and require wheelchair or ambulance to/from aircraft; they need assistance to embark/disembark the aircraft, to make it to/from cabin seat and use toilette. Escort is mandatory for this passenger category.
Jat Airways devotes great attention to all passenger categories and endeavors to provide a safe and comfortable flight to all passengers regardless of category, as established by the aviation authorities. In keeping with this stance and in harmony with IATA Resolution 700, Jat at initial contact with passengers must obtain the necessary information (whether a passenger requires additional handling on the ground and in-flight services so as to extend full passenger safety and comfort). The category of a passenger with special needs is determined on the basis of obtained information after which all necessary measures are taken to ensure safe and comfortable flight for all other passengers on board.
A passenger with special needs may be refused carriage:
- If determining the category for a passenger with special needs is required and at Jat request the passenger fails to submit the needed information or refuses to provide the needed information;
- If the company's authorized person (medical doctor specializing in aviation medicine) concludes that a passenger falls short of the health-related criteria for air carriage;
- When the number of seats for special needs passengers has already been filled;
- If a passenger with special needs refuses to cover air carriage cost for escort, in cases when escort is mandatory.
In keeping with IATA Resolution 700, Jat requires the above-mentioned third passenger category to fill in MEDIF (Medical Information Sheet).
This form must be completed by the physician of a passenger with special needs. On the basis of this form, Jat aviation medicine specialist may clear such passenger – with appropriate escort - be accepted for carriage or refused.
It should be noted that carriage of passengers with special needs is a highly sensitive issue. Consequently, it is precisely for this reason that full cooperation is needed to meet requirements of passengers with special needs as well as all the prescribed and required measures involving safety of all passengers, crew members and aircraft.
| 
