A CCESSIB ILIT Y
AUTONOMOUS
CHAIRS AT ABU DHABI
Ahead of its move to the new Midfield Terminal,
Etihad Airways is trialling autonomous
wheelchairs at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The wheelchairs are being supplied by WHILL,
whose Autonomous Drive System wheelchairs
can help enable PRMs to move around the airport
on their own, without the need for assistance
from staff.
The trial, which will last until the end of the
year, involves intensive testing and mapping of
the airport environment to facilitate autonomous
movement, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports
and SITA. This wheelchairs feature sensors that
detect obstructions, and automatically stop if an
obstruction is identified on the chair’s path.
Mohammad Al Bulooki, COO of Etihad Aviation
Group said, “This latest trial of autonomous
wheelchairs not only showcases the airline’s
commitment to innovation, but more importantly
inclusive innovation. This trial is particularly
important because it empowers Etihad Airways’
guests and provides them with a level of freedom
at the airport which hasn’t been available before.”
The final stage of the trial will involve PRMs
self-driving the wheelchairs through the airport,
navigating through the duty-free shops and
lounges to their departure gate, without need
for assistance from members of staff. On
arrival at the gate, and once the guest has
boarded the flight, the wheelchairs can
drive themselves to the collection point
without staff involvement.
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
NOVEMBER 2019 031
ABOVE: ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS
ANA IS ALSO EVALUATING
WHILL AUTONOMOUS CHAIRS,
AT TOKYO NARITA AIRPORT
BELOW: THE WHILL
AUTONOMOUS DRIVE TRIAL
GIVES GREATER FREEDOM
TO ETIHAD’S CUSTOMERS
WITH RESTRICTED MOBILITY
This is, unfortunately, a regular occurrence across the
world. Interviewees told Aircraft Interiors International
about missing flights or being the last to board because
an assistant did not show up or arrived late.
CABIN INTERIORS NEED WORK
It’s clear that a major pain point – quite literally, with
disabled travellers regularly being hurt or injured by
improperly executed manual transfers – is getting
passengers onto the aircraft and into their seat.
“The right of passengers with disabilities to board
the aircraft first is critical to ensuring those passengers’
safety and dignity,” says Morris. “When assistance staff
are not in place at the appropriate time, airlines too often
prioritise an on-time departure over the interests of
passengers who have requested preboarding. When the
transfer of passengers into the aisle chair and to the
aircraft seat is rushed, accidents are more likely to occur,
which may result in injury or discomfort.”
The hardware is also a problem: the aisle
chairs used for boarding, deplaning and
inflight access to the lavatory are small
and uncomfortable, and the narrower aisles
of denser configurations magnify the
problem. While the United States Access
Board is presently examining new regulations
to increase accessibility, especially on
single-aisle aircraft, there is space for the
aviation industry to lead in
providing onboard services
accessible to all.
In premium cabins,
business and first class seats
Clear solution
Customers travelling through T4 at
New York’s JFK airport now have
access to non-metallic, lightweight
transport chairs, specifically designed
to enhance the journey for PRMs.
The Jetweels chairs are made of
polycarbonate carbon-fibre material,
which enables them to pass through
metal detectors without triggering
alarm systems. The lightweight design
makes the chairs easy to manoeuvre,
store and stack. Other features include
hassle-free arm and foot rests, an
ergonomic design, a baggage tray,
a footrest and a seatbelt.
The transparent chair (available
in more than 30,000 custom colours)
also provides visibility for simplified
security screening, also helped by
its size, which fits through standard
airport metal detectors, while the
eight radial ball bearings in the
wheels aid manoeuvrability.
Esma Dahbali, CEO of Jetweels says
the design is the result of analysing
how a chair could help
PRMs travel through
airports seamlessly,
with minimal
stress.
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com