2. WHO IS ALL WHEELS UP? AWU is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization
AWU is the ONLY organization in the world crash testing wheelchair restraints for commercial flight
@allwheelsup
All Wheels Up

3. PROJECT TITLE PROJECT MISSION
Evaluation of Wheelchairs and Wheelchair Tiedown Occupant Restraint Systems and Occupant Protection While in a Wheelchair on Transport Planes
PROJECT MISSION
Picture of chair loaded
Crash test wheelchairs and wheelchair restraints to proved feasibility of using equipment during airline flight

4. The very first wheelchair accessible plane
AIR FORCE ONE, 1943
“the most powerful man in the world being carried like a baby…” Winston Churchill
The very first wheelchair accessible plane
1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt flew in the first ever modified wheelchair accessible plane. The plane was outfitted with an elevator and an aisle and cabin space wide enough for FDR to use his wheelchair.

5. ANIMATION OF PROPOSED SOLUTION
Find this video and share:

6. CRASH TESTING WTORS FOR FLIGHT
According to the AC B “a single 16G longitudinal or 14G vertical test is sufficient to substantiate the attachment between structural members with a different design philosophy or variations within the same design philosophy, provided it can be determined which test conditions is critical for the attachment” (Bahrami, 2006).
In 2011 Wheelchair Tiedown Occupant Restraint Systems pass a 20G sled crash test, surpassing the 14G & 16G sled crash test of airplane seats that the FAA has stipulated as the industry standard (Q’straint, 2011).

7. TIEDOWN RESTRAINTS
AWU Crash test has already tested wheelchair tie down and occupant restraint system (WTORS) – QRT-360
A Surrogate wheelchair was used (the same surrogate wheelchair used in automobile crash tests)
Airplane floors have the same or similar “L” track as the accessible vans and buses
COMMON 4 POINT TIEDOWN RESTRAINT SYSTEM

8. PLAN OF ACTION Projects Status
Research, Organizing and Sharing of Data
Complete
Initial Blue Print for first study
Fabrication of sled
Actual Crash Test at an FAA approved facility
Data Analysis (post-test observations, measurements and calculations, raw data, photos and video)
Pending
Creation of a Standards Committee for crash Testing Wheelchairs for commercial/private flight, just as there are automobiles, trains and buses

9. TESTING PLAN
Testing will follow the FAA crash standards of 14CFR and 562
10 degree yaw
60 degree pitch
Deliverables:
Raw Data
Photos
Videos

10. TESTING AT CALSPAN

11. OTHER RESTRAINTS FOR TESTING
QLK – 150
QLK – 150 with DOR
Q-UBE –
Q’STRAINT QUANTUM

12. QLK – 150 and D O R

13. Q-UBE

14. Q’STRAINT - QUANTUM

15. What are the implications for the disability technology community?
New restraints?
New wheelchair designs?
New wheelchair regulations?
New tie down points?
New areas of study?
New Universities added to the PEGASAS Project
Airplane universal designs (Airplane manufacturers working with universities on universal design)
New standards committees?

16. ADDITIONAL TESTING ALL MANUAL AND POWER WHEELCHAIR MODELS HEAD RESTS
BEFORE ACCESSIBLE FLIGHT IS POSSIBLE, MORE TESTING IS NECESSARY
ALL MANUAL AND POWER WHEELCHAIR MODELS
HEAD RESTS
SEAT BELTS & RESTRAINTS (NOT LAP BELTS)
BATTERIES (BATTERIES HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR TRANSIT FLIGHT)
STRUCTURE OF THE AIRPLANE FLOOR

17. NEXT STEPS PARTNERSHIPS FUNDING ADDITIONAL TESTING
RESNA, ISO, Research Universities, wheelchair manufacturers need incentive to participate
FUNDING
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
OUTSIDE FUNDING (FOUNDATION, INDIVIDUAL)
ADDITIONAL TESTING
Continued Pulse testing, Turbulence Testing, Testing additional restraint systems, Static Testing

18. PROPOSED COALITION All Wheels Up
ANSI (American National Standard Institute)
CMA (Civil Aviation Medical Institute)
Disability Access Board
DOT
FAA
ISO (International Standards Organization)
Universities: University of Michigan (UMITRI), University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Buffalo (school of Architecture and Planning Center of Inclusive Design and Environment Access)
RESNA (Rehabilitating Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America)
Q’Straint - Leading Manufacturer of wheelchair restraint systems

19. CONCLUSION
BOTH the FAA and the CAA, Civil Aviation Authority (UK’s equivalent to the FAA) have said accessible flight is possible.
Think through the process
Know the benefits and limitations
Prove the concept
We have proved it is possible, now we need to make it undeniably necessary.

20. SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Q’STRAINT – DONATION OF RESTRAINTS AND SURROGATE WHEELCHAIR
CALSPAN
FAA
ISTAT FOUNDATION – PROVIDED FUNDING
LIGHT THE WORLD (HOLLAND)- PROVIDED FUNDING
UNICO – PROVIDED FUNDING

21.
Questions?

22. References
Bahrami, A. (2006). Dynamic Evaluations of Seat Restraint Systems and Occupant Protection on Transport Airplanes. Federal Aviation Administration. Advisory Circular (AC B). Q'Straint. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2011, from
Q'Straint. (2011). Retrieved June 2011, from