Progress on Air 4 All: the system that improves accessible air travel

PriestmanGoode, Flying Disabled, SWS Certification and Sunrise Medical announce new partnership with Delta Flight Products

PG Designed Air 4 a system to help those with reduced mobility travel effortlessly picture shows seat folded ready for wheelchair to enter

At Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023 (AIX) in Hamburg, Delta Flight Products will debut a full prototype of a first-of-its kind airplane seat that allows customers who use a powered wheelchair to remain in their own wheelchairs for the entire journey.

DFP has partnered with UK-based consortium Air4All on the seat, which converts a standard passenger seat to an accommodation for wheelchair restraint. PriestmanGoode is design lead in the consortium.

The patented design offers comfort and safety for all passengers by providing access to headrest, center console tray tables and cocktail table that adjust to serve passengers with wheelchairs in place. The product also enables airlines to retain the design of their cabin on every seat.

PG Designed Air 4 a system to help those with reduced mobility travel effortlessly picture shows airline seat deployed for a passenger

Implementation of the seat will also facilitate a more seamless boarding and disembarking experience for PRM.

“Offering equal access to comfort, safety and dignity for all passengers has always been our objective for Air4All,” said Daniel MacInnes, director of PriestmanGoode. “We want to see the PRM community enjoy the benefits of Air4All – hence the progress made through the new partnership with DFP is significant in bringing that closer.”

“DFP delivers highly engineered products and services to fill service gaps, solve operational challenges and transform the experience of customers and crew members,” said Rick Salanitri – President of Delta Flight Products. “Air4All is collaborating with DFP’s strong production and manufacturing capabilities to explore new ways to deliver equal access to comfort, safety, and dignity for all customers. This patented design offers new possibilities for customers in wheelchairs to enjoy a travel experience they truly deserve.”

“An innovation like this in air travel provides those with reduced mobility a safe and comfortable way for them to travel and remain in their own power wheelchair,” said Chris Wood, Founder of Flying Disabled. “It has taken a truly collaborative effort to develop this seat and we believe this product provides an optimal solution for all parties.”

Following the exhibition, the seat will be sent for final design and validation. Testing and certification programs to install the seat will begin once certified.

PG Designed Air 4 a system to help those with reduced mobility travel effortlessly picture shows wheelchair in place

Delta Flight Products (DFP) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, which is committed to and has long engaged in a variety of initiatives to increase air travel accessibility while continuously innovating and evolving in this space. At Delta, this includes working closely with a long-standing advisory board on disability in creating experiences pertaining to aircraft, airport renovations, procedures and more. Delta engages its advisory board on disability early and often before it makes decisions impacting people with disabilities.

ABOUT DELTA FLIGHT PRODUCTS

Delta Flight Products (DFP) was established to re-think aircraft interiors. DFP offers modern solutions to airline interiors through the engineering and production of cabin design, technological systems, cabin furnishings, food/beverage galleys, and storage equipment. DFP provides full-service engineering, certification, and manufacturing to create innovative aircraft interior solutions to airlines around the world.

ABOUT AIR 4 ALL

Air 4 All is a consortium formed of PriestmanGoode, Flying Disabled, SWS Certification and Sunrise Medical. Each member of the consortium has a personal and professional commitment to bringing dignity in air travel for everyone. Through a combination of industrial design, passenger experience design, aircraft cabin and airport accessibility, aircraft certification and regulation; and wheelchair design and manufacturing, the consortium has been developing the Air 4 All concept since 2019. It has been recognised as the winner of the Fast Company Innovation by Design 2022 Awards in the Accessible Design category, a finalist in the 2022 Crystal Cabin Awards and has featured in media and conferences dedicated to the topic of accessibility across the world.