I'd like to disagree with you. What looks "like" the Q'Straint System and was IS can be two different things. If you look at the rows of webbing on a jet seat belt and compare it the webbing on an automotive seal belt, they may look the same, but I can assure you that the Jet Belts are built to a much different standard. In a typical jet all the seats are measured the same unless you are comparing 1st Class with Coach. \ Also while it often seems like air personal all work for the same company.... they don't and are represented by several different unions, with work rules. Let us say for argument sake, the securements are the same. A flight attendant can not remove a seat for a person in a wheelchair. When they get to their next destination, where are they going to find a replacement seat to fill the gap, on a sell out flight? And who would be responsible for re-installing the seat? 'Wheelchairs and their owners vary greatly to make a standard comparison. Those tracks may look like the ones found in ground transportation but I can assure you they are not. Just as the sealt belt in your van looks very similar to the seatbelt in a jet plane. But it isn't. But I thought yours was a great idea. Best Wishes In a message dated 10/1/2009 3:44:22 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Hi All Q-Folks! Where do I sign? Check this out.... Not long ago I was on a flight where I was able to see how commercial aircraft seats are attached in planes. As a preface, let me remind everyone how recently several carriers began offering "more leg room" in coach class seats. Well, how did they do that so easily and evenly throughout an entire plane? Well, golly... That's what I found out!! These "super secure" seats that meet stringent FAA Safety Regulations are held in place by the same types of adjustable in-floor metal strips that are used by Q-Straint... one of the most popular vehicle tie-down systems. It's those in-floor strips that belts can be locked into (or removed from) to allow people in wheelchairs to use a lot of paratransit vans, busses and/or taxis. THAT is what holds an airplane seat in place and THAT is how airlines were able to easily adjust all of their coach seats to provide an extra 5" leg room for everyone! If any petition is being passes around for actual signatures, it should certainly include all the airline staff and flight attendants who get to do all the extra work or see all the extra problems first-hand. My last flight included two flight attendants who were adamant that I be removed from the plane safely. The ground crew wanted me put in an aisle chair to be carried down steep steps to the tarmac. The flight attendants refused and fought try to get the plane to a terminal with a jetway! All along they kept saying it would be SO MUCH easier for everyone if they would just allow wheelchairs in the flight cabin. They agreed even more when I told them how my wheelchair was dropped from cargo bin (destroyed) 4 years ago. It can be done. And the airline personnel most closely involved would like it to be done. But the big "bottom line" folks seem to think it would cost too much. (And A Quick Note on That: In just ONE year, just that one airline that dropped my chair paid out approximately $250,000 in repairs & replacements to damaged equipment PLUS an $800,000 fine for not properly complying with transport rules in handling chairs and adaptive equipment. And that doesn't count lost suits and settlements from damage and/or injury!!) So... if anybody was questioning tghe difficulty, there's some facts. And just from a practicle point of view just think... They can make a 747 or a C-130 takeoff and fly!!! And they fly up and down for 40 years. Do you really think adding a movable seat is beyond their safety and engineering abilities? Best to ALL! --Tod ---- "John S." <[email protected]> wrote: > Over the years the airlines have refused to position the seats facing the back. This little trick would have saved thousands of lives. I can"t see them installing lock downs for chairs that no engineer has even thought about placing in an airplane. I'm pretty certain the best chair I own would come apart like wicker furniture in a tornado if it and I experienced a 10G stop. Placing a crippled person nearest the exit isn't going to pass muster with the NTSB, either. > The logical place for us to fly in our wheelchairs is most likely where they place animals. I personnaly want to fly inside a black box. > > BW, > john > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Dan <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:56:03 PM > Subject: [QUAD-L] Air Carriers Access Act > > > Seventeen-year-old girl petitions airlines for wheelchair accessibility (eTurboNews) > >Sally O'Neill is a 17-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, and all she wants when she flies is to be able to remain in her own wheelchair. Sally is circulating a petition calling on the airline industry to modify the first seat in the first row to allow passengers with disabilities using wheelchairs to remain in their own wheelchairs during flight. > Dan > > >
