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Aviation Access Working Group (AAWG)

The Australian Government recognises the difficulties sometimes experienced by people with disabilities in accessing air travel.

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, have together established the Aviation Access Working Group (AAWG) to provide advice to government on disability access policy, the relevant legislative framework and practical measures that can be taken to improve the access to air services for people with a disability.

The Terms of Reference set out the formal objectives of the Aviation Access Working Group as follows:

  • Contribute to the National Aviation Policy Statement (also known as the White Paper);
  • Contribute to the Government response to the report on the Transport Standards Review and facilitate the implementation of any recommendations (see below for further details);
  • Advise the Government on the practicality and interaction of the existing aviation legislation with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992; and
  • Consider other measures and actions that can provide people with disability access to air travel while ensuring the safety and security of all fare paying passengers.

Membership

The AAWG comprises representatives from:
  • industry (both air operators and airports),
  • Australian Government agencies and
  • organisations advocating for the rights and/or welfare of people with a disability.

A link to a list of companies, organisations and agencies represented is provided below. Secretariat support is provided by this Department.

Progress

The AAWG first met in February 2009. The next meeting will be the ninth and is scheduled for 19 August 2010.

Amongst other issues it is addressing, the Aviation Access Working Group:

  • has provided input into the current guidelines on airport security screening practices developed by the Office of Transport Security, a division of the Department,
  • has provided advice to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Attorney-General's Department on amendments to the Civil Aviation Order 20.16.3 regarding exit-row seating allocation, to both ensure consistency with the Disability Discrimination Act and provide regulatory certainty for aviation operators.  The new Civil Aviation Order (CAO) took effect on 1 August 2009,
  • is being consulted by Government agencies working to streamline the process of a traveller obtaining permission for an assistance animal to travel in the aircraft cabin, and
  • is identifying ways through which air operators can ensure that pre-flight safety briefings are best tailored to the individual special needs of passengers with a disability.

The Government believes that constructive and pro-active engagement between operators and regulators, combined with the provision of clear and transparent consumer information, is the best approach to generating tangible improvements for passengers with disabilities. The National Aviation Policy White Paper, released in December 2009, announced the Government's intention to assist airline and airport operators to publish Disability Access Facilitation Plans to communicate their approach to meeting the needs of travellers with disabilities.

As noted in the White Paper, the Government proposes to detail its future strategy on disability access issues in the transport context (including the non-aviation transport modes) when it responds to the final report of the review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 this year. The Transport Standards specify levels of service, measures and actions that public transport operators must undertake to meet their obligations under that Act. This strategy will involve a range of measures underpinned by a commitment to more inclusive and ongoing consultation on disability issues.

Queries can be directed to the AAWG secretariat by email to aawg_secretariat@infrastructure.gov.au.

Relevant Information:

Links

Documents

  • AAWG Terms of Reference: [PDFPDF: 10 KB], Accessible Version: [DOCDOC: 27 KB]
  • National Aviation White Paper: [PDFPDF: 4253 KB], Accessible Version: [DOCDOC: 2056 KB]
    (The Government's policy on disability access to air travel is outlined in Chapter 5: Consumer Protection, pages 89-91)

Summary Records of Meetings of the Working Group:

Other sites of interest:

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Last Updated: 10 June, 2010