Not mandatory for disabled flyers to produce documents: MoCA

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has stated that it is not mandatory for sick passengers to produce a medical certificate, in order to avail of wheel chairs at airports.

According to civil aviation ministry officials, paragraph 4.1.26 of Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), Section 3 Air Transport, Series M, Part-I for "Carriage by air of persons with reduced mobility", passengers with disability or reduced mobility are required to inform airlines at the time of booking of air ticket about their requirements for assistance.

However, on Tuesday, minister of state for civil aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma told Rajya Sabha: "Separate requirement to produce medical certificate, for availing wheelchair facility by sick passengers, have not been specified in the CAR, and hence, it is not mandatory."

Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued the Air Transport Circular 01 of 2014 about facilities/courtesies to esteemed travelling public at airports. The circular mandates the provision of automated buggies free of charge for all senior citizens, expectant mothers and disabled passengers in the terminal building to facilitate their access to boarding gates located beyond reasonable walking distances at all airports having annual aircraft movement of 50,000 or more.

This facility may be extended to other needy passengers on demand basis free of charge, the ministry officials added.