Multidisciplinary design company PriestmanGoode in collaboration with Flying Disabled and SWS Certification has developed Air 4 All, a new accessible seating system that enables powered wheelchair users to remain seated in their own wheelchairs during flight.
Designed in a way so that there is no need to reduce the seat count in planes, Air 4 All easily converts from a regular seat to a configuration that allows for a wheelchair to be safely attached.
“Air 4 All will usher in a step change in the industry and finally offer equal access to comfort, safety and dignity for all passengers,” says Paul Priestman, designer and chairman of PriestmanGoode.
“The biggest barrier in the past has been that giving greater space to passengers in wheelchairs would have reduced seat count and resulted in a loss of revenue for airlines,” explains Priestman. “Air 4 All solves this problem and has the added benefit of enabling airlines to retain the design of their cabin on every seat, ensuring brand consistency and a cohesive brand experience for all passengers. Air 4 All will facilitate a smoother boarding and disembarking experience for PRMs and will also significantly reduce the number of wheelchairs that are damaged through poor handling.”
“Air 4 All is the first system that has been developed jointly by a design agency, a certification body and with input from the disabled community,” says Chris Wood MBE, founder of Flying Disabled. “With a leading global wheelchair manufacturer as well as the subsidiary of a major airline on board to develop the product, it’s a truly collaborative project. We’re actively working with all the necessary parties, including initial discussions with some of the key National Aviation Authorities, to ensure our solution is harmonised and fit for purpose, thus significantly improving the travel experience for severely disabled passengers.”
According to PriestmanGoode, a variety of powered wheelchair types can be certified to be used with the Air 4 All. A prototype of the Air 4 All system is currently in the works and is expected to be completed in December.
All images in this article are courtesy of PriestmanGoode.
