In a bid to continue increasing access to air travel for the disabled community, the UK Civil Aviation Authority is hoping to review and improve regulations over the allowance of assistance dogs on flights.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority is seeking evidence to further assist its understanding of the issues face by assistance dog users when travelling by air.
ACCESS
Matthew Buffey, head of consumer protection at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “The UK Civil Aviation Authority believes that everyone should have access to air travel, and that there should be no barriers to travel for disabled passengers.
“We are therefore seeking evidence to further assist our understanding of the issues faced by assistance dog users when travelling by air.
INFLUENCE
“Evidence supplied will directly influence future regulations, including the question of whether there is the potential to widen the number of authorised training organisations for assistance dogs for air travel.”
Currently, the disabled community have faced barriers within air travel and it is hoped the evidence will help change regulations.
People who are assistance dog users; training organisations; airlines and airports; government departments and charities are invited to share their evidence of having an assistance dog.
EVIDENCE
At present, there is no current definition of an assistance dog within UK regulations meaning there is no formal clarity on the use of assistance dogs during air travel.
Through evidence, the UK Civil Aviation Authority is hoping to get the views from disabled people about what an assistance dog is, which assistance dogs should be allowed on air travel, and if there is the potential to widen the number of authorised training organisation for recognising assistance dogs.
You can provide evidence on this topic until 10 January 2020, by visiting the UK Civil Aviation Authority website here.