US DOT fact sheet regarding carry-on of medical equipment

Johnny, Please add this to the CPAPopedia


For those concerned about transporting their cpap via plane, here is the text of a DOT fact sheet on the Air Carrier Access Act that requires airlines to allow you to carry-on your equipment in addition to the normal allowed carry-on rules. It may be useful to print this out and carry it with you at boarding in case of any confusion.



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, DC
Fact Sheet
Steps Taken to Ensure New Security Requirements
Preserve and Respect the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and the Department of Transportation's implementing rules prohibit discriminatory treatment of persons with disabilities in air transportation. Since the terrorist hijackings and tragic events of September 11, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have issued directives to strengthen security measures at airline checkpoints and passenger screening locations. In securing our national air transportation system, where much of FAA's and TSA's efforts have been directed to date, steps were also taken to ensure that the new security procedures preserve and respect the civil rights of passengers with disabilities. This Fact Sheet provides information about the accessibility requirements in air travel in light of strengthened security measures by providing a few examples of the types of accommodations and services that must be provided to passengers with disabilities. The examples listed below are not all-inclusive and are simply meant to provide answers to frequently asked questions since September 11 concerning the air travel of people with disabilities. We hope this information is helpful to you.

Check-in

* Air carriers must provide enplaning and deplaning assistance requested by passengers with disabilities, including assistance beyond the screener checkpoints, but have discretion in how this assistance is provided. Individuals who wish to assist passengers with disabilities beyond the screener checkpoint may be required to present themselves at the airlines' check-in desk and receive a "pass" allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without a ticket.

Screener checkpoints

* Air carriers must provide enplaning and deplaning assistance requested by passengers with disabilities, including assistance beyond the screener checkpoints, but have discretion in how this assistance is provided. Individuals who wish to assist passengers with disabilities beyond the screener checkpoint may be required to present themselves at the airlines' check-in desk and receive a "pass" allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without a ticket.

* Ticketed passengers with their own oxygen for use on the ground are allowed beyond the screener checkpoints with their oxygen canisters once the canisters have been thoroughly inspected. If there is a request for oxygen at the gate for a qualified passenger with a disability, commercial oxygen providers are allowed beyond the screener checkpoints with oxygen canisters once the canisters have been thoroughly inspected. Commercial oxygen providers may be required to present themselves at the airlines' check-in desk to obtain "passes" allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without tickets.

* The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices (including service animals and their equipment). Passengers with disabilities generally may carry medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the aircraft.

* All persons allowed beyond the screener checkpoints may be searched. This usually will be done through the use of a hand-held metal detector, when possible. Passengers may also be patted down during security screenings, and this is even more likely if the passenger uses a wheelchair and is unable to stand up. Private screenings remain an option for persons in wheelchairs.

* Passenger flow through the screener checkpoints should be controlled to allow a passenger to maintain visual contact with his/her personal property while he/she is being screened.

* Service animals, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft. Any equipment (including, but not limited to, harness, backpack, leash or collar) that is carried on the animal will be manually inspected. If necessary, remind the security screeners that the service animal's belongings should not be removed during the manual inspection.

* Assistive devices such as walking canes, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted in the passenger cabin. Assistive devices such as augmentative communication devices and Braille note takers will go through the same sort of security screening process as that used for personal computers. However, passengers that have special equipment that cannot go through the x-ray machine should notify the screeners and request a physical/visual inspection of the equipment. A slate and stylus are permitted on board the aircraft after inspection; however, it may be necessary to advise the security screener of the purpose of the slate and stylus and that it facilitates the passenger's communications.

* Syringes are permitted on board an aircraft once it is determined that the person has a documented medical need for the syringe. To show a documented medical need, a passenger must have in his or her possession medication that requires the use of a needle or syringe. The medication must have a professionally printed label identifying the medication or a manufacturer's name or a pharmaceutical label.

* Personal wheelchairs and battery-powered scooters may still be used to reach departure gates after they are inspected to ensure that they do not present a security risk. Any backpack, sidepack or other item that is carried on or under the wheelchair should be placed on the x-ray belt for inspection.

* Personal wheelchairs that are folding, collapsible, or breakdown will still be allowed to be stowed on board an aircraft, i.e. in the passenger cabin of aircraft that have closets or other facilities capable of such stowage, except where this practice would be inconsistent with DOT regulations governing carry-on items and/or the transportation of hazardous materials.

* Air carriers must return wheelchairs and other assistive devices to passengers with disabilities as close as possible to the door of the aircraft upon request. Passengers with disabilities can assist by checking-in their assistive devices and/or wheelchairs at the gate rather than at the ticket counter. If an assistive device or wheelchair is checked-in at the gate, it would have already cleared security and can be brought directly to the aircraft. If an assistive device or wheelchair is checked-in at the ticket counter, it would need to be screened before it can be brought to the passenger at the arrival gate.

* Air carriers must ensure that qualified individuals with a disability, including those with vision or hearing disabilities, have timely access to information (such as new security measures) that the carriers provide to other passengers. For example, on flights to Reagan Washington National Airport, persons are verbally warned to use the restrooms more than half an hour before arrival since after that point in time passengers are required to remain in their seats. This can be accomplished through use of carrier personnel or alternative formats, such as visual messaging.

How to file a complaint

Members of the public who feel they have been the subject of discriminatory actions or treatment by air carriers may file a complaint by sending an email, a letter, or a completed complaint form to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD). ACPD's e?mail address is airconsumer@ost.dot.gov and its mailing address is: Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room 4107, C-75, Washington, DC 20590. Complaint forms that consumers may download and/or print are available at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm.

Issued on 10/29/01 and revised on 12/06/01 and 06/27/02 by the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings and its Aviation Consumer Protection Division.

Here is a link to the TSA site covering medical issues. The third bullet is pertinent.

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/edit ... l_1057.xml

There are other topic in this doc that others with meds, sharps, etc may want to peruse, as well as oxygen regs.

Enjoy!

Thank you so much for posting this.

We will be traveling to DC in July.

(BTW, did you know that the first two starred ( * ) paragraphs are identical?)


- JB

Many thanks for posting this. I fly several times a year. As I indicated in another thread, I've erroneously been under the impression that a cpap counted towards the 2 carry-on's I'm allowed.

I just returned from a trip to Italy and had no problems with carrying my CPAP. In fact all the screeners both here and in Italy knew what a CPAP was and there were no questions about the mahine or the fact that I had my regular carry ons as well as the machine. It was much easier than I anticipated. Linda

I've flown twice so far with my CPAP - The first time was no problem, the second time they decided all my stuff needed a good search - they finally let me through, and they did seem to know what the machine was. Good post, thanks Wading.

wtg, Wader! Very useful.

Always appreciate info like this!

Topping this for Johnny!

Adam and I discussed (on the chat you missed) adding this info to the CPAPopedia.

If you get a chance, please add it.

THX

Thanks wading--I am going to Chicago for a week next month and really needed this info--I can't travel w/o my laptop and purse as my two carry ons!

A recent issue of the ASAA (American Sleep Apnea Association) newsletter said that if the CPAP machine has an opaque component that can't be scanned by the xray machine, the CPAP must be checked as baggage rather than carried on. ASAA said it will lobby that this be changed in the future.

I'm glad to hear that poster-flyers had no problems.

Other advice is to carry a doctor's prescription and letter saying you need the medical equipment.

Any idea if it is ok to bring a gel-pack battery to power one's xpap?
I am taking a "red eye" flight cross country and would like to sleep without fear. My plane does not have suitable electric outlets.

FYI, I have flown several times with my CPAP, purse and a carryon with no problems. Yesterday, on America West, they tried to make me check one of those 3. I told them I had the right to have all 3... and subsequently the captain threatened to put me off the plane.

Ultimately, another flight attendant helped me and I got to take my flight, but be advised that it could be very wise to have a printout of this with you...

( I didn't have any problem with it at security)

I've been flying for the past 8 months with my CPAP, all over the country and Alaska and have had no problems with the CPAP being my 3rd carryon. At security, they ask what it is, I tell them, some of them look at me as if to say "What's that" - I tell them, they peek at it, and off I go.
I've flown all the major airlines, most of them when fully sold and any space is a luxury and have had no problems.
Hope this helps,
Sue

With flights within Europa and to Egypt I had no problems at all. The cpap (packed as a carryon) didn't draw any special attention from the screeners.