Flying With Your Wheelchair - All Terrain Wheelchairs

FLYING WITH WHEELCHAIR

Some useful information about travelling with your wheelchair, whether by road or air. If you need any further information, please get in touch.

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TRANSIT GUIDANCE

We supply a range of off road power wheelchairs from the world’s top manufacturers, suitable for almost any terrain. Working with trusted brands like Sunrise Medical, Magic Mobility, Dietz, Scoozy and more, you can be sure that our wheelchairs are super-reliable and built to last. You can see model information, specifications, reviews, and video footage. If you need any more information, just drop us a line. One of our team is waiting for your call and will be delighted to help.

Transporting Your Wheelchair

Will the chair fit in my car?

The chairs will usually fit within a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV), a van, or with the backrest removed may fit into the boot of a larger estate car (with the back seats folded forward). It is always advisable to check the dimensions of both the chair & the vehicle & during a demonstration you are welcome to try this out.

How do I get the chair in my car?

Many people opt for a ramp into the rear of a WAV. Some people do have hoists to lift the chairs in. We recommend a hoist capable of carrying a minimum weight of 200kg.

Here is an example:

This customer has opted for the fold down backrest on his Extreme X8, to allow it to fit into the rear of his car. The backseats have been folded flat allowing enough floor space. The gentleman uses ramps to drive the chair up and operates the chair using his joystick on a longer lead. Not for the fainthearted, but a very common solution. For reference the car shown here is a BMW X1

Flying With Your Wheelchair

This is the typical information that an airline needs when travelling with your wheelchair:

Mobility aid weight: The weight of varies greatly with the options fitted. On average a wheelchair with 73Ahr batteries weighs about 150kg.

Battery type: We use Geltech batteries (spec can be downloaded from website). These batteries are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and IATA approved, allowing safe transportation on aircraft, buses and trains.

http://www.gel-tech.com.au/resources.shtml

Does your battery require disconnection: You can isolate the controller from the batteries by pulling out the lead from the joystick. To do this, you will need a small Philips head screwdriver and perhaps some electric tape to protect the connector during transit. Check with the carrier the appropriate time to disconnect your controller, as disconnecting the lead from the joystick disables the wheelchair. Some airlines insist on disconnecting the batteries, but it is not necessary and not recommended by an unauthorised operator. It can cause damage to your wiring and may impact your ability to drive the chair if it is incorrectly rewired at your destination.

Are there any special instructions that are important for taking care of your wheelchair when flying: There are no special instructions but we would urge you to insist that the airline not disconnect any wires/leads other than the joystick as incorrect reconnection may result in a bad start to your journey.

PLEASE PRINT THIS TEXT AND GIVE TO THE AIRLINE STAFF:

From the Manufacturer: This is a power wheelchair that uses Gel batteries.

To make the wheelchair safe to fly:

Step 1: Disconnect the joystick In order to isolate the batteries and put the wheelchair in safe mode for flying, remove the lead from the joystick. This is a simple connector in the back of the joystick. Some of the wheelchair controllers require that you remove a joystick cover. For this, you will need a small Philips head screwdriver.

Step 2: Put the motors in freewheel mode Once the joystick has been isolated from the batteries, the wheelchair may be hard to push manually. If it is taking extra force, then you should disengage the motors.