Kathy, for your flight to BCN; take a copy of the ACAA and perhaps also one of the EU legislation 'flying with a mobility disability' with you, as a bit of insurance. Most of the times it's not needed, but if anybody does decide to go "I don't know" you can nicely remind them of your rights. With you only landing at BCN it especially shouldn't be any problem, but still. I never get on a flight without a copy in my carry on. Be prepared to fall in love with Barca though, it's amazing.
Have you discussed the downsides of the EZ-lock with Permobil? Don't know about the US branche or anything, but over here most of the time they try to see if a solution can be found for both situations safely. Especially if some of the DCL bumps are already a "can do can't do", it might be worth asking around??
But I have a question about powering up & down small curbs without a ramp. The big wheels are in the front on Jack's chair, but he also has these little wheels in front of the big ones that I would suppose are to prevent the chair falling forward?
I know what you mean, got them on my C500 also.
They don't touch the ground, but will if the chair tilts forward too much or if he tries to go up a ramp that is too steep they hit and then the big wheels come off the ground and cannot move the chair forward. If I'm there when that happens, I give a big push up from the back. If I'm not there then he can't go up that ramp/curb.
Going to assume they're in the same position as mine. If they are, they shouldn't be a big problem. They look like they're in the way but in practice rarely are as long as you go full speed. But then again, at low speed it can be a problem to get up the curb anyway, with or without those little wheels.
In looking at the chair, they are just bolted on and of course there is a warning picture not to take them off.
Have you read the user manual? It's full of warnings of what not to do. Might give some teenager some great ideas.
It is a safety thing indeed. I've actually have them safe the chair once. Not me, just the chair.
Had a brand new C500, driving at full speed down the road. All of a sudden the programs had a malfunctioning in them, shutting the chair down. Not like we're used to and the chair rolling a bit further and then stopping, but the chair stopped on the dime right then and there. The chair tipped violently because of that sudden move and speed, the little wheels prevented it from tipping over. As I don't use a seatbelt, you'll have guessed by now I went flying.
The back wheels were totalled by the power put on them when the chair fall back down, but the little wheels in front did safe the chair and myself from more damage.
I guess it's a safety thing, but if it will help him with the trip, I'll get them taken off before we go. I just think it would be important to make sure that there are folks who help stabilize the chair as it goes up and down.
Don't know about that, but haven't got experience with the C300. I personally do not like anybody around me when attacking a curb. It makes me too aware of them, thinking about their safety, not wanting too much speed for their safety etc. For me that results in too little speed to go up the curb. At full speed it can be a bit difficult, that combo of a moving chair and people around it. On the other hand, others swear by it. Might be something you'll want to try at home and see what works for you guys.
Oh and love DCL for the convenience of having the US outlets. Those darn Permobil chairs will not load when using the battery charger most of us get with it normally combined with a, sheez what do you call them in english? Those plugthings that can chance the plug from 3 pins to 2 etc. to be able to fit the outlet. (hoping somebody understands that!!!). The regular chargers can not handle the difference in voltage and hertz. Unlike most appliances nowadays, they also need a converter for the voltage and hertz. For us Europeans that means no charging while in the US, for you guys from the US it would mean running the risk of blowing up the charger.
I learned that lesson the hard way.
With a DCL-cruise; no need to even think about all of that for you.
Just plug in and charge and you're set to go! Just remember not to plug in while ashore unless you checked and made sure the charger can handle 240 voltage and 60 hertz.