Wheelchair...How to damage proof it?

[Chrl]

Hi all

Leaving in two weeks on Delta Airlines and bringing my powerchair, reading all the pots of how your chair can be damaged
in flight I need some pointers on how to safeguard my chair.

I have a seperate charger that I need to carry with me b/c my chair needs to be charged every night and my controls cannot be removed.

I was to rent one but that is not an option now. Any info would be helpful.

Thanks
Cheryl

 

[SueM in MN]

A poster named pugdog has posted some good information in the past about the height of the doors on planes and general information about air travel. He (sorry pugdog, if you are not a 'he') may be by later and post it; if not, I'll search later to find one of the posts.

The general suggestions I would have would be:
- to make sure before you go that all screws and bolts are tight. Check again after you get to your resort. We have found that the bumping and jarring of the fight can sometimes work things loose. We forgot to check on our last trip and ended up losing a bolt that held the armrest in place.

- make sure that things like swingaway footrests are locked to their 'swung in' positions and remove anything you can remove easily.
I am the 'wheelchair wrangler' and I remove DD's seat cushion and seat back (the seat cushion is attached with velcro and I'm not certain it would remain with the chair.

- close velcro and seatbelts and pull them tight, if possible. My DD's footplates have velcro straps to hold her feet in place. We velcro the straps together so that they not only won't drag, but they will also help hold the footplates in place.

- my DD's controller can be removed either by removing 2 screws or by taking off the arm (which involves pulling a pin). We have not traveled yet with her new power wheelchair, but will in October. We plan to take the whole arm on the plane with us.
The wheelchair tech strongly recommended we remove it, but if we didn't, he suggested making it as secure as possible (in our case, adding a strap so the swing away joystick would not be able to swing away) and then wrap the entire joystick/controller in layers and layers of bubble wrap. Possibly even securing a small box over the bubblewrap to provide a little more protection.

Any other fragile parts that can't be removed from the chair (like in her old power chair, the place where you plug in the charger) would get the same bubble wrap treatment.

- loose wires ahould be brought as close to the chair as possible and fastened so they don't hang.

- if you have parts you think might possibly come off that you are not able to remove easily, mark them with your name and contact information so that in case they do become separated, they can find you.

- carry the charger and any parts that were removed onto the plane. They have priority for closet or overhead storage areas. I carry a laundry bag with me to help contain the pieces. it's much easier than when I tried to carry all the pieces.

 

[Chrl]

Thanks for the input, I plan on being in my chair all the way to the gate, can I bubble wrap the controls there?

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the input, I plan on being in my chair all the way to the gate, can I bubble wrap the controls there?

you should be able to, but I don't know for sure.

We have not brought DD's power wheelchair yet, but I practically disassemble her manual wheelchair at the gate every time we fly. They are usually surprised at just how little of it is left.

 

[madenon]

As always, Sue has given the biggest en best info allready.

You can also contact the pc-dealer. They know their products by hart and can give great info on how to fly it as save as possible. There are those out there that will even give you a home demo if you want it. (for instance; I'm a technical nightmare. I have to see how to change things on my pc before I can do it, verbal explanation simply won't do it for me)

The part you don't take with you into the cabin; secure a peace of paper to it on which you've put some simple notes for those handling the chair. They see all kinds of chairs and can't know everything about every chair. Having a simple reminder present on how this specific chair can be handled in the best way, can make it easier on them and therefor on us users. At our airport they go into the happy state like a toddler in a toystore would, if you do this very simple thing. (If ever flying abroad; make the note in both languages)

 

[SueM in MN]

As always, Sue has given the biggest en best info allready.

LOL
We've traveled enough that I made all the mistakes on past trips and now know exactly what not to do.

 

[pugdog]

Ok I'm a he and I am here.

As Sue has said take off anything that can come off easy. If you don't they might not show up in MCO.
Make sure that you have your WC repair dude make sure everything is tight and in good working condition. Replace batteries with gell cells, put on new tires and tighten all screws.
On most planes the cargo door is about 34 inches high so you want your chair to be under that. One way is to some how make your back can fold down.
Use some type of tie-down straps to keep things together.
For taking the controller off sometimes all it takes is an allen wrench and then you can put it in the seat and protect it that way.
We have taken DW's chair to the gate the last several times and have actual had less damage this way then checking it at the ticket counter, but of course YMMV.
Any other questions you can think of ask.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I would add the following:-

I cannot remove my controller easily. On one flight, the handlers managed to power up my chair and it remained switched on for the entire nine hour flight London to Orlando. I ended up being pushed into my room at Wilderness Lodge because my batteries were flat.

I now disconnect the cable to the controller at the gate.

Also:

Take a list of authorised dealers for your chair in Orlando with you, so you know who to phone if the worst happens.

Andrew

 

[Chrl]

Thanks to all of you for all your input. I will see my WC repair guy to make sure everything is tightened.

Your guys are the best.

Cheryl