the disabled and flying
by John de Frayssinet (technical consultant for the British Disabled Flying Association and holder of the outright World Air Speed Record (piston) from Land End to John o'Groats)

I am a disabled person who is a pilot. I make that point right at the beginning, as in this politically correct madness we all seem to be living in I am often described these days as a 'physically challenged pilot'. This is a term that I really hate as I do not find myself disabled in any way when flying an aeroplane.

What is disablement in aviation terms?

Anyone who does not conform to the physical requirements as laid down in the Chicago convention. Technically, this also includes persons with eye and hearing defects. Most registered disabled people are not confined to wheelchairs but many folks have mobility difficulties. We disabled people are a tad annoying as we do not all have the same needs! This makes it very hard for licensing authorities to make firm rulings on who can and who can't fly. In most countries now, sensible procedures have been laid down and disabled pilots are evaluated on an individual basis.

the challenge

It is an achievement for any person to obtain a pilots licence. For many disabled people, sadly, it is even harder. Despite legislation, relatively few flying schools are equipped to accommodate disabled students, and few aircraft are available that are suitable. This is very understandable, as investment may have to be made with perhaps very little need. As things stand, many disabled students have to travel much further for every lesson. A lot of help is out there and advice is happily given. For a lucky few, flying scholarships are even available.

Sadly, a larger challenge can often be found with the attitudes of disabled people themselves. So often, disablement results in the person focussing on what they have lost, and what they can no longer do rather than what they still can. Despite the fact that severely disabled people flew fighter aircraft with distinction in the last great war many disabled people are very surprised to learn that they could train as a pilot.

The greatest difficulty facing us is the attitude of too many airfields.

Some time ago, I flew into Guernsey, Channel Isles carrying two 80 year old ladies. I informed the tower that I was disabled and asked that I could park very close in or be offered a vehicle for transport. The tower replied that I should drop off that disabled person by the entrance to the terminal and then park a long way off. I confirmed that the disabled person was the pilot, to which they replied.....'then get one of your passengers to park the plane'.

Many French airfields (Bergerac and Nantes for instance) have not grasped that disabled persons might be pilots and make no concessions to pilots with mobility difficulties.

For those who are wheelchair bound, facilities can be completely nonexistent. Kemble airfield UK rebuilt their facilities with fine disabled toilets and ramps to the eating areas for their new complex. However, once the building had been inspected, the ramp needed to enter the building itself was immediately removed and not replaced for 18 months.  Gradually however, things are getting better and it is hoped that within a few years, access will be much improved. The new initiative by AFE who publish the excellent VHR flight-guide for the UK to rate airfields for disabled access is to be encouraged.

here are some of the specialist websites.

http://www.bdfa.net/by far the best site
http://www.bhpa.co.uk/Flyability-web-site/Training-pilots.htm (for microlights)
http://www.wheelchairaviators.org/
http://www.accessibleaviation.com/
http://www.ausaviation.com.au/backgrounders/backgrounder12.html 
(about Visionair hand controls)