Universal Design for Advancing All People’s Comfort in Air Travel

Proposal of assistance procedure for transferring passengers with reduced mobility to the window seat

JAXA, in collaboration with Nihon Fukushi University and Shiga University of Medical Science, has studied the method for assisting a passenger with reduced mobility to transfer to the window seat in a cabin using a sliding board, and then confirmed that it is possible to do so using a mock-up of the cabin. The proposed assistance method is shown here. This is the materialization of Number 07 in the 62 proposed solutions.

A proposal for how to transfer a passenger with reduced mobility from an aisle chair to a window seat by two caregivers (PDF)

Background

In general, cabin space is limited and there is not enough space for caregivers, making it difficult for caregivers to transfer a passenger with reduced mobility (PRM) to a window seat. In addition, even when transferring a PRM to an aisle seat, the physical burden on the caregivers is considerable.

This proposal will make it possible to transfer a PRM to a window seat with less physical burden, even in a confined space. This will allow a PRM who requires transfer assistance to enjoy the flight in the window seat without hesitation.

Feb 7, 2025