The deadline to comply with the DoT Regulation 14 CFR Part 382.65 amendment is fast approaching. Airchair, a UK-based manufacturer of aisle chairs for airlines, has launched a free-to-use compliance assessment tool to help airlines understand whether the requirements of the amendment are likely to apply to them, and if they should review their onboard equipment before the deadline of 2nd October 2026.
The online assessment, which only takes a couple of minutes to complete and does not require users to surrender data, is designed to help airlines ascertain if they are in compliance with the changes to the requirements around carrying aisle chairs in the aircraft cabin, or if they need to take action to prevent the possibility of being fined by the USA Department of Transport (DoT).
Airchair has summarised the changes to the requirements for aisle chairs on its website, with key provisions being that the onboard wheelchair must facilitate access to, and use of, an onboard accessible lavatory.
Sarah McOnie, director of Airchair, said of the assessment tool: “I attended an industry event recently and was a little shocked that a few airlines, which will need to comply [with the updated regulation] as they fly narrowbody aircraft with more than 125 seats into the USA, hadn’t heard of the regulation changes.
“It’s not too late to act now and so we urge those airlines that are unsure, to take a few minutes to complete the assessment. It will give them a clear indication of what they need to do next.”
The free online assessment can be accessed on the Airchair site.
