A team from Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research has received international recognition for a design that would allow WC19 certified manual and power wheelchairs to be used as a seat on board commercial airlines.

The Fly Your Wheels Suite — designed by NIAR researchers and students in the Advanced Virtual Engineering and Test Labs (AVET), in collaboration with Collins Aerospace and Q’Straint — can be implemented near the first-class cabin of a single-aisle aircraft, such as a Boeing 737.

The design concept centers on modifying an airplane’s cabin closet to be re-engineered for a safe, interactive and spacious suite for passengers using a wheelchair.

For this concept, Fly Your Own Wheels Suite was shortlisted for the Crystal Cabin Award, the only international award for excellence in aircraft interior innovation. The Crystal Cabin Award's main intention is to initiate a significant improvement in passenger comfort.

Research shows that people with disabilities prefer to be in their own wheelchairs when on airplanes in order to maintain independence, comfort, safety and dignity. Currently, people with disabilities are required to fly on standard aircraft seats, while relying on auxiliary personnel to board and deplane the aircraft. This can result in uncomfortable situations for the passengers, as well as damage to the wheelchairs that are stored in the aircraft cargo compartment. 

• The concept is safe and reliable, meeting FAA and other federal guidelines while provided a more preferred seating option for passengers.
• The design requires no/minimal loss of revenue from empty seats because in the absence of a wheelchair passenger, the space can be turned into a closet.
• There would be no loss of cargo space.

With this solution, passengers with disabilities have the opportunity to travel comfortably and safely in their own wheelchair while allowing them to board and deplane the aircraft independently as in other public transits systems.

“These type of applied research programs are what makes NIAR ideal for applied learning opportunities with students and researchers collaborating to provide an efficient and simple solution to a well-known problem,” said Gerardo Olivares, senior research scientist and director of AVET.