Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!wtm
From: spgreg@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Greg Macrae)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: batteries and planes
Message-ID: <17720@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 8 Feb 91 22:03:42 GMT
References: <17282@bunker.UUCP>
Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: spgreg@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Greg Macrae)
Distribution: misc
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
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Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP

Index Number: 13596

In article <17282@bunker.UUCP>, rocker@desire.wright.edu (Ronnie) writes...
>Index Number: 13269
>When I went by plane, I took my manual wheelchair because I've heard that
>wet-cell acid batteries aren't allowed on planes, it this true?, always true? 
>every airline?

>ronnie

No, it isn't true.  Most airlines will transport wet cell batteries in a 
special box.  This means that they must remove the battery from the chair 
to ship it.  Many uninformed personnel at airports insist on treating gel
cells the same way.  Your best bet is to talk to the local baggage handler 
supervisor for the airline that you are flying.  Do this the week before 
you fly.  (S)He can make sure that an experienced handler loads your chair.
The proceedure is more complicated for electric chairs than for manuals, 
and it really pays to take the extra time and talk to the people who will 
be doing the work.  Also, make certain that your tickets indicate that you 
have a wheelchair so that the personnel at your destination will be prepaired.

I have traveled by air quite a lot, and never had a problem with my chair or 
the way it was handled.  On the other hand, I have seen chairs that were broken
by the baggage handlers.  It can be a real drag to be stuck somewhere and 
forced to rely on equipment loaned by the airline, and that assumes that 
the airline can loan you a replacement...  Expressing your concern before 
hand may not prevent an accident, but it can make one less likely.  The 
trick is to maintain the proper level of paranoia.  

Good luck, and have a safe trip.
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     MacRae                  |       Darting dragonfly...
                             | Pull off its shiny wings and look...
   spgreg@csd.lerc.nasa.gov  |      Bright red pepper pod!
                             |                      -Kikaku
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