8 Battery-Powered Wheelchair and Mobility Aid Guidance Document 28 January 2022
Training
Training for all staff in the air travel service delivery is vital for providing quality service to persons with reduced
mobility in a consistent and respectful manner. It is essential that staff know their responsibilities and can
perform them competently. Training should address the attitudinal, environmental/physical and organisational
barriers that affect persons with reduced mobility in air transport. Training is required to prepare staff to aid
persons with reduced mobility in a manner that respects their dignity, and as a professional service to which
the person is entitled, rather than as a favour or compassionate gesture.
Training is required to include the policies and procedures of the organisation and should be appropriate to the
duties of the person being trained and include emergency response procedures.
In addition to general training, aircraft and airport operators must ensure that they train their employees and
contractors who are required to handle battery-powered mobility aids. This will include procedures for
preparing, securing, carrying and stowing of mobility aids for air transport.
Handling
Acceptance
Prior to acceptance, the operator must verify that:
▪ the battery terminals are protected from short circuits. This does not necessarily mean removing the
battery. An example of protecting the terminals would be to enclose the battery within a battery
container; and
▪ the battery is either:
‒ securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aid and the electrical circuits are isolated following the
manufacturer’s instructions; or
‒ removed by the user, if the mobility aid is specifically designed to allow it to be, following the
manufacturer’s instructions.
There are specific handling requirements for different types of batteries:
▪ non-spillable wet batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries and dry batteries – confirm with the passenger
that relevant special provision has been complied with (A67 for non-spillable wet batteries, A199 for
nickel-metal hydride batteries and A123 for dry batteries). All removed and spare batteries must be
placed in strong, rigid packagings and must only be transported in the cargo compartment.
▪ spillable batteries – the batteries should be fitted with spill-resistant vent caps, where feasible. They must
be removed from the mobility aid if the device cannot be loaded, stowed, secured or unloaded in an
upright position. Removed batteries must be carried in strong, rigid packagings as follows:
‒ packagings must be leak-tight, impervious to battery fluid and be protected against upset by securing
to pallets or by securing them in cargo compartments using appropriate means of securement (other
than by bracing with freight of baggage) such as by use of restraining straps, brackets or holders;
‒ batteries must be protected against short circuits, secured upright in these packagings and
surrounded by compatible absorbent material sufficient to absorb their total liquid contents; and
‒ these packagings must be marked “BATTERY, WET, WITH WHEELCHAIR” or “BATTERY, WET, WITH
MOBILITY AID” and be labelled with the “Corrosive” label (see Figure 1) and with the “Package
Orientation” label (see Figure 2).