President Franklin D. Roosevelt's airplane "The Sacred Crow" is equipped to accommodate his wheelchair.
Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA) is passed by congress.
Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted.
The Department of Transportation issued final rule for ACAA.
Michele Erwin started All Wheels Up in 2011 when she was traveling with her son Greyson who has SMA and saw how difficult it was to travel as a wheelchair user. She knew something needed to be done and embarked on the journey of getting wheelchairs crash-tested for Accessible commercial flight.
The Department of Transportation proposed collecting data on damage to wheelchairs and scooters.
Merged with “We Want Accessible Planes” who launched a petition for a wheelchair spot on planes.
AWU launched the first animation on what a wheelchair spot could look like.
Successfully completed a Proof of Concept by achieving all four FAA requirements of the initial study
Tested 2 of 5 existing restraints from Q’Straint
14 CFR 25.561
14 CFR 25.562
AWU holds inaugural working group.
AWU presented in the UK flying disabled/ Virgin Atlantic wheelchair symposium.
2018 FAA Reauthorization Act Bipartisan support for an amendment leading requiring Airlines to report on the number of damaged wheelchairs during air travel.
2018 FAA Reauthorization Act Bipartisan Duckworth Amendment which approved feasibility study for wheelchair spot on an Airline.
Benchmarking for a WC Spot on Airplanes. AWU completes the second round of testing of wheelchair securement systems and wheelchairs.
Hosted second working group in ATL, GA.
Launched Fly Safe Today (trade mark pending) Giveaway providing important assistive equipment (the CARES harness and ADAPTS sling) to travelers with disabilities.
Molan labe launches design for wheelchair spot on an airplane
Spacing Study with Molan labe’s wheelchair spot concept.
2022 AWU hosted the third working Group had 85+ attendees, 22+ companies, 15+ speakers, 7 university posters, 4 universities.
AWU launches National Accessible Air Travel Day on August 20th.
Crystal Cabin nominations for Priestmangoode and National Institute for Aviation Research, Wichita State University NIAR for creating space for wheelchairs aboard airplane.
AWU Floor load testing in collaboration with Wtchiata State Niar, Q’Straint, Quantum Wheelchairs, MDA
AWU Hill trip advocating for amendments affecting accessible air travel in the 2023 FAA reauthorization.
Crystal Cabin nominations for University of Michigan for M-SAAVE and Virginia Tech for “Chairs in the Air”.
The 2024 FAA Reauthorization was passed with several landmark accessibility provisions, including a mandated roadmap for in-cabin wheelchair securement, expanded crashworthiness research focused on disability needs, a feasibility study on wheelchair spots, and national training standards for assisting wheelchair users.
