Biomechanics of Boarding Chairs
Biomechanics of Transfers Between a Boarding Wheelchair and an Aircraft Seat
A major source of injury to both the passenger and airline staff during commercial air travel by individuals with disabilities is the transfer between an aisle or boarding wheelchair and an aircraft seat. This project is studying how the design of an aircraft’s interior affects the risk of injury to both staff and passengers during onboard transfers.
Motion capture technologies are being used to record and analyze the movements and forces associated with transfers under different simulated onboard conditions in a laboratory setting. We are currently looking at how transferee size, transferor stature, and the surrounding seats influence the risk of injury during a two-person dependent transfer to and from an aircraft seat. Future studies will investigate potential interventions to reduce these injury risks.
Biomechanics of Transfers Within an Aircraft Lavatory
Lack of data on the minimum space requirements for transfers from an onboard wheelchair to an aircraft toilet is one factor hindering the design of aircraft lavatories that are accessible to individuals with disabilities. This project is determining the minimum spatial requirements for one-person dependent toilet transfers within lavatories of different configurations.
The potential for injury during the transfers within each lavatory configuration is also being evaluated, as is the corresponding accessibility of entry to and exit from the lavatory. It is expected that the results of this project will be applied to the design of optimal footprints for accessible lavatories for use on single-aisle aircraft.
