[NAGDU] New D.O.T. rules for air carriers: The comment period is now.

Wed Jan 22 21:43:33 UTC 2020

Hi friends,

I just recently came across a chat list of American Council of the Blind, and thought I’d join it as well as ours.  Within just a couple of days, I caught an important message that we should all jump on if we haven’t done so already.  New air carrier rules appear to be coming again.  We are now in a 60 day period to submit comments to D.O.T..  

Here, we have another chance to guarantee our right to privacy, and to not be hassled by officials or paperwork requirements for our properly trained working dogs.  As you’ve probably known from reading periodic messages from me, my wife and I fly with our service dogs quite regularly, and sometimes internationally.  It is only a very rare occasion that one or both of us make it through an airport without being barked at, lunged at, or snapped at by untrained dogs.  This includes right there at the boarding gate.  It also includes dogs running at us on the end of an spaced-out pet owner’s retractor leash, ten or more feet long.  Metukah has even been barked and snapped at by a dog that was being walked back the aisle, on it’s way past us to a seat inside a plane.  

This is an opportunity to back up the currrent proposal to ban emotional support dogs, which are untrained dogs.  It also requires that Psychiatric service dogs be trained as service dogs, to recognize them as service dogs.  This one is oh so important to give back up for our population of veterans and others who really need to work together with a service dog.  

This message, as I am forwarding it in entirety, came from Robert Acosta, President of Helping Hands for the Blind.  

To make commenting to D.O.T. easier, I am pasting the link right here before Robert’s message:
Comments on the NPRM must be received within 60 days of the date the notice is published.  The NPRM can be found at regulations.gov <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net_wf_click-3Fupn-3D84Em28S1K9SvtzcUtu04EjIEcmiyGbqunebI5gGhYlLe-2D2Fs3CKCSsNSpLkU9RsvGM-5FbNEKEfMLbW4STh-2D2FCH5VlJQP-2D2Ft3HecdBKmsOYZM786v5iD2V-2D2FLJ7QajvJSSJ-2D2FhGJ102x6iLCZ8X6Ea2DnNsw9N97-2D2FGD2rf8gl9cxJy-2D2Bp0-2D2FzuMsuRMU7UCGXZptk5v2NuGM7S21EXSNckBBD5ddBJHBV-2D2FRSAnf2fBXo2h2VEz4XBE0kj6HSDcdUC6UOh7IboF7wPABACuF-2D2FZNr59Tv32zPd0mxQb4LYpz36vTWsZ8y7Qy7yvfLTd1e-2D2Bqu-2D2F0Y19WwlVyLhLQ9H-2D2FrSeorDXZNF9RFWTA1V0BwNkm22Eclyh1qC6lfom8N-2D2BF9OHu-2D2FmdANYI7x8zq9H6ACa9tXGyn0XKGUmA-2D3D-2D3D&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=3LF4vFr5Vo3tqSdHmFCogBcm48QeA2xit8pga3lGIu0&e=>, docket number DOT-OST-2018-0068.

Below, Robert’s message:

As I am sure many of your have already heard, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just put out a notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) concerning bringing service animals on airplanes. Most of us know that in past years, airlines have put into place frustrating and illegal policies on what we have to do before we can bring our guide dogs onto planes. Our national office has done a lot of work to explain the negative repercussions of such policies. The FAA has also addressed this problem and put out a favorable Final Statement in the summer of 2019; the corresponding ACB press release is available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/acb-commends-dot-faa-on-final-statement-of-enforcement-priorities-regarding-service-animals-300899609.html <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.prnewswire.com_news-2Dreleases_acb-2Dcommends-2Ddot-2Dfaa-2Don-2Dfinal-2Dstatement-2Dof-2Denforcement-2Dpriorities-2Dregarding-2Dservice-2Danimals-2D300899609.html&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=m9nNXuj1erIiIHGm7wn7HU4MOyJJUdc8C_krS91v6MU&e=>. This issue is so significant to our community that ACB has passed resolutions on the topic for several years; these resolutions  are available at: 

2013-05: https://acb.org/resolutions2013 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__acb.org_resolutions2013&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=XV1Hcq1bFs7ybHnAu3OTK4M3JV0j5o85rMNCzyrCvAo&e=>
2014-01: https://acb.org/resolutions2014 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__acb.org_resolutions2014&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=L--qmGY6DdL7W10aNv8zA2_hFUVwueUX1pwwReBxsPo&e=>
2016-14: https://acb.org/resolutions2016 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__acb.org_resolutions2016&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=rJcHHpKJ8WfW3YJEUlotZI45Ms7_F-bbP9CVPBF8HDI&e=>
2017-05: https://acb.org/resolutions2017 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__acb.org_resolutions2017&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=diYksYxofwFmdxTcreaNgYUm0yZ52S1ncNSCBQZcF8A&e=>
2018-10: https://acb.org/resolutions2018 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__acb.org_resolutions2018&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=qYUrU8uT-7EHlkldq7zV8nEQwGPoYX5cWxpzBwMUvAE&e=>

Today, the FAA announced a NPRM to get feedback from Americans on what federal regulations on bringing service animals on planes should look like. Some of the questions concern whether documentation should be required, if service animals should be limited to dogs, and if emotional support animals should be included. The FAA has allowed 60 days to file public comments once the NPRM is published in the Federal Register. The national office will review the NPRM carefully and work with ACB affiliates, committees and members to draft comments. We will share more information as it becomes available and assist members with filing their own comments. In the meantime, please read the below information from the FAA. Please contact me via email, cstanley at acb.org <mailto:cstanley at acb.org>,  if you have any questions or comments related to this issue.

U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks Comment on Proposed Amendments to Regulation of Service Animals on Flights

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that it is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on the transportation of service animals by air.  

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Traveling by Air with Service Animals can be found HERE <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net_wf_click-3Fupn-3DG62jSYfZdO-2D2F12d8lSllQB1Pau57J7mutu8qMxbAmFNW8zX08wQF00Dih4keb-2D2BD2VGl-2D2B4bSzziSg2aAe4Wg99OD9E8rZDhigAO2Y4faIVyHJ-2D2BXcnNp08vHPEEi97GvemuHLk4ma-2D2F8yiCVD-2D2BWB2q81XzSUWjYFNfFoDO9hoMdmMJRq65x1KtMYvg7q1oWhMswq-5FbNEKEfMLbW4STh-2D2FCH5VlJQP-2D2Ft3HecdBKmsOYZM786v5iD2V-2D2FLJ7QajvJSSJ-2D2FhGJ102x6iLCZ8X6Ea2DnNsw9N97-2D2FGD2rf8gl9cxJy-2D2Bp0-2D2FzuMsuRMU7UCGXZptk5v2NuGM7S21EXSNckBBD5ddBJHBV-2D2FRSAnf2fBXo2h2VEz4XBE0kj6HSDcdUC6UOh7IboF71mYyEcoRig1gnlF2qyf2B0OlD08n3vooQV857I4sh6gKGTCeQarhhW-2D2BRDqbypNzsHtD1SCHqyU2BfzPOm5CIVO0UrO30FmAFE8Ngz3rcFwqYpwK8GTMqPqVFQv3-2D2FubMxtbBfNJtZg2ODEmk6yaTG2w-2D3D-2D3D&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=EQN5NK5yyu92Zser5_lYIO8IRGRV2MoSXBlven1gHNo&e=> and provides the public with 60 days to comment on the proposed changes.

Today’s NPRM is intended to ensure a safe and accessible air transportation system. It addresses concerns raised by individuals with disabilities, airlines, flight attendants, airports, other aviation transportation stakeholders, and other members of the public, regarding service animals on aircraft. The Department recognizes the integral role that service animals play in the lives of many individuals with disabilities and wants to ensure that individuals with disabilities can continue using their service animals while also reducing the likelihood that passengers wishing to travel with their pets on aircraft will be able to falsely claim their pets are service animals. 

The NPRM proposes to: 

·       Define a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability;

·       No longer consider an emotional support animal to be a service animal;

·       Consider a psychiatric service animal to be a service animal and require the same training and treatment of psychiatric service animals as other service animals;

·       Allow airlines to require forms developed by DOT attesting to a service animal’s good behavior, certifying the service animal’s good health, and if taking a long flight attesting that the service animal has the ability to either not relieve itself, or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner;

·       Allow airlines to require passengers with a disability who are traveling with a service animal to check-in at the airport one hour prior to the travel time required for the general public to ensure sufficient time to process the service animal documentation and observe the animal;

·       Require airlines to promptly check-in passengers with service animals who are subject to an advanced check-in process;

·       Allow airlines to limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability to two service animals; 

·       Allow airlines to require a service animal to fit within its handler’s foot space on the aircraft;

·       Continue to allow airlines to require that service animals be harnessed, leashed, tethered, or otherwise under the control of its handler;

·       Continue to allow airlines to refuse transportation to service animals that exhibit aggressive behavior and that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others; and

·       Continue to prohibit airlines from refusing to transport a service animal solely on the basis of breed.

Comments on the NPRM must be received within 60 days of the date the notice is published.  The NPRM can be found at regulations.gov <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net_wf_click-3Fupn-3D84Em28S1K9SvtzcUtu04EjIEcmiyGbqunebI5gGhYlLe-2D2Fs3CKCSsNSpLkU9RsvGM-5FbNEKEfMLbW4STh-2D2FCH5VlJQP-2D2Ft3HecdBKmsOYZM786v5iD2V-2D2FLJ7QajvJSSJ-2D2FhGJ102x6iLCZ8X6Ea2DnNsw9N97-2D2FGD2rf8gl9cxJy-2D2Bp0-2D2FzuMsuRMU7UCGXZptk5v2NuGM7S21EXSNckBBD5ddBJHBV-2D2FRSAnf2fBXo2h2VEz4XBE0kj6HSDcdUC6UOh7IboF7wPABACuF-2D2FZNr59Tv32zPd0mxQb4LYpz36vTWsZ8y7Qy7yvfLTd1e-2D2Bqu-2D2F0Y19WwlVyLhLQ9H-2D2FrSeorDXZNF9RFWTA1V0BwNkm22Eclyh1qC6lfom8N-2D2BF9OHu-2D2FmdANYI7x8zq9H6ACa9tXGyn0XKGUmA-2D3D-2D3D&d=DwMGaQ&c=tq9bLrSQ8zIr87VusnUS9yAL0Jw_xnDiPuZjNR4EDIQ&r=o4pfTHNp-KfIpwz64lErf3vs7IAYwoKNdxvUmEUWMz8&m=653iRrvxcwP3Hge_dd9qpu5rKtRhLwXcj2zDa7xZMhw&s=3LF4vFr5Vo3tqSdHmFCogBcm48QeA2xit8pga3lGIu0&e=>, docket number DOT-OST-2018-0068.

Thank You,
Claire

Claire Stanley
Advocacy and Outreach Specialist
American Council of the Blind
1703 N Beauregard Street, Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22311
(T) 202-467-5081
(F) 703-465-5085
Learn more about us at www.acb.org <http://www.acb.org/>
Follow us on Twitter at @acbnational
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanCounciloftheBlindOfficial <http://www.facebook.com/AmericanCounciloftheBlindOfficial>

Robert Acosta, President  Helping Hands for the Blind  Phone: (818) 9980044  www.helpinghands4theblind.net <http://www.helpinghands4theblind.net/>

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