(IN): Guide dogs allowed to fly

May 5, 2008

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Guide dogs allowed to fly

4 May 2008, 1406 hrs IST,Saurabh Sinha,TNN

NEW DELHI:

A few days after Bollywood star Rekha was stopped from taking her pet

pooch with her onto a plane, the aviation ministry has approved theate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) new rules allowing dogs

to fly. But don't worry about dogfights in the air. The new rule

applies only to those canines guiding humans " with disability and/or

reduced mobility " .

The DGCA is likely to notify the new civil aviation requirement (CAR)

this week, after which it will become immediately effective. " No

airline shall refuse to carry persons with disability or reduced

mobility and their assistive aids/devices, escorts and guide dogs,

including their presence in the cabin. Such persons or their

representatives (should) at the time of booking and/or check-in for

travel inform the airline of their requirement, " the CAR says.

A senior DGCA official said the visually challenged would not need to

buy separate tickets for their guide dogs as they could be seated near

their feet. " But the dog must be very well trained so that

co-passengers don't feel uncomfortable, " said the official.

Presumably, sleeping dogs will be allowed to fly but not barking ones.

The draft CAR was prepared late last year, when it was first reported

in TOI. But it ran into trouble with carriers over a proposal that

airlines must provide all assistance to the physically challenged free

of cost.

While most full service carriers do provide such service for free,

airlines united to say the government could not dictate their tariff

policy. They made it clear to the DGCA that airlines would charge for

any extra cost in providing assistance to the physically challenged.

--

United against elephant polo

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