ECAC Quality Assessment Programme
The ECAC Quality Assessment Programme on the Assistance to Persons with Reduced Mobility aims to foster equal access to air transport for the steadily rising number of persons with reduced mobility (PRMs) in the aviation sector. Its main objective is to support ECAC Member States in their compliance monitoring activities of operators (e.g. airport operators, air carriers), providing an assistance service for persons with disabilities and PRMs to ensure that it is of sufficient quality. The programme was launched in 2024, following two successful pilot phases running from 2019 to 2023.
The Quality Assessment Programme pilot phases consisted of assessment teams and national coordinators nominated from 11 ECAC Member States, who carried out a total of seven assessments of airports and airlines. After a suspension caused by COVID-19, the pilot programme was resumed in 2022 and a final pilot assessment was carried out on easyJet Switzerland at Geneva Airport on 22-24 March 2023.
Assessments are carried out by certified ECAC assessors, following successful completion of the relevant training and certification course that was established in October 2023. The assessment is based on the recommendations in ECAC Doc 30, Part I (Facilitation), Section 5: Facilitation of the Transport of Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Reduced Mobility, which are consistent with ICAO and other relevant regulation in this area. The programme is open to all ECAC Member States and the first formal assessment is scheduled to take place in September 2024.