Special Needs

At Buddha Air, we believe that every passenger is special. We are here to assist you in your journey to make your travel as smooth and as easy as possible.

During an emergency evacuation, special need passengers are divided into two categories. They are:

• An ambulatory passenger is a person who is mobile and does not require assistance during an emergency evacuation. Such passengers can board, move about and disembark the aircraft without any assistance from another person.
• A non-ambulatory passenger is a person who is not mobile and requires assistance during an emergency evacuation. Such passengers cannot board, move about and disembark the aircraft without assistance from another person. If the non-ambulatory passenger cannot feed him/herself and will require assistance to use the lavatory, then a fit attendant must be present.

The following seating arrangements for ambulatory and non-ambulatory passengers are done in our flight:

• Cannot be allocated emergency exit row seat or occupy a seat that impedes the crew in the conduct of their duties, obstruct access to emergency equipment or impede an emergency evacuation.
• Non-ambulatory passengers cannot be seated across the aisle from each other in the same row.
• If a personal attendant is required on board, then the attendant must be seated on an aisle next to the passenger.
• Passengers with mobility problems e.g, fractured legs, paraplegics will be accommodated in seats that provide them with comfort.
• If the passenger requires crutches, canes and other walking aids, these aids must be stored in a special location in the cabin that permits quick access to the aids when needed.
• Passengers with sight difficulties can travel with or without a sighted companion as he/she will require assistance to board and disembark the aircraft.
• A passenger with sight and hearing disabilities will need to travel with a fit individual so that safety instructions can be conveyed to him/her.

Passengers Requiring Wheelchair

We also provide wheelchairs, available at all stations. Please note that the requirement for wheelchair must be made at the time of booking.
If you have a personal wheelchair (which might be battery driven when permitted), you will need to carry it as checked baggage, free of charge. Please note that your wheelchair is not allowed as hand carry. If you require wheelchair services, we have wheelchairs available at all our stations.

A passenger with Portable Oxygen Cylinder (POC)

Passengers with a Portable Oxygen Cylinder provided he/she must fulfill the following requirements:

• The passenger must be able to see, hear and understand the device warnings.
• The passenger must be able to prove that the POC is medically necessary.
• The passenger must provide information regarding oxygen flow rate and the duration of the expected use of the POC in hours and minutes.
• The passenger must provide a valid doctor's statement to the crew of the aircraft to review when requested.
• The Passenger using a POC unit will not be allocated an exit row or bulkhead seat.
• The POC will be placed under the seat in front of the passenger during use.
• Passenger (when preferable) should be allocated a window seat.

What we do for POC Passenger?

The commander of the aircraft will be notified when there is a passenger who will bring or intends to use a POC onboard the aircraft. The commander will be informed of the contents of the physician's written statement, including the magnitude and nature of the passenger's oxygen needs.

Stretcher Case Passenger

Stretcher case passengers are classified as "Non-ambulatory passengers" who will require assistance to board, disembark and evacuate as they are immobile.

We will only allow stretcher passengers on our ATR aircraft if the following requirements are met:

• Only one stretcher passenger is allowed per flight unless there is an emergency wherein life-saving treatment is mandatory for passenger, then we may permit an additional stretcher case passenger.
• A stretcher case passenger must be certified fit-to-fly by the treating doctor of the hospital where the passenger was being treated.
• Normally a stretcher case passenger must be certified Fit-to-Fly by the treating doctor or the hospital where he was being treated. Additionally, an indemnity bond for Buddha Air shall be secured against any Buddha Air liability for carriage of the passenger. An indemnity bond is a written statement/form that has to filled up by passengers which will release airlines for any kinds of liability/indemnity in case of passenger’s harm or even death during flight. Passengers specify that they are traveling in own risk.
• However, in domestic sectors in case no such certifications are made available, in exigency, the Pilot In-Charge may allow carriage of the stretcher case passenger against an indemnity bond against Buddha Air from the next of kin of the passenger or the Personal Care Assistant, against any liability related to the travel of the PRM.
• The stretcher will be positioned on the last three rows on the port side or starboard side of the aircraft.
• A stretcher case passenger must be escorted by a qualified medical personnel or medical personnel as per the company doctor's decision when considered necessary.
• The personal care assistant must be seated on the aisle seat next to the stretcher case passenger.
• The stretcher case passenger will be pre-boarded 10 minutes before the other passengers board the aircraft. The Cabin Crew In-Charge (CCIC) will be contacted for appropriate boarding time.
• The CCIC will supervise the boarding of the stretcher case passenger and ensure that the passenger is facing the aft of the aircraft when placed on the stretcher.
• Non-ambulatory handicapped passengers are allocated seats directly across the aisle of a stretcher case passenger.
• The stretcher must be secured to the aircraft or to the seats over which it is mounted. The passenger will be secured by an adequate harness to the stretcher.