Airchair II Onboard Aircraft Wheelchair ACAA Compliant Aisle Chair

The Airchair II is an onboard aircraft wheelchair, also known as an aisle chair or cabin transfer chair, designed to carry passengers with reduced mobility from the aircraft door to their seat and back again. It is purpose built for the amended US Department of Transportation Air Carrier Access Act rule, 14 CFR Part 382.65, which takes effect on 2 October 2026 and sets defined performance, restraint, and usability requirements for onboard wheelchairs. The same design also meets EU Regulation 1107/2006 and UK DPTAC guidelines, so a single chair specification works across US, European, and UK operations rather than forcing operators to stock different equipment by region.

Choose between two seat widths. The 14 in, or 360 mm, model is the narrower of the two and suits single aisle narrowbody aircraft where clearance is tightest. The 15 in, or 380 mm, model offers additional seat width for passenger comfort where the aisle allows. Both models are otherwise identical in frame, restraint system, controls, materials, and capacity, so the decision comes down to aisle geometry and passenger profile alone.

Weight is the reason most aisle chairs get left behind on the ground. The Airchair II answers that with a high strength aluminum alloy frame weighing only 14.7 lbs, or 6.7 kg, in the 14 in width, and 15 lbs, or 6.8 kg, in the 15 in width, while carrying passengers up to 550 lbs, or 250 kg, in either size. Cabin crew can lift, carry, and reposition the chair without a second person, and the aircraft takes almost no weight penalty for having one onboard. Folded to 28.3 inches high and 7.5 inches deep, at 14.7 inches wide for the 14 in model or 15.7 inches wide for the 15 in model, the chair travels in a supplied carry bag that fits an overhead locker, dog box, or wardrobe, so it never occupies revenue seating or cargo space.

Passenger security is handled by a complete restraint system rather than a single strap. Waist and thigh straps hold the passenger comfortably and safely in the seat. A folding arm restraint keeps the passenger contained laterally within the narrow aisle and folds clear for transfer. The folding footplate has a non slip surface and a foot strap that keeps the passenger's feet supported and clear of the aisle. Together these are the features that separate a compliant onboard wheelchair from a legacy aisle chair, and both seat widths carry the identical system.

Every control is built for speed under pressure. The safety stay deploys automatically as the chair is opened and locks the X frame for the duration of use, so there is no separate latch for crew to remember. The retracting backrest is operated by a single push bar, which lets crew lower the back and slide a passenger between the chair and the aircraft seat rather than lifting them over an obstruction. Rear castors are directional with three settings: full 360 degree rotation for tight turns at the door, fixed in a forward and backward position for straight line travel down the aisle, and push on or push off brakes that hold the chair still during transfer. Swivel castors at the front complete the maneuvering package.

Hygiene is engineered in rather than added on. The frame is finished in SterilcoatAM, an antimicrobial coating that prevents the spread of dangerous organisms, suppresses mould and bacteria, and retains its antimicrobial properties through repeated washing and disinfection while resisting stains and scratches. The seat and back covers are made from ELeather by GenPhoenix, a fire retardant, wipe clean, recycled material that can be disinfected between flights and supports airline sustainability reporting at the same time.

Training overhead stays low. A full set of instructions for use is printed onto the backrest itself and repeated on the carry bag, so any crew member can deploy the chair correctly at the point of use without retrieving a manual. Unfolding is quick and tool free, and the chair returns to its bag just as fast at the end of the turn.

All remaining dimensions are shared across both widths: 33.82 inches overall height, an 18 inch seat height that aligns closely with typical aircraft seat pan height, a footplate length of 25.8 inches extended or 21.6 inches folded, and a carry bag measuring 26.8 by 17.1 by 7.9 inches.

Airlines, ground handlers, MRO suppliers, and airport accessibility teams choose the Airchair II when they need one chair that is light enough that crew will actually use it, strong enough for the full passenger range, properly restrained for regulatory compliance, and clean enough for modern turnaround standards. It protects the dignity of the passenger, protects the backs of the crew, and keeps the boarding process on schedule.