JetBlue TrueBlue - New ERJ-190 doesn't meet Federal regulations for wheelchairs

JetBlue will be the world's first airline to fly the Embraer 190 regional jet, but that's apparently left the Paralyzed Veterans of America unhappy. It turns out that the 100-seat ERJ-190s don't meet Federal laws on space for wheelchairs. JetBlue spokesman Todd Burke tells the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel that the lack of space wasn't until the airline's pilots test flew the jets in Brazil. Now, JetBlue is asking the Transportation Department for a waiver. Federal regulations require planes capable of carrying 100 or more passengers to provide space to stow one wheelchair in the cabin. JetBlue's request notes that the dimensions of the E-190s will not permit a folded, standard-sized adult wheelchair to be stowed within the cabin, "even if JetBlue were to block a row of seats" as it does to store wheelchairs on its 156-seat Airbus A-320s. Burke says JetBlue wants to accommodate people in wheelchairs and offers to stow wheelchairs in the forward cargo section. "We could get it back to the passenger faster than if it was stowed somewhere in the cabin," he said. But Maureen McCloskey, national advocacy director for the veterans group, said wheelchairs stowed in cargo areas are easily damaged. "Mishandling of wheelchairs is a very big issue for our members," she said. No word yet on when the Feds will rule. In what the Sun-Sentinel aptly notes as "an ironic twist," if JetBlue removed two seats to make room for a chair, the jet's capacity would then fall below the 100-seat mark — and exempt JetBlue from the wheelchair rules

I am sure they will get a waiver from the govt. But if they don't, they will probably take out 2 seats.

I agree. I think jetBlue will get the waiver. They seem to have a good rep with the government and have gotten what they asked for in the end. Also, Sen. Schumer when jetBlue started stated he'd do anything to make the airline survive as long as it serviced smaller regions of New York State, which it's doing.

I think we're a go!

I agree they'll probably get the waiver BUT I hope they don't. The regulations are more than 10 years old and it's a brand new plane. There is absolutely no legitimate reason why the plane wasn't made to comply with the regulations.

Actually if they remove one seat they'll be under 100 seats and not subject to the regulation.

or they can remove 4 seats and increase the leg room of the remaining 96 seats =o)

I agree they'll probably get the waiver BUT I hope they don't. The regulations are more than 10 years old and it's a brand new plane. There is absolutely no legitimate reason why the plane wasn't made to comply with the regulations.


What do you mean by that? Embraer sell planes all over the world. While its planes do have to observe international legal standards, expecting them to comply with the national laws of every country where they could potentially be used is bordering on the ridiculous.

Having been fined by the FAA in 2003 over the lack of wheelchair storage space on their A320s, you'd think that B6 might discuss this design flaw with Embraer before ordering $3 billion worth of airplanes.

What do you mean by that? Embraer sell planes all over the world. While its planes do have to observe international legal standards, expecting them to comply with the national laws of every country where they could potentially be used is bordering on the ridiculous.

Jet Blue ordered 100 Embraer aircraft with an option for 100 more. I expect if they want sell in the US they'll make them to met US standards or decide the order isn't worth it. I expect cars that are made oversees will meet US safety and emission standards. Why should planes be any different?

To think US regulations can be circumvented by mfg a product overseas is ridiculous.

Jet Blue ordered 100 Embraer aircraft with an option for 100 more. I expect if they want sell in the US they'll make them to met US standards or decide the order isn't worth it

To think US regulations can be circumvented by mfg a product overseas is ridiculous.

I did not say anything about circumventing any regulations! But given the size of the order, one would expect B6, not Embraer, to initiate a change of config (which then Embraer would of course have to implement if they still wanted the order).

You basically did!!!

I did not say anything about circumventing any regulations! But given the size of the order, one would expect B6, not Embraer, to initiate a change of config (which then Embraer would of course have to implement if they still wanted the order).


expecting them to comply with the national laws of every country where they could potentially be used is bordering on the ridiculous.

Saying it's ridiculous for them to comply with the regulation is certainly implying they should be allowed to circumvent them.

Since neither of us have read the contracts it isn't clear how much of the blame is with B6 and how much is with Embaer. Embaer expects to sell planes to US carriers , it's reasonable to expect they will be building the planes to comply with US requirements. At some point I'd expect B6 to be reviewing the plans as well.

Inasmuch as B6 was the launch customer for the 190, it's laughable that its interior doesn't satisfy this requirement. Looks like both dropped the ball; it indicates ineffective communication between management of both companies.

Of the 155 firm orders for the 190, 100 are B6 and the remainder are from Air Canada (45) and COPA (10). It's not like Embraer has had to worry about lots and lots of different countries' laws with this model. :D

Most regional jets flown by the major airlines in the US are sub-100 and do not have special stowaway for wheelchairs anyway. B6 is planning to fly to less served cities with these new planes. They could always eliminate 1 seat to avoid this restriction. They can still offer wheelchairs in the same time as stowaways are retrieved. Let us see how it goes.

Just a little thing I noticed, on the Embraer website, the EMB 190 is only suppose to have 98 seats at 32" seat pitch but in their layout they had a fwd closet / storage place... What I THINK happened was jetBlue asked them to remove the closet to add the extra 2 seats with out realizing that doing that put them in this position. hehe. Well another plan is they could block the like a set of seats in the last row for wheelchairs like what their doing on the A320s. :confused: