Ouch. $50K could go a long way toward providing the training about how to deal with situations like this. 17 other sanctions on that docket.

Interesting that the flight where they were following the law is probably what caused him to file the complaint. The 3 prior flights where they didn't follow the law (and thus left him in danger of injury?), he didn't have a problem with. And from the DOT's press release, it sounds like Frontier was supposed to do something more once they were told he required a wheelchair. I've never had any airline ask something more when I tell them my mom needs a wheelchair. Are they even allowed to ask anything more than "what type of assistance do you need?"

What is the normal method of restraint for someone like this? What responsibility does the flyer have to know what is required? How are the FAs, etc supposed to know everything that is required?

Are these the answers(bolding is mine)?
http://fsims.faa.gov/WDocs/Bulletins.../FSAT0501.htm:
"D. Crewmembers are not required to know how to operate the internal restraints on the OPD. This is the responsibility of the person who is using the OPD or his/her caregiver. Crewmembers are only responsible for ensuring that the aircraft seat belt, the primary method of restraint, is used properly."

"G. The guidance contained in this FSAT is specific to one type of OPD that a person with a disability uses to allow the aircraft seat belt to be the primary method of restraint. It does not mean that any type of restraint used by people with disabilities is exempt from the regulations regarding the use of restraint systems and it does not preclude the air carriers responsibility from making a safety judgment based on specific compliance with applicable regulations. "

From http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18319334, "On Monday, neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor Frontier could say what constitutes proper restraint for a passenger with a spinal-cord injury." Hopefully they know the answer by now.

I find the comments about how the pilot should be fired amazing. Seems like he was the one following the law (relying on the DOT release "Federal Aviation Administration requirements prohibit seatbelt extenders as restraint devices for his upper body").

How would you handle a situation like this where others let him fly against the law and did not notify him like they were supposed to if you were the pilot? I think coming out and eyeballing the situation would have been a good personal touch, even if you know you have to kick him off the plane or have someone get an approved restraint(which from FSAT 0501 seems to differ by passenger).

The passenger is from my town. I wonder if I've seen him around...

Thanks for letting us know about this.

BTW, this is the incident referred to in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/pract...passenger.html