Help Redesign the Flying Experience for Disabled Passengers
| Key Takeaways |
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| What: Paid product testing for a new accessible aircraft seat |
| Who: Disabled children and adults with moderate to complex postural needs |
| Where: Queen Elizabeth Foundation, Carshalton, Surrey |
| When: 30 Sept or 1 Oct 2025 |
| Payment: £150 + travel expenses |
| Sign up by: 17 Sept 2025 |
Flying remains one of the most inaccessible forms of transport. For wheelchair users and others with complex seating needs, boarding a plane can mean being lifted by poorly trained or inadequate staff, using aisle chairs that offer no support, and risking injury before even leaving the ground.
That’s the reality Josh Wintersgill has been working to change. As a disabled entrepreneur, his company ableMove has already created products that reduce manual handling and give people more control when travelling. Now he’s testing the ableFly—a new seat designed for children and adults who need extra postural support when flying.
The seat stays with the passenger during boarding, throughout the flight, and while disembarking. No aisle chairs. No physical lifting once onboard. Just a more comfortable, supported experience from start to finish.
Testing sessions are being held on 30 September and 1 October 2025 at the Queen Elizabeth Foundation in Carshalton, Surrey. Each session lasts 3.5 hours. Testers will receive £150, and travel expenses are covered.
My wife has a spinal condition, and we’ve had more than one experience where boarding and disembarking felt dangerous—because the assistance staff weren’t trained or simply were not strong enough to lift safely. We’ve even talked about giving up flying altogether and switching to cruises. We’re not the only ones. Stories of injuries, trauma, and humiliation during air travel are far too common.
By taking part, you’ll be helping challenge the barriers that still exist in aviation—and helping shape what accessible flying should look like.
✈️ Register your interest here by 17 September to take part.