Accessibility Services
Table of Contents
Accessibility Services
We aim to make your journey with us both safe and comfortable. If you need additional assistance, you’ll find all the necessary information here—from booking your flight to travelling with a wheelchair or a service animal.
At Perimeter Aviation and Bearskin Airlines, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. We are committed to treating all passengers with dignity and respect and strive to accommodate anyone facing accessibility barriers. We adhere to the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, ensuring you receive the necessary accommodations related to communication, training, and accessible equipment.
We recognize the importance of having an accessible website. Our ongoing efforts aim to align with the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) 2.0 Level AA standards, ensuring everyone can access our information and services easily.
In addition to the services outlined below, upon request, we are also pleased to offer the following services to enhance your travel experience. Our team can assist you with:
- Checking in at the counter
- Moving through security screening
- Moving to the boarding area and gate after check-in
- Regular check-ins to attend to your needs
- Boarding and disembarking the aircraft
- Assistance to the furthest aircraft at the Winnipeg Perimeter Terminal
- Updates of any announcement made on board
- Assisting with your carry-on baggage
- Retrieving checked baggage
- Guiding you to the general public area after your flight
Mobility Aids and Wheelchairs
We prioritize the handling of all mobility aids to ensure they are cared for properly. Providing us with detailed information about the assistance you need allows us to better support you throughout your journey. Please share your requirements in advance to help us make your travel experience as smooth as possible.
Airport Wheelchairs
We provide service wheelchairs at all airport locations to ensure easy mobility within the airport. You can request a wheelchair when making your reservation. Upon arrival, please inform the Customer Service Agent at the check-in counter if you require a wheelchair.
To ensure a smooth check-in and boarding process, we recommend arriving at least 90 minutes before your scheduled departure time. This allows us to better assist you and accommodate any special requirements you may have.
Curbside Assistance
If you require curbside assistance, we encourage you to request this service in advance by contacting our Customer Service Centre at least 48 hours before your flight’s departure. We will make every effort to accommodate requests made within 48 hours of departure, but advance notice helps us serve you better.
Please be patient during peak travel times, as you may experience a short wait for a wheelchair or additional assistance. We appreciate your understanding and are committed to providing the support you need.
Travelling with Your Own Mobility Aid
If you’re travelling with your own mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, or other aids, you can bring them along free of charge, in addition to your standard baggage allowance.
Small Assistive Devices
Mobility aids that fit within the size and weight limits of our approved cabin storage can be carried in the cabin at no extra cost. Examples include braces, canes, crutches, walkers, prostheses, and communication devices.
Walking canes or crutches should be stowed under your seat before takeoff and landing. They must lie flat on the floor and should not block emergency exits or aisles.
If your device cannot be safely stowed in the cabin, we will transport it as checked baggage—still free of charge.
Manual Wheelchair
When travelling with your own wheelchair, whether it’s battery-powered or manual, it’s crucial to know your mobility aid well. Please have the following information ready:
- Dimensions of your mobility device, including height, width, and length
- Weight of your wheelchair or scooter
You may choose to check your folding or manual wheelchair either at the check-in counter or at the gate, and use a service wheelchair for airport mobility.
If you prefer using your own wheelchair at the airport, you can arrange to have it checked at the departure gate. We will ensure that your wheelchair is returned to you at your destination gate or at your connecting gate.
Please note that the time available between connecting flights may not always allow for this service, especially if your wheelchair needs to be disassembled and reassembled. If your transfer time is tight, using our wheelchair service may be a more reliable option.
Battery Operated Wheelchair
If you are travelling with a battery-operated wheelchair or scooter, you have the option to check it in at the airport counter or at the gate. Our staff will provide a service wheelchair to assist you to the departure gate if your mobility aid is checked at the counter.
- Disassembly Requirements: Some disassembly of your wheelchair may be necessary. This includes connecting and disconnecting the battery in accordance with Dangerous Goods regulations.
- Presence During Disassembly: You need to be present during both disassembly and reassembly of your device.
- Instructions and Battery Information: We recommend bringing the manufacturer’s instructions for assembly/disassembly and attaching them to the wheelchair, along with details of the specific battery type.
- Detachable Items: Detachable components, such as seat cushions and footrests, should be carried on board with you.
If you check in your battery-operated wheelchair or scooter, it will be returned to you at Baggage Claim upon arrival at your destination.
Acceptance Requirements for Wheelchair Batteries
Spillable batteries (Wet cell/acid)
- Only batteries removed from the mobility device are permitted. Spare spillable batteries are not allowed. Notification must be given 24 hours before travel.
- The device must be loaded, stowed, secured, and unloaded upright.
- If compliance with Dangerous Goods regulations is not possible, the battery must be removed, packaged, and transported according to these regulations:
- Packaging must be leak-proof, secure, and include absorbent material sufficient to absorb the battery’s contents. Batteries must be upright and protected against short circuits.
Non-spillable batteries (Dry cell/gel)
- The battery must be disconnected and terminals protected against short circuits.
- The battery should remain securely attached to the wheelchair.
- One spare battery is allowed, insulated and placed in strong outer packaging.
Lithium-ion batteries
- The battery can stay installed if it’s securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aid, and terminals are insulated against short circuits.
- Wheelchairs designed to have removable batteries must have the batteries removed and carried in the cabin.
- Batteries must be protected from damage and short circuits, and not exceed 300 Wh per battery. A maximum of one spare battery up to 300 Wh or two up to 160 Wh each is allowed.
Delayed or Damaged Mobility Aids
If your wheelchair or mobility aid is delayed or damaged during travel, we will provide you with a temporary replacement until yours is returned. For more details and assistance, please refer to our Delayed or Damaged Baggage section. We are committed to resolving such issues promptly to ensure your comfort and mobility are maintained throughout your journey.
Aircraft Safety Restrictions
Due to the dimensions and specifications of our aircraft, please consider the following:
- Storage of passenger wheelchairs in the cabin is not possible.
- Some mobility aids may not fit in the cabin unless they comply with the size and weight restrictions for approved cabin storage space.
We encourage passengers travelling with wheelchairs to verify the dimensions of their wheelchair to ensure it can be accommodated in the cargo hold. It is important to provide the dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight of your wheelchair to Perimeter Aviation and Bearskin Airlines in advance for inclusion in your reservation. This helps us prepare to transport your mobility aid safely.
Passenger Lift Requests and Boarding Assistance
For passengers travelling with a wheelchair on a Metro aircraft, a passenger lift is necessary for boarding. For those flying on a Dash 8 aircraft, boarding ramps are available at most airports.
If you require a lift or additional boarding assistance, or if you wish to understand more about your boarding options, please contact our Customer Service Centre.
For additional assistance at the Winnipeg Perimeter Terminal we offer complimentary transportation to and from the aircraft using our Club Car. This service is designed to make your journey smoother and more comfortable.
Respiratory and Oxygen Devices
Perimeter Aviation and Bearskin Airlines do not provide medical oxygen onboard, nor do we permit the transport of any liquid oxygen or oxygen generators on our aircraft. However, we do accept small cylinders of oxygen when required for personal medical use during flight as carry-on or checked baggage with the appropriate paperwork to be completed at check-in. We also accept various respiratory assistive devices designed to support respiratory functions. These include ventilators, respirators, continuous positive airway pressure machines (CPAPs), and approved portable oxygen concentrators (POCs).
Oxygen Cylinder Restrictions
- Maximum of two (2) small cylinders allowed.
- Cylinder must not exceed 5 kg (11 lbs) gross weight.
- Cylinders taken into the aircraft as carry-on baggage must be of such a size that the cylinder, plus any additional carry-on baggage, can fit under the seat.
- Cylinders on the Metro (in cabin, or cargo) or in the Dash 8 cargo hold must be in a box or bag that prevents rolling during flight.
- Cylinders carried onto the Dash 8 aircraft must be secured inside the company oxygen restraint pouch. No other baggage may be placed next to the oxygen bottle.
*The Dash 8 aircraft is equipped with one oxygen restraint pouch only. Advance arrangements should be made with the Customer Service Centre when an oxygen cylinder is required inside the aircraft cabin.
Oxygen Concentrator (POCs) Restrictions
To travel with your POC, please notify us in advance by calling our Customer Service Centre. For a POC to be approved for use on a Perimeter Aviation or Bearskin Airlines flight, it must meet the following criteria:
- It must display a manufacturer’s label indicating compliance with all applicable FAA acceptance criteria for POC carriage and use onboard aircraft. This appears in red text and typically says “The manufacturer of the POC has determined that this device conforms to all applicable FAA acceptance criteria for POC Carriage and use on board aircraft.”; or
- The personal oxygen concentrator is one of the following (as per SFAR 106): Airsep Freestyle, AirSep Lifestyle, AirSep Focus, AirSep FreeStyle 5, Delphi RS-00400, DeVilbiss Healthcare’s iGo, Inogen One, Inogen One G2, Inogen One G3, Inova Labs LifeChoice, Inova Labs LifeChoice Activox, International Biophysics Corporation’s LifeChoice, Invacare XPO2, Invacare Solo2, Oxlife Independence Oxygen Concentrator, Oxus RS-00400, Precision Medical EasyPulse, Respironics EverGo, Respironics SimplyGo, SeQual SAROS, SeQual Eclipse, SeQual eQuinox Oxygen System (Model 4000), SeQual Oxywell Oxygen System (Model 4000), VBOX Trooper.
- The device must be free from contamination, such as oil and grease, and show no visible signs of damage or abuse, or it cannot be allowed.
- The device must be in good condition.
- The POC must be a size that can safety be stowed under the aircraft seat.
- If the device is battery-powered, it must have enough fully charged batteries for the duration of the flight. Spare batteries must be taken as carry-on baggage and packaged to prevent short-circuiting.
- The passenger requiring the POC must have a letter from their physician stating that (if the user does not have these abilities, they may travel with a companion who can perform these functions on their behalf):
- The device is medically required for the flight, including if it is medically necessary for all or a portion of the duration of the flight.
- The oxygen flow rate corresponding to the pressure in the cabin of the aircraft under normal operating conditions (7.0 PSI).
- The user can see, hear, and understand the device’s cautions and warnings and be able to respond without assistance.
Ventilators, Respirators, and CPAP Requirements
Ventilators, CPAP, and Bi-PAP machines, along with respirators, may be carried on and used during flights if they have a manufacturer’s label verifying that the device meets applicable FAA requirements. These devices must also meet the size and weight restrictions for approved cabin storage space and must not obstruct access to safety equipment, exits, or the aisle. Acceptance of these items onboard is at the sole discretion of the airline.
If a device is too large or shaped in a way that it cannot be safely stowed in the cabin, it can be checked and transported in the cargo hold free of charge, provided all battery requirements are met.
Service Animals
We welcome certified, professionally-trained service animals in the aircraft cabin free of charge, provided they are assisting a passenger with a disability. We recommend notifying us at least 48 hours prior to departure if you plan to travel with your service animal. This allows us to make the necessary accommodations for you and your animal.
Travellers with service animals must collect their boarding pass at the airport check-in counter at least 90 minutes before the flight’s scheduled departure time. At check-in, we will assess the required documentation and the behavior of the animal to ensure all safety requirements are met before travel is authorized.
Service Dogs
A service dog is trained to perform tasks and functions that assist people with disabilities, like pathfinding, providing stability, or alerting to sounds. If you plan to travel with a service dog, please provide a certificate from the training institution at least 48 hours before your scheduled flight to verify your dog’s qualifications.
Acceptance Requirements
Perimeter Aviation and Bearskin Airlines will transport a service animal without charge under the following conditions:
- The animal is required for assistance by a person with a disability.
- It is certified as a trained service animal by a professional service animal institution, a status which may be confirmed through verbal communication with the institution by the carrier.
- The animal is properly harnessed according to standards set by a professional service animal institution.
Perimeter Aviation and Bearskin Airlines reserve the right to verify that your service animal can be transported safely and behaves appropriately in public settings. You may be required to present relevant documentation at the airport.
Booking a Service Animal
Please call our Customer Service Centre to make a reservation with a service animal.
During Flight
Service dogs must remain harnessed and under the control of their handler at all times. They are not allowed to occupy a seat or sit in an exit row; instead, they must be positioned in the foot space of the seat assigned to their handler. We do not accept service dogs in training.
Additional Information and Interline Travel
For more information about travelling with your animal, visit our Pets section. When connecting with another airline, including interline flights, contact the respective airline directly for their acceptance requirements and restrictions.
Medication and Medical Equipment
For more information about travelling with medication and medical equipment, visit our Travelling With Health Concerns section.
Vision Disabilities
We are committed to assisting customers who are blind or have low vision.
Booking
Please inform us of your preferred level of assistance when you book your ticket. A friendly reminder to our airport staff about your special assistance needs, even if already noted in your reservation, is always appreciated.
At the Airport
On request, our agents can allow you to board before other passengers to help you find your seat and stow your carry-on luggage. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the suggested boarding time at the boarding gate. If you arrive later, you may need to board after other passengers, especially if you require additional assistance from our agents.
Onboard the Aircraft
Once on board, our cabin crew will assist you in getting seated and safely storing your carry-on items. You will receive an individual safety briefing and have the chance for tactile familiarization with the necessary equipment, your immediate surroundings, and the nearest emergency exit. If needed, a flight attendant can offer limited assistance with in-flight snack and beverage services, such as unwrapping food and identifying items.
Hearing Disabilities
For reservation-related inquiries, we offer several accessible communication methods:
During Booking
Please inform us about your preferred level of assistance when booking your ticket. Although your special assistance request is noted in your reservation, a friendly reminder to our airport staff is beneficial.
Contacting Us
For reservation-related inquiries, we offer several accessible communication methods.
TTY (Teletypewriter):
- Dial 711 to access the Bell TTY Relay Service
- After the operator gives you the go ahead, type in 1-833-984-0896 and then type GA
- The operator will dial the number for you and will let you know as soon as someone answers the call.
- You will then proceed to use the teletype to communicate with the operator, and the operator will act as a translator to Perimeter Aviation.
At the Airport
If you are travelling alone and require assistance, please let us know so we can arrange an escort from the check-in counter to the boarding gate. You are invited to board the aircraft ahead of other passengers if preferred. Inform the gate agent if you need assistance with hearing flight updates and announcements.
Onboard the Aircraft
Our cabin crew will ensure you are informed of all announcements and procedures provided to other passengers, including take-off and landing, food services, and other relevant information. They will also provide a personalized safety briefing before departure to ensure your specific needs are met.
Non-Visible Disabilities
If you or a loved one has a cognitive disability, please let us know during your booking so we can provide the most effective assistance throughout your journey. Even if your special assistance needs are noted in the reservation, a friendly reminder to our airport staff upon arrival is helpful.
Assistance Provided
Our team is equipped to assist all passengers, including those with specific needs, without requesting medical details about your condition. However, they may inquire about your ability to complete the flight safely and any accommodations needed to ensure a comfortable journey.
We can assist with:
- Flight check-in
- Navigating through the airport
- Boarding and exiting the aircraft
- Retrieving your baggage
Assistance Not Included
- Eating, drinking, or taking medication
- Restroom assistance or other personal care
Travel Requirements
Passengers with a cognitive disability who are travelling alone must be capable of managing these tasks independently. Additionally, they must be able to understand and follow safety instructions from the cabin crew. If this is not possible, we strongly recommend traveling with a personal attendant to prevent any difficulties.
Documentation
Carrying documentation that supports and identifies cognitive disabilities can facilitate a smoother travel experience and ensure proper assistance is provided.
Requesting Accessibility Accommodations & Alternate Formats
If you require accommodation to access our services or information, please Contact Us. Alternate formats are available in print, large print, Braille, or audio format (English). Requests for documentation in Braille or audio format must be fulfilled within 15 business days of request. All other requests must be fulfilled within 15 business days.
Accessibility Plan and Policies
We have a comprehensive, accessibility plan in place to meet the Accessible Transportation Planning and Reporting Regulations (ATPRR). The Perimeter Aviation Accessibility Plan outlines our three-year commitment for improving applicable measures and accessibility throughout the company. The plan is a living document and will be updated regularly as new developments take place and feedback is provided.
Accessibility Plan 2023-2026
View Plan including Statement of Commitment, and Feedback Process in English.
View Plan, including Statement of Commitment and Feedback Process in French.
Progress Report 2023-2026
View Progress Report in English.
View Progress Report 2023-2026 French.
Accessibility Feedback
We value and welcome your feedback to help us continually improve and plan for future enhancements. If you would like to provide feedback about the ATPDR or are interested in joining our Accessibility Working Group, please submit your comments and inquiries by:
Scan and Email: barrierfree@perimeter.ca
Toll-free number: 1-800-665-8986
Telephone number: 1-204-783-8000 ext. 4213
Fax: 1-204-784-4686
Teletypewriter (TTY):
- Dial 711 to access the Bell TTY Relay Service
- After the operator gives you the go ahead, type in 1-833-984-0896 and then type GA
- The operator will dial the number for you and will let you know as soon as someone answers the call.
- You will then proceed to use the teletype to communicate with the operator, and the operator will act as a translator to Perimeter Aviation.
Mail:
Accessibility Feedback
Perimeter Aviation
626 Ferry Road
Winnipeg, MB
R3H 0T7
Perimeter Aviation and Bearskin Airlines will acknowledge receipt of feedback, other than anonymous feedback, in the same method it was received.