QEF’s Tryb4uFly service provides advice for adults and children so they can access air travel with confidence.
- Free information online
- Personal assessments in a realistic aircraft cabin
- Advice onboarding, transfer and seating options
- Equipment for hire
QEF Tryb4uFly is part of our Mobility Services division; enabling people with disabilities to achieve independence and freedom outside of their homes. Travelling by air is a natural extension of our mobility services, combining a practical understanding of disability with your lifestyle choices, to help make journeys by air more comfortable and stress free.
We provide information and advice for children and adults with disabilities who are thinking about travelling by air. We provide individual cabin assessments, free information about flying with a disability and hire equipment to help make your journey easier.
Cabin assessments are for people with disabilities who have either booked a flight or are considering flying. They are tailored to each individual and take place in a replica aircraft cabin. They are conducted by a trained occupational therapist who will guide you through boarding the aircraft, the wheelchair transfer options and support systems available on the aircraft. This enables you to get the real experience of what it is like to move down the aisle and transfer to your seat.
Equipment can be hired directly from Tryb4uFly for the duration of your flight.
We also provide free information on travelling by air with a disability, helping you to plan ahead and increase your confidence.
Tryb4uFly Centres
Tryb4uFly cabin assessments are available at 3 locations across the country: QEF Mobility Services in Carshalton, Surrey, The William Merritt Disabled Living Centre in Leeds and RDAC in Birmingham.
Our Aims
- To enable people with disabilities to make informed choices about flying
- To give people confidence by trying out the seating and transfer equipment available in an aircraft, in a realistic and supported environment
- To advise people on the steps they can take before booking a flight to ensure the support they need is available
- To work with the aviation industry and regualtor to make air travel more accessible for disabled people
Stories
People come to Tryb4uFly to see for themselves how they will manage their flight or to decide if flying is an option for them.
Maureen and Roy
Maureen, who has Multiple Sclerosis, and her husband Roy came for assessment shortly before a three week holiday to Florida, Roy says he felt “worried” about the flight before they came for assessment despite their considerable experience travelling by air.
They arrived anxious and somewhat desperate to know how Maureen would transfer once in the aircraft – and were relying on Tryb4uFly to get on the plane.
Tryb4ufly’s occupational therapist demonstrated the on board wheelchair before they tried it. They were relieved to find a solution that worked. Roy said coming for assessment “eased my mind a lot”.
Peter
Peter had an accident in 1994 which left him paralysed from the shoulders down. His height and spasticity make it difficult for him to be moved manually when travelling. Peter would particularly like to visit Thailand but he has not flown since his injury.
Peter came for assessment at Tryb4uFly and although “a little discouraged” he wished he had discovered Tryb4uFly earlier. He recognises that flying is “probably not impossible” but that it will involve significant logistical planning with regard to “having a sufficient number of people to assist in any manual lifting and moving whilst embarking and disembarking an aircraft.” He intends to practice lifting and handling manually at home with the Promove sling and would like to return to Tryb4uFly in due course when he has gained more experience and increased his confidence. All in all Peter was “very happy” with the assessment.
Peter recognises that he is particularly cautious regarding commercial flying after hearing many “horror stories” from people with disabilities whose experiences have not been positive. He is equally aware though that, people with not dissimilar injuries to himself, have and continue to travel successfully. ”… the visit to Tryb4uFly did clarify those aspects which would make it difficult for me to be able to make a long journey by airplane.”
Contact us
About Queen Elizabeth Foundation for Disabled People
Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) is a national disability charity based in Surrey. We have more than 80 years’ experience of developing innovative services which support people with disabilities to increase their independence and achieve their goals in life.
We work with children and adults with physical and learning disabilities or acquired brain injuries. Whether it’s developing life skills to live as independently as possible, rehabilitation to rebuild a life after a brain injury, or learning to drive a specially adapted car, we support each person and help them to fulfil their potential.
We offer a wide range of expert services providing support, training, rehabilitation and life skills that make a real difference to disabled people’s lives.
As a charity we rely on the goodwill of our supporters to raise funds or give their time to assist us. We are very grateful to everyone that supports our work in this way.
