When Hawaiian Airlines put 258 people aboard an Airbus A330 at Honolulu Airport on Sunday, October 18, they pushed back and taxied without ever taking off. The entire exercise was designed for travelers with autism, sensory sensitivities, and other disabilities, along with their families, to experience air travel without leaving the ground.
Participants went through check-in, security, and boarding before experiencing the sounds and movement of a taxiing widebody aircraft. These are ordinary steps for many travelers, but for someone with sensory challenges, experiencing them without the pressure of an actual departure can help families understand what to expect and where assistance might be needed.
Organized with Never Quit Dreaming, the Hawaii Autism Foundation and the Autism Society of Hawaii, the event was Hawaiian’s first disability practice flight in Honolulu in ten years. It was also the first time the airline used a widebody aircraft for such an event, allowing more families to participate. In Hawaii, even visiting family on another island requires a flight.
A Honolulu family is now considering Disneyland.
Reid and Sandra Moriyama had never flown together with their two children. According to Hawaiian’s account of Sunday’s event, their younger son struggles to enter large buildings and cannot even stay in his school cafeteria. They worried about spending money on a family trip only to discover that he couldn’t enter the airport. But on Sunday, he eagerly entered the terminal, walked down the jet bridge and was among the first to board the aircraft. His parents are now considering a family trip to Disneyland.
Hawaiian isn’t alone in offering these rehearsals. American Airlines’ It’s Cool to Fly American program, launched in 2014, has had more than 8,500 participants. Delta, United and Southwest have also participated in similar programs.
Will Honolulu families get another chance to practice?
The Hawaii Autism Foundation’s event calendar listed Sunday’s rehearsal as registration-only, with enrollment closing before it took place. No date for another Honolulu practice flight has been announced. Given the ten-year gap since Hawaiian last held one here, families interested in participating have no clear indication of when the next opportunity might arise.
Other resources are available in the meantime. Travelers with disabilities can contact TSA Cares for help with security screening, preferably at least 72 hours before departure. Alaska also has a dedicated accessible services number, 1-800-503-0101, and offers a free Fly for All app designed to help people with cognitive and developmental disabilities become familiar with the steps involved in air travel.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
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