Mock FLights for Autistic Children by Southwest and Frontier

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By Yu, USA TODAY

With assistance from Southwest Airlines (LUV), Philadelphia

International and a local team of child development specialists are

operating mock flights for children with autism to help them become

more familiar with air travel.

In three sessions so far, children and their families simulated all

phases of travel, including checking bags, dealing with airline

agents, clearing security, waiting at the gate and boarding the plane,

says Lupica, an airport spokeswoman.

" It was as if they're truly leaving for a trip. It's just that they

never left the tarmac, " she says. " When they're not children anymore,

when they need to do things on their own, having the experience is so

important. "

Employees from the airport, Southwest and the Transportation Security

Administration volunteered their time for the initiative, which took

place on Southwest planes that were staying overnight at Philadelphia

International.

The airport approved the program after Ross, a developmental

pediatrician at Albert Einstein Medical Center, alerted them of the

difficulties some autistic children face when flying. Ross was

inspired to act after a patient had trouble flying last year.

" New or unexpected things that have lights, sounds, movement can make

them more likely to get upset or have a tantrum, " Ross told The

Philadelphia Inquirer, which first reported on the program.

Many families with autistic children are reluctant to fly and often

drive long distances for family vacations, Ross says. " It's a large

portion of the flying public to ignore. "

Since April, Ross and her colleagues from the hospital have trained

130 workers for the mock flights and hope to expand the program

nationally to other airports.

Frontier Airlines has also agreed to participate, planning a simulated

flight on Dec. 11 and expressing interest in introducing the program

at other airports where the carrier flies, Ross says. US Airways (LCC)

has a mock flight planned for January.

Other airlines, including British Airways, want to participate, but

" not all have a plane that sits overnight, " Lupica says.

Flaningan, a Southwest spokesman, says the carrier is pleased

with the result and would consider staging it at other airports, but

added, " It's time consuming, and there are some resources involved. "

The patient who first inspired Ross participated in a mock flight and

is showing a newfound willingness to travel, Ross says. " Her attitude

is different. "