Office of the Secretary February 26, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice publishes guidance concerning the carriage of service animals in air transportation from the United States (U.S.) to the United Kingdom (U.K.). These guidelines address the differences between U.K. laws regulating the transport of service animals on flights into the U.K. and U.S. law with respect to the carriage of service animals in air transportation. U.K. laws affecting the transport of service animals in air travel differ significantly from the requirements of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), 49 U.S.C. 41705, and its implementing regulation in 14 CFR Part 382, resulting in uncertainty for carriers and persons with disabilities about the requirements that apply on flights into or transiting the U.K. The purpose of this guidance document is to assist U.S. and foreign carriers, as well as passengers with disabilities, in complying with both U.S. and U.K. regulations concerning the transport of service animals on flights from the U.S. to the U.K. by: (1) Explaining the procedures passengers must follow to comply with the U.K.'s Pet Travel Scheme (PETS); (2) explaining the procedures U.S. and foreign carriers must follow to obtain an approved Required Method of Operation (RMOP) from the U.K.'s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); and (3) notifying both U.S. and foreign carriers operating flights between the U.S. and the U.K. that failure to obtain an approved RMOP from DEFRA will be considered a violation of the ACAA and may subject such carriers to enforcement action by the U.S. DOT.