Medium Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Manuals; Company Policy; Human Factors
Passengers and cargo were loaded for normal departure out of ZZZ. After the aft cargo bay was loaded and [clearance] was brought up; I and the First Officer noticed that an electric wheelchair that was loaded into the cargo bay was equipped with a Lithium Ion battery. When I asked the ground crew about this; thinking this was a risk that could lead to a no time threat based on the known threat of a Lithium Ion battery possibly having a thermal runaway. The ground crew leader informed me that it is normal policy to put electric wheelchairs with Lithium Ion batteries into the cargo hold under [the contracting airline's policy]; and he also informed me that the battery was not easily removable; but if I was not comfortable with it they would remove the chair. I elected to tell them to leave it; considering that if the lead knew a policy in place under [the contract airline's] discretion that the proper precautions were taken; and I did not wish to face violating a guest's rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Upon reaching stable cruise and completion of the Cruise Checklist; I started searching through our manuals for any guidance on this policy; but was unable to find any. Upon reaching our destination; I was able to find the contract airline's policy on their website.This event came about because it seems that our own information and training isn't keeping up with advancements in accessibility technology.If the contracting Airline does indeed have this policy with us that allows certain Lithium Ion batteries to be loaded into the cargo hold on our aircraft; it should be in our Weight and Balance manual. If this is something our airline is not comfortable with; we need better guidance and documentation that allows us to better accommodate our guests with accessibility needs while also maintaining an operation with the least amount of risk possible.
Air Carrier Captain reported being unable to find guidance in company flight manuals for Hazmat Lithium Ion powered wheelchair transporting procedures.