Preparing Nonscheduled Air Tour Operators and the Rural Communities in Which They Fly to Deal with Fatal Aviation Incidents.

Thom Curtis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Sociology
University of Hawaii at Hilo

The Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 requires large, scheduled airlines and air charter companies to have detailed plans for dealing with fatal aviation incidents on file with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The Act and its subsequent amendments detail specific requirements regarding what each airline’s plan must contain. It describes appropriate behaviors on the part of the airlines with regards to care for families of those aboard flights involved in fatal accidents. The Act also establishes a command structure for the investigation of major air disasters. It dictates that the NTSB will designate a humanitarian aid organization to oversee the care of the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of victims’ families. The American Red Cross has been designated by the NTSB for this role.

There smaller commercial aviation enterprises whose activities were not included in the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996. Among those not included are many air tour companies and nonscheduled air taxis. These companies generally fly fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters which carry fewer than ten passengers. The FAA reported that the majority of scenic airlines operate with a single aircraft, but combined, they serve as many as two million passengers during peak years. These tour aircraft frequently fly in and out of rural airports and, unfortunately, experience a considerable number of fatal crashes. Since implementation of the Act in 1996, there have been eleven fatal tour aircraft crashes in the State of Hawaii alone, all of which happened in rural areas.

Because these small companies have not been required by law to create and file plans for dealing with fatal incidents, many do not have one. When a fatal crash involving tour operators occurs, the result is often chaos. Their staffs are generally small and tightly knit. The fatal accident often results in the death of one or more employees leaving the entire staff contaminated emotionally by the event. In addition to the trauma of dealing with deaths of customers and/or employees, air tour proprietors recognize the incident may threaten the company’s continued existence. Owners and employees of the air tour business generally express sincere desire to take care of victims’ family members, but are often ignorant regarding what needs to be done. When there is no plan to follow, the company owners look to outside agencies or their insurance company for guidance. It may be a couple of days before an NTSB investigator arrives to take charge. Various jurisdictions such as the county, state, or National Park Service are normally involved with search-and-rescue and subsequent recovery of the victims’ bodies. These government entities are usually unprepared to assist the flight operator in dealing with the friends and families of those who were killed or injured.

Because the American Red Cross has been designated by the NTSB as the lead agency responsible for coordinating emotional care and support of families of passengers in fatal air incidents involving larger scheduled airlines, local chapters are often called upon to provide these same services following accidents not covered by the Act. This paper outlines steps that can be undertaken by small nonscheduled commercial aircraft operators, local airports, various governmental jurisdictions and volunteer agencies to prepare for fatal air incidents that are not encompassed by Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996.