January 29, 1998

THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS SENT TO THE ATTACHED LIST
OF 317 FOREIGN AIR CARRIERS

Dear Foreign Air Carrier Representative:

We want to bring to your attention a new law entitled the Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act of 1997 that requires, among other things, all foreign air carriers to develop and submit to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) a plan to address the needs of families of passengers involved in aircraft accidents. The content and filing requirements for the plans are set forth in Public Law 105-148 (111 Stat. 2681). A copy of this legislation is enclosed for your information.

The Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act, which adds a new section 41313 to Subtitle VII of Title 49 of the United States Code (Transportation), provides that, effective on the 180th day following the date of enactment of the Act:

A foreign air carrier providing foreign air transportation under this chapter shall transmit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board a plan for addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in an aircraft accident that involves an aircraft under the control of the foreign air carrier and results in a significant loss of life. (Section 41313(b).)

New section 41313(c) describes the specific contents of those plans.

Since the Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act was signed into law on December 16, 1997, plans are due to be filed not later than June 15, 1998. Plans should be submitted to DOT and the NTSB at the following addresses:

We trust that you will give a high priority to the timely preparation and submission of your carrierís plan. Note that while a foreign air carrier may, if it chooses, contract with an outside source to act as a point of contact and provide communication services in the event of an accident, in such a situation full responsibility for complying with the provisions of the law remains with the foreign air carrier.

Also note that the Department is issuing an order in Docket OST 98-3304 that will exempt from the Actís requirements those foreign air carriers which currently hold, or may subsequently receive, Department authority to conduct operations in foreign air transportation using only small aircraft.

We expect all affected foreign air carriers to meet the six-month deadline for filing plans required under the new law. Moreover, you should be aware that adjustments to carrier plans may be required in the future.

Questions concerning the contents of the plans may be addressed to Erik Grosof, Office of Family Support Services, NTSB, at (202) 314-6185. Questions concerning the applicability of the requirements of the Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act to a particular foreign air carrier should be addressed to George Wellington, Chief, Foreign Air Carrier Licensing Division, Office of International Aviation, DOT, at (202) 366-2391.

Thank you for your cooperation on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Enclosure

The text of PL 105-148 (H.R.2476), signed December 16, 1997, follows.

An Act
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the National
Transportation Safety Board and individual foreign air carriers to address
the needs of families of passengers involved in aircraft accidents involving
foreign air carriers.

==============================

SECTION 1. PLANS TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS
INVOLVED IN FOREIGN AIR CARRIER ACCIDENTS.

(a) In General.--Chapter 413 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

"Sec. 41313. Plans to address needs of families of passengers involved in foreign air carrier accidents

"(a) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:

"(1) Aircraft accident.--The term 'aircraft accident' means any aviation disaster, regardless of its cause or suspected cause, that occurs within the United States; and

"(2) Passenger.--The term 'passenger' includes an employee of a foreign air carrier or air carrier aboard an aircraft.

"(b) Submission of Plans.--A foreign air carrier providing foreign air transportation under this chapter shall transmit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board a plan for addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in an aircraft accident that involves an aircraft under the control of the foreign air carrier and results in a significant loss of life.

"(c) Contents of Plans.--To the extent permitted by foreign law which was in effect on the date of the enactment of this section, a plan submitted by a foreign air carrier under subsection (b) shall include the following:

"(1) Telephone number.--A plan for publicizing a reliable, toll-free telephone number and staff to take calls to such number from families of passengers involved in an aircraft accident that involves an aircraft under the control of the foreign air carrier and results in a significant loss of life.

"(2) Notification of families.--A process for notifying, in person to the extent practicable, the families of passengers involved in an aircraft accident that involves an aircraft under the control of the foreign air carrier and results in a significant loss of life before providing any public notice of the names of such passengers. Such notice shall be provided by using the services of--

"(A) the organization designated for the accident under section 1136(a)(2); or

"(B) other suitably trained individuals.

"(3) Notice provided as soon as possible.--An assurance that the notice required by paragraph (2) shall be provided as soon as practicable after the foreign air carrier has verified the identity of a passenger on the foreign aircraft, whether or not the names of all of the passengers have been verified.

"(4) List of passengers.--An assurance that the foreign air carrier shall provide, immediately upon request, and update a list (based on the best available information at the time of the request) of the names of the passengers aboard the aircraft (whether or not such names have been verified), to--

"(A) the director of family support services designated for the accident under section 1136(a)(1); and

"(B) the organization designated for the accident under section 1136(a)(2).

"(5) Consultation regarding disposition of remains and effects.--An assurance that the family of each passenger will be consulted about the disposition of any remains and personal effects of the passenger that are within the control of the foreign air carrier.

"(6) Return of possessions.--An assurance that, if requested by the family of a passenger, any possession (regardless of its condition) of that passenger that is within the control of the foreign air carrier will be returned to the family unless the possession is needed for the accident investigation or a criminal investigation.

"(7) Unclaimed possessions retained.--An assurance that any unclaimed possession of a passenger within the control of the foreign air carrier will be retained by the foreign air carrier for not less than 18 months after the date of the accident.

"(8) Monuments.--An assurance that the family of each passenger will be consulted about construction by the foreign air carrier of any monument to the passengers built in the United States, including any inscription on the monument.

"(9) Equal treatment of passengers.--An assurance that the treatment of the families of nonrevenue passengers will be the same as the treatment of the families of revenue passengers.

"(10) Service and assistance to families of passengers.--An assurance that the foreign air carrier will work with any organization designated under section 1136(a)(2) on an ongoing basis to ensure that families of passengers receive an appropriate level of services and assistance following an accident.

"(11) Compensation to service organizations.--An assurance that the foreign air carrier will provide reasonable compensation to any organization designated under section 1136(a)(2) for services and assistance provided by the organization.

"(12) Travel and care expenses.--An assurance that the foreign air carrier will assist the family of any passenger in traveling to the location of the accident and provide for the physical care of the family while the family is staying at such location.

"(13) Resources for plan.--An assurance that the foreign air carrier will commit sufficient resources to carry out the plan.

"(14) Substitute measures.--If a foreign air carrier does not wish to comply with paragraph (10), (11), or (12), a description of proposed adequate substitute measures for the requirements of each paragraph with which the foreign air carrier does not wish to comply.

"(d) Permit and Exemption Requirement.--The Secretary shall not approve an application for a permit under section 41302 unless the applicant has included as part of the application or request for exemption a plan that meets the requirements of subsection (c).

"(e) Limitation on Liability.--A foreign air carrier shall not be liable for damages in any action brought in a Federal or State court arising out of the performance of the foreign air carrier in preparing or providing a passenger list pursuant to a plan submitted by the foreign air carrier under subsection (c), unless the liability was caused by conduct of the foreign air carrier which was grossly negligent or which constituted intentional misconduct.".

(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

"41313. Plans to address needs of families of passengers involved in foreign air carrier accidents.".

(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the 180th day following the date of the enactment of this Act.

Below is a list of foreign air carriers who were sent the above mentioned letter:

1. 1. 2734141 Canada Inc.

2. Abaco Air Ltd.

3. ABSA-Aerolinhas Brasileiras, S.A.

4. Aer Lingus Limited

5. Aer Turas Teoranta

6. Aero California

7. Aero Costa Rica Acori, S.A.

8. Aero Transcolombiana de Carga Ltda.

9. Aero Uruguay, S.A.

10. Aerochago, S.A.

11. Aerocomercial de Transporte Y Rutas, S.A.

12. Aeroejecutivo, S.A. de C.V.

13. Aeroejecutivos, C.A.

14. Aeroflot-Russian International Airlines

15. Aerolineas Argentinas

16. Aerolineas Centrales de Colombia, S.A.

17. Aerolineas Dominicanas, S.A.

18. Aerolineas Latinas, C.A.

19. Aerolineas Mundo, S.A.

20. Aerolineas Uruguayas, S.A.

21. Aerolines Nacionales del Ecuador, S.A.

22. Aerolitoral, S.A. de C.V.

23. Aeromar C. por A.

24. Aeromexpress, S.A. de C.V.

25. Aeronautica de Cancun, S.A.

26. Aeronaves del Peru, S.A.

27. AeroPeru

28. Aeroservicios Ecuatorianos, C.A. (AECA)

29. Aerotours Dominicanas, S.A.

30. Aerotransportes Mas de Carga, S.A. de C.V.

31. Aerovias Colombianas Limitada (ARCA)

32. Aerovias de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

33. Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia S.A. ("AVIANCA")

34. Aerovias Venezolanas S.A. ("AVENSA")

35. Affretair (Private) Limited

36. African International Airways (Proprietary)

37. AHK Air Hong Kong Limited

38. Air 2000 Limited

39. Air Afrique

40. Air Alliance Inc.

41. Air Aruba, N.V.

42. Air Atlanta-Icelandic

43. Air Atlantic Dominicana, C. por A.

44. Air Belgium International, S.A.

45. Air Canada

46. Air Caraibes Exploitation

47. Air Caribbean

48. Air Charter (SAFA)

49. Air China International Corporation

50. Air Comet S.A.

51. Air Creebec Inc.

52. Air Europa Lineas Aereas, S.A.

53. Air Europe S.p.A.

54. Air Exel Netherlands B.V.

55. Air Foyle Limited

56. Air Haiti, S.A.

57. Air Holland Charters B.V.

58. Air India Limited

59. Air Jamaica Limited

60. Air Liberte, S.A.

61. Air Manitoba Limited

62. Air Marshall Islands, Inc.

63. Air Nauru

64. Air New Zealand Limited

65. Air Niagara Express, Inc.

66. Air North Charter and Training, Ltd.

67. Air Nova Inc.

68. Air Ontario Inc.

69. Air Pacific Limited

70. Air Tindi Ltd.

71. Air Transat A.T. Inc.

72. Air Tungaru Limited

73. Air U.K. Limited

74. Air Ukraine

75. AirBC Ltd.

76. Airline Management Limited

77. Airtours International Airways, Limited

78. Airvias S/A Linhas Aereas

79. Alia-The Royal Jordanian Airlines

80. Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane-S.P.A.

81. All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.

82. AllCanada Express Limited

83. ALM 1997 Airline, N.V.

84. Anglo Airlines Limited

85. Ansett New Zealand Limited

86. Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) PTY.

87. Antigua & Barbuda Airways International, Ltd.

88. Antonov Design Bureau

89. AOM-Minerve, S.A.

90. APA International Air, S.A.

91. Argo, S.A.

92. Asiana Airlines, Inc.

93. Athabaska Airways Ltd.

94. Atlant-Soyuz Airlines

95. Austrian Airlines

96. Aviacion del Noroeste, S.A. de C.V.

97. Aviateca, S.A.

98. Aztec Aviation Consulting Ltd.

99. Bahamasair Holdings Limited

100. Balair/CTA Leisure Ltd.

101. Balkan Bulgarian Airlines

102. Bay Air Cargo, S.A.

103. Bearskin Lake Air Service, Ltd.

104. Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Biman)

105. Blue Scandinavia AB

106. Bradley Air Services Limited

107. Brasair Transportes Aereos Ltda.

108. Britannia Airways Limited

109. British Airways PLC

110. British Midland Airways Limited

111. Business Air Limited

112. BWIA Limited

113. Caicos Caribbean Airways Limited

114. Caledonian Airways Limited

115. Calm Air International Ltd.

116. Canada 3000 Airlines Limited

117. Canadian Airlines International Limited

118. Canair Cargo Ltd.

119. Caraven, S.A.

120. Cargolux Airlines International, S.A.

121. Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

122. Cayman Airways Limited

123. Central Mountain Air Ltd.

124. ChallengAir

125. Cherokee Air, Ltd.

126. China Airlines, Ltd.

127. China Eastern Airlines

128. China Southern Airlines Company Limited

129. City Bird, S.A.

130. Cleare Air Limited

131. Compagnie Nationale Air France

132. Compagnie Nationale de Transports Aeriens

133. Compania de Aviacion "Faucett", S.A.

134. Compania de Transporturi Aeriene Romane (Tarom)

135. Compania Dominicana de Aviacion, C.por A.

136. Compania Explotacion Aviones Cargueros-Cargosur, S.A.

137. Compania Mexicana de Aviacion, S.A. de C.V.

138. Compania Panamena de Aviacion, S.A.

139. Condor Flugdienst GmbH.

140. Conifair Aviation, Inc.

141. Consorcio Aviaxsa, S.A. de C.V.

142. Corse-Air International, S.A.

143. Cypress Jetprop Charter Limited

144. Cyprus Airways Limited

145. Czech Airlines

146. Dairo Air Services

147. Deutsche BA Luftfahrtgesellschaft mbH

148. DHL Aero Expreso, S.A.

149. DIGEX Aero Cargo Ltda.

150. EgyptAir

151. El Al Israel Airlines, Ltd.

152. Emirates

153. Empresa Consolidada Cubana de Aviacion

154. Empresa Ecuatoriana de Aviacion

155. Euro Air Cargo S.A.

156. Eurowings Luftverkehrs AG

157. EVA Airways Corporation

158. Export Air del Peru, S.A.

159. Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation

160. Fast Air Carrier Ltda.

161. Finnair oy

162. Florida Cargo Express, Ltda.

163. Flying Colours Airlines Limited

164. Garuda Indonesia

165. General Air Cargo, G.A.C., C.A.

166. Ghana Airways Limited

167. Gulf Air Company, G.S.C.

168. Guyana Airways Corporation

169. Haiti Air Freight International, S.A.

170. Haiti Aviation, S.A.

171. Haiti National Airlines

172. Haiti Trans Air, S.A.

173. Hapag-Lloyd Fluggesellschaft MBH

174. Hawkair Aviation Services Ltd.

175. Haytian Aviation Lines, S.A.

176. Heavylift Cargo Airlines Limited

177. Hispaniola Airways C. por A.

178. Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Limited

179. Group Limited

180. Iberia, Lineas Aereas de Espana, S.A.

181. Icelandair (Flugleidir H.F.)

182. Inter-Canadien (1991) Inc./Inter-Canadian (1991)

183. Interamericana de Aviacion, C.A.

184. Interestatal de Aviacion, S.A.

185. Iran National Airlines Corporation

186. Islena de Inversiones S.A. de C.V.

187. Japan Air Charter Co., Ltd

188. Japan Air System Company, Ltd.

189. Japan Airlines Company, Ltd.

190. Japan Asia Airways Co., Ltd.

191. Jet Air International Charters, C.A.

192. Jetall Holdings Corp.

193. Jetflight Limited

194. Kar-Air oy

195. Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd.

196. Kendell Airlines (Aust) Pty. Ltd.

197. Khabarovsk Aviation Group

198. Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij "KLM"

199. Korean Air Lines Company, Limited

200. Kuwait Airways Corporation

201. Ladeco Cargo, S.A.

202. Ladeco, S.A.

203. Lauda Air Luftfahrt AG

204. Lauda Air S.p.A.

205. LB Limited

206. Leisure International Airways Limited

207. LIAT (1974) Limited

208. Linea Aerea Mexicana de Carga, S.A. de C.V.

209. Linea Aerea Nacional-Chile Sociedad Anonima, Lan Chile S.A.

210. Lineas Aereas Allegro, S.A. de C.V.

211. Lineas Aereas Costarricenses, S.A.

212. Lineas Aereas La-Tur, S.A.

213. Lineas Aereas Mayas, S.A.

214. Lineas Aereas Prividas Argentinas (LAPA)

215. Lineas Aereas Suramericanas, Ltda.

216. LLoyd Aereo Boliviano, S.A.

217. LTE International Airways, S.A.

218. LTU Lufttransport-Unternehmen GmbH. & Co.

219. Lufthansa Cargo, A.G.

220. Lufthansa German Airlines

221. Magadan Airlines

222. Malaysia Airlines

223. Malev Hungarian Airlines

224. Martinair Holland N.V.

225. Mexicargo, S.A. de C.V.

226. Midas Airlines, C.A.

227. Monarch Airlines Limited

228. National Airlines Chile S.A.

229. Nicaraguense de Aviacion, S.A.

230. Nigeria Airways, Ltd.

231. Nippon Cargo Airlines Company, Ltd.

232. Nordic European Airlines International AB

233. North Cariboo Flying Service Ltd.

234. North Coast Air Services Ltd.

235. North East Cargo Airlines

236. Northwest Territorial Airways Ltd.

237. Oasis International Airlines, S.A.

238. Olympic Airways, S.A.

239. Ontario Express Ltd.

240. Orient Avia Airlines

241. Pacific International Airlines, S.A.

242. Pakistan International Airlines Corporation

243. Philippine Airlines, Inc.

244. Phoenix Air Lines Ltda.

245. Polskie Linie Lotnicze Lot S.A.

246. Polynesian Limited

247. Premiair A/S

248. Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navigacion Aerea

249. Qantas Airways Limited

250. Quassar de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

251. Regal Air Limited

252. Rio Air Express, S.A.

253. Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn. Bhd.

254. Royal Tongan Airlines

255. Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation

256. Scandinavian Airlines System

257. Seagreen Air Transport Limited

258. Servicio Aereo de Honduras, S.A.

259. Servicios Aerolineas Mexicanas, S.A. de C.V.

260. Servicios Avensa S.A. (Servivensa)

261. Servicios de Transportes Aereos Fueguinos, S.A.

262. Singapore Airlines Limited

263. Sky Freighters Ltd.

264. Sky Service F.B.O., Inc./Service Aerien F.B.O.

265. Skyjet, S.A.

266. Sobelair N.V./S.A.

267. Sociedad Aeronautica de Medellin Consolidada

268. Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos SAETA, S.A.

269. Societe Anonyme Belge D'Exploitation de la Navigation Aerienne

270. Societe Caribeenne de Transport Aerien

271. Societe Nouvelle Air Guadeloupe

272. Societe Nouvelle Air Martinique

273. Spanair, S.A.

274. Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij, N.V.

275. Swissair, Swiss Air Transport Company, Ltd.

276. TACA de Honduras, S.A. de C.V.

277. TACA International Airlines, S.A.

278. Taino Air Lines, S.A.

279. TAM--Transportes Aereos Meridionais, S.A.

280. Thai Airways International Public Company Limited

281. The Prairie Connection Ltd.

282. Time Air, Inc.

283. Tradewinds Airways Limited

284. Trans European Airways France S.A.

285. Trans European Airways, S.A.

286. Trans North Turbo Air Limited

287. Transaero Airlines

288. Transavia Airlines, C.V.

289. Transbrasil S.A. Linhas Aereas

290. Transcarga, S.A.

291. Translift Airways Limited

292. Transnet Limited d/b/a South African Airways

293. Transporte Aereo Dominicano, S.A.

294. Transporte de Carga Aerea Especializada y Servicios Aeronauticos, S.A. de C.V.

295. Transportes Aereos Bolivianos

296. Transportes Aereos de Cabo Verde

297. Transportes Aereos del Mercosur Sociedad Anonima

298. Transportes Aereos Ejecutivos, S.A. de C.V.

299. Transportes Aereos Mercantiles Panamericanos

300. Transportes Aereos Portugueses, S.A.

301. Transportes Aeromar, S.A. de C.V.

302. Turkish Airlines, Inc.

303. Turks Air Limited

304. Turks and Caicos Airways, Limited

305. Uzbekistan Airways

306. Vacationair Inc.

307. Varig, S.A.

308. Venezolana Internacional de Aviacion, S.A.

309. Viacao Aerea Sao Paulo S.A.

310. Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited

311. Volga-Dnepr J.S. Cargo Airline

312. Voyageur Airways Limited

313. Western Express Air Lines, Inc.

314. Westjet Airlines Ltd.

315. Windward Islands Airways International, N.V.

316. World Wide Air Charter Systems

317. Zuliana de Aviacion, C.A.

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