Appendix F:
Implementing the Plan:
National Transportation Safety Board
Several government agencies already have in place response plans
to help them deal effectively and proactively with family support
in an aviation disaster. However, we recognized the need to
provide one core plan with a baseline of minimum and uniform
support tasks which would at the same time bring the
government’s response to levels comparable to that required
and developed by commercial air carriers. The NTSB has agreed to
develop a model response plan to serve as the baseline for
nonmilitary agencies’ use in developing their own
agency-specific plans. The NTSB has modified its proven Federal
Family Assistance Plan for government use. Its plan is anchored
in the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act and these
practices will be incorporated by agencies as they develop their
own specific plans. The NTSB has sent its draft plan out to the
appropriate departments and agencies for comments. After the
final plan is sent out, agencies will have six months to submit
their detailed plans to the NTSB, similar to the process required
of the commercial carriers in the Act.
The NTSB Office of Family Affairs has agreed to coordinate family assistance following a nonmilitary government air disaster to the same extent it provides this service following a commercial disaster. It will coordinate the efforts of other federal, state and local agencies, nonprofit and volunteer organizations, and any government charter airline should one be involved. Government agencies that sponsor flights need to have the NTSB’s unique expertise available to help them most effectively handle the many dynamics present at the crash site. The NTSB has agreed to extend its role in this capacity as a logical outgrowth of its current responsibilities.
Office of Personnel Management
Working closely with GSA, OPM has agreed to develop the final statement of rights and benefits, and already has updated its existing pamphlet that details Federal payments to employees and family members for job-related injury or death. The pamphlet is now available to all current and future employees through the OPM web site. Agencies can also obtain a hard copy through the Government Printing Office. OPM will finalize the disclosure statement of rights, benefits, and possible consequences for all passengers involved in a government-sponsored flight. The disclosure statement will normally be made available at the time of issuance of travel orders. They also should improve and regulate the process to have comprehensive and regularly updated emergency contact information available in personnel files.
OPM should develop and distribute to agencies a policy statement authorizing the use of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in emergency mental health services for short term crisis intervention and classic EAP assessment and referral for longer term counseling appropriate to a family’s situation. They should recommend an appropriate time frame for families to be able to access this service. In addition, OPM should draft a letter to the Comptroller General requesting guidance on extending EAP services to family members of private citizens who become victims of a government aircraft disaster. Under NTSB’s overall coordination, OPM will establish a methodology to work with EAP providers and the American Red Cross at an aircraft disaster site, and with families either at the site or at their homes. OPM will also be available within staffing constraints to provide expert consultation to agencies, prospectively and during or following a disaster, on managing the human component of traumatic events. This will help agencies create the proper environment to move towards resolution of traumas and prevent further damage.
OPM has agreed to participate in a multi-agency group under NTSB coordination to develop the criteria and processes that agencies will use to screen and train Federal employees who interact with families involved in air disasters. They will parallel the effort of the ADFAA Task Force as detailed in its Final Report (recommendation 1.4), and develop employee screening and training program models for agencies’ use.
OPM should coordinate with other departmental/agency personnel organizations as needed, particularly DOD and NTSB, to ensure a uniform approach to family support benefits.
Lastly, OPM will cooperate with NTSB and GSA to develop and publicize a plan to inform and orient personnel and travel organizations and employees about family assistance issues.
General Services Administration
The GSA has agreed to work closely with the
NTSB, DOD, OPM, and others as necessary to implement air response
plans and passenger manifest enhancements through the Interagency
Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP), and to consider proposing
appropriate legislative changes (when necessary) and then
revising related federal travel regulations to facilitate
agencies’ abilities to provide travel and transportation
related support services for families and agency representatives.
GSA will work closely with OPM to develop and implement the
process for agencies to use to notify Federal and non-Federal
passengers, well before a prospective flight, of their rights and
benefits. The process to notify passengers will need to be put
into agencies’ travel procedures.
GSA should work closely with ICAP and develop an enhanced passenger manifest requirement to facilitate speedy and accurate family notification. The manifest should require the following data: full name of the passenger, and for each passenger, a contact phone number and a contact name. These data elements should be implemented through changes to 41 CFR 101-37, Government Aviation Administration and Coordination.
GSA is examining travel and transportation statutes and regulations, and will consider proposing changes as necessary. GSA will develop and publish flexible and responsive family member definitions for eligibility for various travel, lodging, and transportation benefits and services. They should consult with the DOD with regard to their military travel regulations to help ensure a uniform approach.
GSA will also examine and revise policies now barring agency escorts for deceased employees’ bodies, agency authority for agency funeral representatives’ travel, and look towards elimination of the reimbursable nature of mortuary services and supplies.
GSA and DOD should lead a joint effort to study life insurance coverage exclusions for travel aboard military aircraft and pursue remedies with both the federal travel card suppliers and life insurance industry representatives. The existing Federal government travel charge card contains an exclusion to its $200,000 accidental death or dismemberment payment if flying in aircraft not assigned to the Air Mobility Command, and various private life insurers have similar restrictions. However, the military frequently transports civilian government employees and invited guests in all sorts of aircraft for official, though non-military missions. GSA and DOD should work together to attempt to have the future travel card insurer amend its policy in this regard, and to approach and educate the life insurance industry on the varied missions of military aircraft.
GSA will coordinate with other departmental and agency travel organizations as needed to ensure a uniform approach to these support issues, and will work with OPM and NTSB to develop and implement a plan to orient personnel and travel organizations and employees about family assistance issues.