## BOIES . SCHILLE R FLEXNE R LL R 530 1 WISCONSI N AVENU E N W• WASHINGTO N D C 200I5-20I 5 • P H 30 2 23 7 272 7 • FA X 20 3 23 7 61 3



### January 24 , 201 1 U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Docket s Sectio nOST-1996-196 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , N.E . Washington , D.C . 2059 0 Nationa l Transportatio nSafet y Board Offic e o f Transportatio nDisaste r

Assistanc e 49 0 L'Enfan t

Plaza , East , S.W . Washington , D.C . 2059 4 Re : Famil y Assistanc e Plan , ASTA RUSA , LL C - Docke t OST-1996-106 0 Dea r Sir o r Madame : 

## ia^. ^

Enclose dwiththi s lette r

pleas e findth e Famil y Assistanc e Planfor ASTA RUSA , LLC incomplianc e wit

hFederal Aviatio nAdministratio nreauthorizatio nlegislation , th e Visio n100
- Century o f

Aviatio nReauthorizatio nAc t (Publi c Law 108-176 , 11 7 Stat . 2490 , Decembe r 12 , 2003. ) A s describe dmor e fully inth e Join t Applicatio no f

ASTA RAi r

Cargo , Inc . an dASTA R USA , LLC , Docke t

OST-2010-0223 , file do nSeptembe r 3 , 201 0 for

certificat e transfer , th e Famil y Assistanc e Plansubmitte dherewithby ASTA RUSA , LL C applie s th e Famil y Assistanc e Pla no f ASTA RAi r

Cargo , Inc . Se e Applicatio nsupr aa t ^ 20 . Sincerely , iliott M . Seide n Counse l fo

r ASTA RUSA , LL C Enclosur e

WWW.B5FLLP.CO M

### ASTA R USA , LL C FAMIL YASSISTANC E PLA N

A . POLIC YSTATEMEN T 1 ) I t i s th e Company' s highes t priorit yt o preven t accident s b yrequirin g safet ya s th e primar y consideratio n i n al l o fit s activities . 2 ) Th e Company' s firs t an d foremos t concer n i n th e even t o fa n acciden t i s t o ensur e tha t prope rai d i s rendere d t o thos e injure d an d tha t timel yan d prope rinformatio n i s give n t o famil ymembers . 3 ) I n th e even t o fa n acciden t tha t result s i n significan t damag e t o a man-mad e structur e o rothe r propert yo n th e groun d tha t i s no t governmen t owned , ASTAR wil l promptl yprovid e notice , i n writing , t o th e exten t practicable , directl yt o th e owne ro fth e structur e o rothe rpropert yabou t liabilit yfo ran y propert ydamag e an d mean s fo robtainin g compensation . Th e writte n notic e wil l advis e th e owner : 1 ) t o contac t th e insure ro fth e propert ya s th e authoritativ e sourc e fo rinformatio n abou t coverag e an d compensation ; 2 ) no t t o refyo n unofficia l informatio n offere d b yASTAR representative s abou t compensatio n byASTAR fo raccident-sit e propert ydamage ; an d 3 ) t o obtai n photographi co rothe r detaile d evidenc e o fpropert ydamag e a s soo n a s possibl e afte rth e accident , consisten t wit h restriction s o n acces s t o th e acciden t site . 4 ) I n th e even t o fa n acciden t i n whic h th e Nationa l Transportatio n Safet yBoar d conduct s a publi c hearin g o rcomparabl e proceedin g a t a locatio n greate rtha n 8 0 mile s fro m th e acciden t site , ASTAR wil l ensur e tha t th e proceedin g I s mad e availabl e simultaneousl ybyelectroni cmean s a t a locatio n ope n t o th e publi ca t bot h th e origi n cit yan d destinatio n cit yo fth e ASTAR fligh t i ftha t cit yi s locate d i n th e Unite d States . B . INTRODUCTIO N 1 ) Th e Company' s Famil yAssistanc e Pla n ha s bee n prepare d an d submitte d t o th e Departmen t o f Transportatio n (DOT) an d t o th e Nationa l Transportatio n Safet yBoar d (NTSB) i n accordanc e wit h th e Aviatio n Disaste rFamil yAssistanc e Ac t o f199 6 (Th e Famil yAssistanc e Act ) a s amende d b yP.L . 106-18 1 an d P.L . 108- 1 7 6 (4 9 U.S.C . §113 6 an d §411 1 3) . 2 ) Th e Company' s Famil yAssistanc e Pla n supplement s th e Company' s existin g procedure s fo r respondin g t o aircraf t accident s an d notifyin g victims ' families , whic h ar e se t fort h i n th e Company' s Airlin e EmergencyManua l (EmergencyManual) . Th e Company' s EmergencyManua l include s specifi c emergenc yrespons e procedures , whic h addres s mos t o fth e requirement s o fTh e Famil yAssistanc e Act . 3 ) Th e Company' s Famil yAssistanc e Pla n an d th e EmergencyManua l contai n procedure s t o addres s th e need s o ffamilie s o fperson s involve d i n a n aircraf t acciden t resultin g i n a majo rlos s o flife . 4 ) Th e Company' s Famil yAssistanc e Pla n an d th e EmergencyManua l ar e designe d s o that . I n th e even t o fa n aviatio n disaster , th e Compan ywil l b e I n a positio n t o ac t i n th e bes t interes t o fsurvivor s an dvictims ' families ; t o trea t survivor s an d familie s wit h dignity ; an d t o respec t th e cultura l an d religiou s

background s o fsurvivor s an d families . 5 ) Th e Compan ywil l commi t sufficien t resource s t o carryou t it s Famil yAssistanc e Plan . 6 ) i n th e even t o fa n acciden t th e Compan ywil l striv e t o ensur e tha t th e famil yo feac h crewmember , jum p sea t occupant , o rothe rvlctim(s ) ar e give n equa l treatment , i n th e mos t courteous , compassionate , an d respectfu l manne rpossibl e byth e Company . 7 ) Th e Company' s Famil yAssistanc e Pla n i s par t o fa large reffort , whic h include s th e Nationa l Transportatio n Safet yBoar d (NTSB) an d othe rgovernmenta l entitie s t o assis t survivor s an d familie s i n th e even t o fa n aviatio n disaster . C . BACKGROUN D INFORMATIO N REGARDIN G TH E COMPANY' S CARGO-ONL YOPERATION S 1 ) Th e Compan yi s authorize d t o operat e a s a Par t 12 1 Cargo-Onl yAi rCarrier . 2 ) Th e Company' s Ai rCarrie rCertificat e an d Operation s Specification s (A l an d A30 ) authoriz e cargo-onl y operations . Th e Compan yi s no t authorize d t o carrypassengers . 3 ) Th e Compan yoperate s a flee t o fDC- 8 Turboje t Carg o Aircraft . Th e Turboje t Carg o Aircraf t requir e thre e (3 ) fligh t crewmember s an d carrya tota l o ftw o (2 ) additiona l crewmember s o rjum p sea t rider s i n th e cockpi t o n th e DCS . 4 ) Th e Company' s Fligh t Operatio n Manua l an d th e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s (Section s 121.58 3 an d 135.85 ) contai n stric t limitation s regardin g person s wh o ma yb e authorize d t o occup yth e jum p seats . Fo rexample , person s wh o ma yb e authorize d t o occup yth e jum p seat s Include : (1 ) crewmember s o r othe rcertifie d airmen , suc h a s license d aircraf t dispatcher s an d mechanic s holdin g a n A& P certificate ; (2 ) certai n Compan yemployee s wh o hav e bee n Issue d prope rauthorizatio n b yth e Company ; (3 ) FA AAi r Carrie rInspecto ro rNTS B representativ e performin g officia l duties ; (4 ) person s necessar yfo rth e safet y o ffligh t wh o hav e obtaine d prope rauthorizatio n fro m th e Company , suc h a s a perso n necessar

yfo rth e saf e handlin g o fanimal s o rhazardou s materials . 5 ) O n an ygive n carg o fligh t i n turboje t aircraft , ther e coul d b e a tota l o fn o mor e tha n eigh t (8 ) person s o n board . Ther e I s neve ran yrevenu e passenge ro n Compan yflights . D . FAMIL YASSISTANC E PLAN 1 ) Pre-Respons e Plannin g a . Th e Compan yhas develope d a pla n t o ensur e tha t it s personne l wil l b e organize d an d traine d t o assis t survivor s an d familie s i n th e even t o fa n aircraf t acciden t resultin g I n a majo rlos s o flife . b . Th e Compan yha s designate d th e Vic e President , Huma n R e sources/Labo rRelation s t o tak e th e lea d rol e I n determinin g th e mos t appropriat e actio n t o b e take n regardin g notificatio n o f familie s o fvictim s o fa n aircraf t accident .c . Th e Company' s EmergencyManua l recognize s tha t notificatio n t o famil ymember s i s th e mos t critica l even t fo rwhic h th e compan ymus t pla n i n cas e o f a n aircraf t accident , an d tha t th e timing , presentation , an d attitud e wit h whic h informatio n i s relate d t o survivin g famil ymember s i s a primar yconcern . d . Th e Vic e President , Huma n Resources/Labo rRelation s ha s provide d fo ra trainin g progra m fo r thos e designate d Huma n Resource s Personne l wh o woul d b e assigne d t o wor k wit h th e NTSB designate d Independen t nonprofi t organizatio n t o assist th e survivor s an d th e families . e . Th e Compan ywil l provid e adequat e trainin g t o employee s an d agent s o fth e Company , a s appropriate , t o mee t th e need s o fsurvivor s an d famil ymember s i n th e even t o fa n aircraf t accident . f . Thi s trainin g progra m wil l b e conducte d o n a n initia l an d annua l recurren t basis , an d wil l consis t of , bu t no t b e limite d to , instructin g th e designate d Huma n Resourc e Personne l ho wt o (a ) properl ynotif yth e families ; (b ) respon d t o inquirie s an d facilitat e response s t o inquiries ; an d (c ) assis t th e familie s i n obtainin g necessar ytransportatio n an d accommodations . g . Th e Compan ywil l conduc t a simulate d disaste rexercis e a t leas t onc e eac h year . 2 ) Notificatio n an d Communicatio n Procedure s a . Immediatel yupo n informatio n o fa n accident , th e Compan yEmergencyRespons e Pla n se t fort h i n th e Company's EmergencyManua l an d Famil yAssistanc e Pla n wil l commence . b . Since th e Compan yi s a cargo-onl yoperator , th e Compan ycarrie s n o revenu e passengers . Ther e ar e n o passenge rmanifest s o rpassenge rtickets . Th e occupant s o fth e aircraf t wil l consis t solel y o fn o mor e tha n thre e (3 ) fligh t crewmember s an d u p t o a maximu m o ffiv e (5 ) supemumerar y o rjum p sea t occupants . c . Th e Company's EmergencyManua l assign s responsibilit yfo ridentifyin g crewmember s an d jum p sea t occupants . I n addition , th e EmergencyManua l set s u p procedure s t o expedit e th e notificatio n proces s throug h checklist s an d forms . Compan ypersonne l wil l promptl yrevie wth e company' s record s t o identif yth e emergenc ycontac t perso n fo rCompan yemployee s involve d i n a n aircraf t accident . d . Upo n reques t o fa famil ymembe ro fa Compan yemploye e Involve d I n a n aircraf t accident . Compan ypersonne l wil l promptl yinfor m th e famil ymembe ro fwhethe rtha t employee' s nam e appeare d o n pre-departur e fligh t document s fo rth e fligh t involve d i n th e accident . e . Th e President , and/o rSenio rVic e President , Chie fOperatin g Office rand/o rth e Vic e President , Huma n Resources/

Labo rRelation s wil l b e th e onl ydirec t communicato rwit h medi a representativ e fo rnew s release , an d wil l ensur e tha t n o informatio n regardin g victim s I s release d unti l afte rther e ha s bee n confirmatio n tha t al l next-of-ki n hav e bee n notified .f . upo n confirmatio n o fth e identit yo fa victim , th e Company , incoordinatio n wit h th e NTSB designate d Famil ySupport Service s Director , wil l immediatel ybegi n notificatio n t o famil y members , i n accordanc e wit h th e procedure s containe d I n th e Company's EmergencyManual . g . T o th e exten t practicable , famil ymember s wil l b e notifie d I n person . Th e notificatio n procedur e wil l b e accomplishe d a s soo n a s informatio n become s availabl e an d th e Identit yo fa victi m I s confirmed . Notificatio n wil l onl yb e accomplishe d b ysuitabl ytraine d personnel , unde rth e directio n o f th e Vic e President ^ Huma n Resources/

Labo rRelation s wit h assistanc e a s necessary , fro m th e Senio rVic e President , Chie fOperatin g Officer . h . Followin g th e initia l notification , n o Compan ypersonne l wil l Initiat e unsolicite d communication s wit h famil ymember s fo ra perio d o f4 5 day s afte rth e accident . I . Th e Compan yha s a numbe ro ftoll-fre e telephon e number s availabl e fo ractivation , a s necessary . Th e Vic e President , Huma n Resources/Labo rRelations , throug h th e Compan y Comman d Cente rwil l activat e a toll-fre e telephon e number , i fth e circumstance s warrant . I n tha t event , th e Senio rVic e President , Chie fOperatin g Office rwoul d ensur e tha t th e phon e numbe rI s publicize d throug h th e media . Properl ytraine d administrativ e assistanc e coverag e wil l b e establishe d o n a 24-hou rbasi s t o answe rphone s an d dea l wit h othe radministrativ e functions . J . Th e Compan yComman d Center , unde rth e supervisio n o fth e Senio rVic e President , Chie f Operatin g Officer , wil l b e se t u p o n a 24-hou rbasis , staffe d b yth e Airlin e Operation s Crisi s Coordinatio n Team . Th e Comman d Cente rwil l serv e a s th e coordinatin g poin t fo ral l Information , an d wil l maintai n clos e liaiso n wit h th e On-Slt e Respons e Team . k . Al l medi a inquirie s wil l b e directe d t o th e Compan yComman d Center . Senio rVic e President , Chie fOperatin g Office rand/o rth e Vic e President , Huma n Resources/Labo rRelations , a s se t fort h I n th e Compan yEmergencyManual , wil l revie wal l responses . Thes e procedure s shoul d ensur e complianc e wit h th e Compan/ s polic yt o prohibi t th e unauthorize d releas e o f information . I . Th e Comman d Cente rwil l coordinat e wit h al l federal , stat e an d loca l authoritie s tha t hav e emergenc yresponsibilities . Th e Comman d Cente rwil l coordinat e wit h partne rairlines , a s necessary . m . I n accordanc e wit h 4 9 U.S.C . §1136 , I n th e even t o fa n aircraf t acciden t withi n th e Unite d State s involvin g a Compan yaircraf t resultin g i n majo rlos s o flife , th e Chairma n o fth e NTS B shall : (1 ) Designat e an d publiciz e th e nam e an d numbe ro fa Directo ro fFamil ySuppor t Service s wh o shal l b e a n employe e o fth e Boar d an d shal l b e responsibl e fo ractin g a s a poin t o fcontac t withi n th e Federa l Governmen t fo rth e familie s o fcrewmember s o rjum p sea t occupant s involve d i n th e acciden t an d a liaiso n betwee n th e Compan yan d th e families ; an d(2 ) Designat e a n independen t nonprofi t organization , wit h expertis e i n disaster s an d post traum a communication s wit h families , whic h shal l hav e primar yresponsibilit yfo r coordinatin g th e emotiona l car e an d suppor t o ffamilie s o ffligh t crewmember s an d jum p sea t occupant s involve d i n th e accident . n . Upo n request , th e Compan ywil l releas e t o th e NTS B Directo ro fFamil ySuppor t Service s a lis t o f th e nameso fth e fligh t crewmember s an d jum p sea t occupant s onboar d th e aircraft . o . I fth e Compan yvolunteer s t o assis t U.S . Citizen s withi n th e Unite d State s wit h respec t t o a n aircraf t acciden t tha t occur s outsid e o fth e Unite d States , th e Compan ywil l consul t wit h th e NTS B an d Departmen t o fStat e abou t th e provisio n o ftha t assistance . 3 ) Responsibilitie s o fMedica l Examine r/ Corone ran d Hospita l a . Th e medica l examine ro rcorone ri s responsibl e fo rth e positiv e identificatio n o ffatalities . b . Th e medica l examine rwil l coordinat e wit h th e disaste rmortuar ytea m commande rt o provid e officia l notificatio n o fdeat h t o family . c . Fo rinjure d crewmember s o rjum p sea t occupants , th e hospita l i s responsibl e fo rstatu s updates . Eithe rth e hospita l o rth e Compan ywil l advis e famil ymember s o fhospital - provide d Informatio n concernin g th e injuries . 4 ) Trave l t o Acciden t Locatio n a . Th e Compan ywil l assis t th e familie s o fcrewmember s o rjum p sea t occupant s i n travelin g t o th e locatio n o fth e accident , an d wil l provid e fo rth e physica l car e o fth e familie s whil e stayin g a t suc h location . b . Th e Compan yrecognize s tha t th e NTS B has accident-sit e jurisdiction . V^ithi n limitation s establishe d b yth e authorities , th e Compan ywil l respon d t o famil yrequest s fo racces s t o th e acciden t scene . 5 ) Huma n Remain s an d Persona l Effect s a . Th e medica l examine ri s responsibl e fo rth e dispositio n o fidentifiabl e an d unidentifiabl e huma n remains . b . Unde rnorma l circumstances , loca l o rothe rapplicabl e authoritie s shoul d retur n Identifiabl e persona l effect s directl yt o th e victim' s family , rathe rtha n havin g th e Compan ybecom e custodia n o f them . Th e designate d authoritie s shoul d determin e th e dispositio n o f unidentifiabl e persona l effects . c . I fpersona l effect s com e int o th e Company's control , th e Compan yo rIt s designe e will : (1 ) Consul t wit h eac h famil yabou t th e dispositio n o fsuc h persona l effect s i n th e Company' s control ;(2 ) I frequeste d byth e family , an ypossessio n (regardles s o fit s condition ) o fa fligh t crewmembe ro rjum p sea t occupan t i n th e Company's contro l wil l b e returne d t o th e family , unles s th e possessio n I s neede d fo rth e acciden t investigatio n o ran ycrimina l investigation ; (3 ) Retai n fo r1 8 month s an yunclaime d possessio n o fa crewmembe ro rjum p sea t occupan t tha t i s unde rth e Company's control ; (4 ) Consul t wit h th e familie s abou t arrangin g a suitabl e memoria l service . I n th e even t tha t a monumen t t o th e victim s i s constructed , th e famil yo feac h crewmembe ro rjum p sea t occupan t wil l b e consulte d abou t th e monumen t an d an yInscription , prio rt o th e constructio n o fth e monument . 6 ) Th e Compan yRelationshi p wit h NTSB-Designate d Independen t Organizatio n a . Th e Compan ywil l arrang e t o wor k o n a n on-goin g basi s wit h an yorganizatio n designate d byth e NTS B unde r4 9 U.S.C . §1136(a)(2 ) t o ensur e tha t familie s o fcrewmember s o rjum p sea t occupant s receiv e a n appropriat e leve l o fservice s an d assistanc e followin g a n accident . Includin g menta l healt h an d counselin g service s t o th e families . b . Th e Compan ywil l develo p a procedur e t o payreasonabl e compensatio n t o th e NTSB-designate d independen t nonprofi t organization , a s require d b y4 9 U.S.C . §41113(b)(ll) . E . LIMITATIO N O N LIABILIT Y 1 ) Th e Compan yshal l no t b e liabl e fo rdamage s i n an yactio n brough t i n a Federa l o rStat e cour t arisin g ou t o fth e performanceo fth e Compan yI n preparin g o rprovidin g a lis t o fcrewmember s o rjum p sea t occupant s pursuan t t o thi s pla n submitte d unde r4 9 U.S.C . §41113(b) , a s state d I n th e Limitatio n o f Liabilit y(4 9 U.S.C . §41113(d)) , unles s suc h liabilit ywa s cause d byconduc t o fth e Compan ywhic h wa s grossl ynegligen t o rwhic h constitute d intentiona l misconduct .