### THE 

# Wicks 

# Group 733 10th Street, NW, Suite 3002 Washington, DC 2000 I

Washington, DC



### April 10,2014 U.S. Deparnnent ofTransportation Docket Section Docket OST 1998-3304 1200New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Azerbaijan Airlines: Plan toAddress tileNeeds ofFamilies ofPassengers Involved in Aircraft Accidents Pursuant to49 U.S.C ~41313 (c) Enclosed please find Azerbaijan Airlines Plan to Address the Needs of Families of Passengers Involved in Aircraft Accidents Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 

## g 41313 (c), and in compliance with Section 809 of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (P.L. 1Q8-176,117Stat. 2490, December 12,2003).

Please contacttheundersigned ifyouhave anyquestions orcomments with respecttothe enclosed document.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ekaterina A. Grimcs Consultant forAzerbaijan Airlines
Enclosures

### AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES

PLAN TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN FOREIGN AIR

CARRIER ACCIDENTS (In accordance with the Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act of 1997, signed in Inw on December 16, 1997, amendment 41313 to the Chapter 4]3 of Title 49 UnUed States Code (transportatfon), the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Rnd Reform Act for the 21'. Century, and the Vision lOO~Century bfA,1otion Reouthorlzatlon Act (P.L. 108-176, 117 Stat. 2490, December 12, 2003)

PURPOSE: Azerbaijan Airlines ("Carrier") hereby adopts this Plan to Address Needs ofFamilies of Passengers Involved inForeign AirCarrier Accidents ("Family Assistance Plan" or "Plan") in order to: (i) act inthebest interests ofthefamilies ofpassengers involved inany aircraft accident involving Carrier's aircraft and resulting inamajor loss oflife; (ii) treat themembers ofsuch families withdignity andrespect andto assist them inthe marmeroutlined below; (iii) coordinate thc assistance which Carrierprovides to families ofpassengers with the elTorts ofthc National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") and other governmental agencies inthe event ofanaviation disaster; aswell aswithpartner airlines; and (iv) fnlfill Carrier's responsibilities underthe Foreign CarrierFamily Support Act of 1997, the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Invcstmcnt and Refonn Act forthe21" Century, andthe Vision IDO-CenturyofAviation Reauthorization Act (Section 809). 

### PLAN:

(I) TELEPHONE NUMBER The Carrier will maintain procedures for publicizing a reliable toll-free telephone number 10 be used in the event of an air accident involving its aircraft, and assigning slalT 10 take calls at such number from families of passengers involved in such accident.(2)NOTIFICATION OF FAMILIES

(3) NOTICE PROVIDED AS SOON AS POSSmLE

(4)LIST OF PASSENGERS

(5) CONSULTATION REGARDING DISPOSITION OF REMAINS AND EFFECTS

(6) RETURN OF POSSESSIONS Before providing any public notice ofthe passengers involved in an aircraft accident in an aircraft under the control ofthe Carrier, resulting in major loss of life, such notice will be provided in person to tlie families of such passengers by suitable trained representatives of the Carrier, and/or through an organization designated forthe accident bythe Board. Whether or not the names of all of the passengers have been verified, thc notice required in paragraph (2) above will be provided as soon as practicable oncc the Carrier has verified the identity ofpassengers affected inthe airaccident. Immediately after the accident the Carrier will begin the process of determining which passengers (revenue and non-revenue) boarded the flight. Upon request, the Carrier willrelease suchJist to the director of family support services designated lor the accident under section 1I36(a)(I), and to the organization designated for the accident under section 1I36(a)(2). The passenger list will reflect the best available information at the time of the request. The Carrier will emphasize to involved personnel the confidential/sensitive natnre of the infOlmation contained in the list; mark the list as "preliminary and nnconfirmed," if appropriate, and update the list periodically. The Carrier will establish and maintain an internal policy prohibiting unauthorized release ofmanifest information. The Carrier will consult with the family ofeach passenger about the disposition of any remains and personal effects of the passengers involved in the air accident in the aircraft under control of the Carrier, and will act in accordance with a written decision by the family. Personal effects will be available for immediate disposition by the .families of passengers in a designated office ofthe Carrier, or atthe place ofthe accident, or will be sent where the families of such passengers desire to receive them. The Carrier will return the possessions ofapassenger involved in an airaccident with an aircraft under thecontrol ofthe Carrier, on request from such passenger's family (and regardless of the condition of such possessions), unless such possessions are necessary for the accident investigation or a criminal investigation. In that case the families ofsuchpassengers willbe notified that such possessions will be kept by appropriate authorities.(7) UNCLAIMED POSSESSIONS RETAINED

(8) MONUMENTS

(9) EQUAL TREATMENT OF PASSENGERS

(10) SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF

PASSENGERS
(11) COMPENSATION TO SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
(12) TRAVEL AND CARE EXPENSES

(13)RESOURCES FOR THE

PI"AN
(14) SUBSTITUTE MEASURES Unclaimed possessions ofpassengers involved in an air accident with an aircraft under the Canier's control remaining at the Carrier's disposal will be retained for not less than 18 months after the date of the accident. After that period of time, such possessions will be disposed of as prescribed by applicable law procedures. IIIthe event that the Carrier wishes to build a monument in the Umted States tothepassengers involved in an air accident aboard an aircraft under the Carrier's control, the Carrier will consult with the family of each passenger before proceeding with any construction, including any inscription onthe monument. For the purposes ifthis Plan, the tenn "passengers" shall include both revenue and non-revenue passengers. 'lbe treatment of the families of non-revenue passengers will be the same as the treatment of the families of revenue passengers following tbe equal treatment ofpassengers' policy maintained by the Carrier. The Carrier will work with any organization designated under II 36(a)(2) on an ongoing basis to ensure that families of passengers receive an appropriate level of services and assistance after anairaccident. The Carrier will provide reasonable compensation to any organization designated under section II36(a)(2) for services and assistance provided by such organization. The Canier will assist families of the passengers involved in an air accident with an aircraft under the Carrier's control in traveling to the location ofthe accident, and will provide for the physical care ofsuch families while staying atsuch location. The Carrier will commit sufficient resources to cany out this Plan to address needs of families ofpassengers involved in a foreign aircarrieraccident. If the Carner develops substitute measures for any measures referenced above in (10), (II) or (12), itwill amend its Plan and notify theBoard accordingly.(15) TRAJNING OF

EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

(16) CONSULTATION ON CARRIER RESPONSE NOT COVERED BY PLAN

(17) NOTICE CONCERNJNG LrABILlTY FOR MAN-MADE STRUCTURES

(18) SIMULTANEOUS ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF NTSB HEARINGS The Canier will provide adequate training to its employees and agents to meet the needs of survivors and family memhers following the accident. The Carrier will prepare and maintain current a List of persormel with survivor and family assistance responsibilities, and will develop training programs based upon employees' particular responsibility, recognizing that personnel who are inpublic contact positions need to know how to respond to inquiries and facilitate responses to them. The Canier will hold, from time to time, simulation training under its training plans. Inthe eventthatthe Canier volunteers assistance to United States citizens within the United States with respect to an aircraft accident outside the United States involving major loss oflife,the Canier will consult with the Board and the Department of State onthe provision ofassistance. (A) In the case of an accident that results in significant' damageto aman-made structure orotherproperty onthe ground that is not government-owned, the Carrier will promptly provide notice, in writing, to the extent practicable, directly tothe owner ofthe structure orother property about liability for any property damage and means forobtaining compensation. (B) At a minimum, the written notice shall advise the owner (i) to contact the insurer of the property as the authoritative source of infonnation about coverage and compensation; (ii) not to rely on unofficial information offered by foreign air canier representatives ahout compensation by the foreign air carrier for accidental property damage; and (iii) to obtain photographic or other detailed evidence of property damage as soon as possible afterthe accident, consistent with restrictions on access tothe accident site. In the case of an accident in which the National Transportation Safety Board conducts apublic hearing orcomparable proceeding at a location greater than 80 miles from the accident site, the Canier will ensure that the proceeding is made available simultaneously by electronic means at a location open to the public at boththe origin city and destination city ofthe Carrier's flightifthatcityislocated intheunited States.