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FedEx.

Express

VIA FEDEX LETTER

October 17,2013

DO,ckets- Dockets OST 96-1960

U,S. Department of Transportation

400 Seventh Street, SW

RoomPL-401

Wasrungton, DC 20590

Mr. Michael Crook

Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance

National Transportation Safety Board

490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW

Wasrungton, DC 20594

Re: Revised Family Assistance Plan

File No. 40-5489

Dear Sir or Madam:

''').,ee- ,.1, 1 8 ':.) , 7:_ I"•.•

Legal Department

3620 Hacks Cross Road

Building B, 3rd Floor

Memphis. TN 38125

Enclosed are the updated Family Assistance Plan ASsurances and Implementation of Family

Assistance Plan for FedEx Express.

Very truly yours,

Kathy

Senior 0 s

EmploYment Law Group

. '.

Attachments

936659
'"

Bee wi attachments: ]cifWatson"

Edward Lyons

Robbin Page

Rosemary Paden
'.

FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

FAMILY ASSISTANCE PLAN ASSURANCES.

In accordance with the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 and recent amendments, Federal

Express Corporation submits its plan for handling any aircraft accident involving one of its aircraft which ,

results in a major loss of life. .

A. Preamble

1. Federal Express is a Part 121 supplemental ail-cargo air carrier that operates domesticaily and

internationaily. Federal Express does not carry revenue passengers, but is authorized in

accordance with the Federal Aviation Regulations to carry employee jumpseaters on a nonrevenue basis ..

2. The purpose of a family assistance plan is to act in the best interests of survivors and victims

families; to treat survivors and families with dignity; and to respect the cultural and religious

ba~kgrounds of survivors and families.

3. This document is part of a larger effort, which inCludes the National Transportation Safety Board

and other governmental entities, to assist survivors and families in the event of an aviation

dis.aster.

B. The Plan Assurances

1. As soon as practicable after being notified of an aircraft accident within the United States

resulting in a major loss of life, representatives from the Federal Express Legal Department and

the vendor, Empathia, which has been retained by Federal Express to assist in implementation

of its Family Assistance program, wiil activate and publicize a toil-free telephone number in the

event of an aircraft accident resulting in major loss of life, Federal Express and/or Empathia wiil

activate pre-designated staff members to handle cails from.families of any ground casualties,

and will distribute this toll-free telephone number to the media, the NTSB, and the Red Cross.

2. Federal Express maintains an Aircraft Mishap Response Plan, which provides for notification of

a mishap to famiiies of crewmembers, and jumpseaters: Federal Express wiil provide this . .

notification to the families prior to providing public notice of the names of crewmembers or

jumpseaters.

3. Federal Express will notify families of crewmembers and jumpseaters as soon .as Federal

Express has verified that the crewmembers and jumpseaters were aboard the aircraft, whether

or not all names have been verified. Federal Express and/or its vendor, Empathia; will also

notify famiiie.s of Federal Express ground personnel or other ground casualties impacted by the

accident. To the extent practicable, these notifications will be made in person.

. .
4. Federal Expresswill provide to the Director of Family Support Services (NTSBTDA),the Red

Cross,or any other organization designated for the accident under 91136(A)(2), immediately

upon request, a list of the namesof the crewmembers andjumpseaters aboard the aircraft and

will continuously update this list.

S. Federal Express will ensure that the family of each crewmember, jumpseater, or ground.

casualty will be consulted about the disposition of all remains and personal effects of the

individuals within the control of Federal Express. Federal Expresswill confirm with NTSBTDA

that this hasoccurred.

6. Federal Expresswill, if requested by afamily member of a crewmember, jumpse!lter, or ground

casualty, return personal possessionsof that individual, within the control of Federal Express,

regardless of its condition, unless these possessionsare needed for the accident investigation

or any criminal investigation related to the accident.

.7. Federal Expresswill retain any unclaimed possessions(s)of any crewmember, jumpseater, or

ground casualty for at least 18 months.

8. Federal Expresswill consult the families of crewmembers, jumpseaters, or ground casualties

about any monuments to the accident victims that it intends to erect, and any inscriptions on

those monuments.

9. Federal Expressdoes not carry revenue passengers.

10. Federal Expresswill work with any organization designated under 91136(A)(2) of the Aviation

. Disaster Family Assistance Act on an ongoing basis, to ensure that the families receive an.

appropriate level of assistancefollowing the accident.

11. Federal Expresswill provide reasonable compensation to the Red Crossor any organization

designated under 91136(A)(2) of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act for services

provided during the accident responseby any suchorganization.

12. Federal Express will assist the families oF"crewmembers, jumpseaters, and any ground

casualties, in'traveling to the location of the accident, and will provide for their physical care

while they are staying at suchlocation.

13. Federal Expresswill commit sufficient resources to carry out the plan and will adequately train

.the members of the Family Assistance Committee, its employees, managers and agents, to

meet the needsof survivors andfamily members.

14. Upon request of the family of a passenger, Federa'iExpresswill i~form the family of whether

the passenger's name appeared on a preliminary passenger manifest fo"rthe flight involved in

the accident.
15. If Federal Express volunteers to assist U.S. citizens within the United States with respect to an

aircraft accident involving major loss of life that occurs outside of the United States, Federal

Express will consult with the NTSB and the Department of State about providing assistance.'

16. (A) In the case of an accident that results in significant damage to a man-made structure or

other property on the ground that is not government-owned, Federal Express will promptly

provide notice, in writing, to the extent practicable, directly to the owner of the structure or

other property about liability for any property damage and meansfor obtaining compensation.

(8) At a minimum, the written notice shall advise an owner (i) to con'tact the insurer ~f the

property as the authoritative source for information about coverage and compensation; (ii) to

not rely on unofficial information offered by Federal Express representatives about

compensation by Federal Express for accident-site property damage: and (iii) to obtain

photographic or other detailed evidence of property damage as soon as possible after the

accident, consistent with restrictions on access to the accident site.

17. In the case of an accident in which the National Transportation Safety Board conducts a public

hearing or comparable proceeding at a location greater than 80 miles from the accident site,

Federal"Express will ensure that the proceeding is made available simultaneously by electronic

means at a location open to the public at both the origin city and destination city of the Federal

Express flight, if that city is located in the United States.

Submitted this 17th day of October, 2013

FEDERALEXPRESSCORPORATION
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IMPLEMENTATION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE PLAN

This initiative implements the Family Assistance Plan submitted to DOT on April 7, 1997, and revised

and resubmitted on October 11, 2013. It also clarifies the responsibilities of the departments that are

responsible for implementing the plan.

1. This plan will be activated in the event of an aircraft mishap where there is "significant injury" or

loss of life. Significant injury shall be defined as any injury requiring medical attention or

hospitalization.

2. GOCC shall activate the plan by calling the FAP Command Center Director ("FAPCCD"), who will then

activate the FAP Committee members. The FAP Committee shall consist of representatives from

the Employment Law Group ("ELG"), Human Resources ("HR"), GOCC, Benefits, Global Travel and

Crew Travel Services, Corporate Communications, and Security, with the respective responsibilities

of each department set forth below.

3. The FAPCCDwill be a member of the Legal Department's Employment Law Group, and will have the

responsibility for oversight and coordination of the Family Assistance Committee. The FAPCCD is

responsible for activating the toll-free number, via the vendor, Empathia; and upon verification that

the number is activated, advising Corporate Communications to "immediately pU,blish the toll-free

number to the media, and to FedEx operators, websites, and all FedEx social media sites.

4. The FAPCCD will act as the FedEx contact and liaison with the NTSB TDA. This representative will

provide the NTSB TDA with information relating to the affected victims, both aboard the aircraft

and on the ground, and will communicate with the NTSBTDA throughout the incident regarding the

status and progress of fami~ notification. Specifically, the FAPCCD will obtain from GOCC the

names of jumpseaters or other individuals who were onboard the aircraft, and will promptly

provide those names to NTSB TDA, aswell as the names or other known identity of any ground

casua Ities.

S. In the event there are Federal Express ground personnel impacted by the incident, the Family

Notification Director ("FND") will access PRISM to obtain the emergency contact information for the

employees and will. notify the designated emergency contacts of the incident. The FND shall also

notify the affected employees' first line managers that their employee was involved in the mishap.

6. The Air Operations department will be responsible for notifying families of flight crewmembers and

jumpseaters in accordance with their existing procedures.

7. In the event there are non-Federal Express personnel ground casualties, the FAPCCDwill advise and

activate the Empathia notification center, whose personnel shall conduct the notifications of the

families ofthese victims.
..

8. As family members are identified and notified, the travel and accommodations coordinators shall

make arrangements for family members who wish to travel to the accident site for their travel to

and lodging near the location of the mishap. The Accommodations coordinators are responsible for

.identifying and procuring a hotel in the vicinity of the accident site for the on-site Family Assistance

Center and for the lodging of family members.

9. The Benefits coordinators shall dispatch People Help or other appropriate mental health

professionals to care for the emotional well-being of the family members.

10. The FAP Risk Management personnel shall be responsible for expediting check requests for the,

payment of $25,000.00 to the next of kin of any deceased victims, and/or the payment of all

applicable company benefits for affected crewmembers and FedEx employees. Risk Management

shall also arrange for reimbursement to the American Red Cross. Risk Management also

coordinates with the Security Department, Overgoods division to evaluate damages and loss to

baggage and other personal affects.

11. Federal Express wili dispatch a Senior Executive Spokesperson to the accident site who will

represent FedEx at the on-site Family Assistance Center in briefings with family members.

12. The on-site Family Assistance Center ("FAC") will be staffed by a director, manager, security,

finance, and resource coordinators, as well as FAC specialists and team leaders as needed based

upon the size and scope of the mishap.