Elias Kontanis, PhD, chief of the NTSB’s Transportation Disaster Assistance Division, says a vertical aircraft operator, no matter its size, should have its own assistance programs for accident victims and their families. (VAI/f-stop Photography) VERTICON Safety Symposium: Why operators need a family assistance program By Mark Huber When an aircraft accident occurs, operators have a myriad of responsibilities, starting with informing the FAA, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the insurance carrier. But who takes care of the families of accident victims? By law (the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996), all Part 121 air carriers must have disaster assistance programs, and the NTSB is also charged with providing assistance to qualifying accidents. But should a vertical aircraft operator, no matter its size, have its own assistance programs for accident victims and their families? Elias Kontanis, PhD, thinks so. Kontanis is chief of the NTSB’s Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) Division. He is also a registered legal death investigator and an FAA gold seal certificated flight instructor. Speaking at Monday morning’s VERTICON Safety Symposium on the NTSB and operators, he urged helicopter operators to provide family assistance, even though most are not legally obligated to do so under the law. “This is something important to care about. It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “There’s a humanitarian drive to help those in crisis. But is that enough to get your senior executives to commit to investing effort in family assistance? If not, stress the need to preserve human capital.” By that, Kontanis means engendering security and goodwill among the surviving team. A good family assistance plan will show team members how the company responds, how it takes care of them and their families, and how it instills a sense of confidence “of what will happen if they are in that position.” A plan need not be complicated. “Family assistance policies and procedures that you put in place should address the fundamental concerns of those who are directly affected by an accident,” Kontanis said. Some of those concerns include answering basic questions such as who’s on board, what their status is, and where they’ve been taken. In the event of fatalities, the need for dental records and DNA samples must be explained. It comes down to “having a mechanism to provide accurate, clear information in a timely manner,” Kontanis said. A plan should also include access to information and resources covering spiritual, financial, emotional, and psychological concerns. When possible, it should also provide continuing communication about the path and progress of the related investigation. Kontanis also counseled attendees to think about the small details, such as returning seemingly inconsequential personal effects and lining up a locksmith to enable families to gain access to their loved one’s car in the event the key fob is lost. Sometimes, Kontanis said, it simply comes down to being a “silent presence” for the family. “Don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything that we can do to support your response. We’re happy to have that conversation with you,” Kontanis said. Operators can reach the NTSB’s TDA Division at assistance@ntsb.gov. Mark Huber is an aviation journalist with more than two decades of experience in the vertical flight industry.
