NTSB Chair's Call Comes During International Safety Seminar

NTSB Chair Deborah A.P. Hersman (pictured, right) says a more formal process is needed worldwide to assist survivors and family members of aviation accidents. Speaking at the 63rd annual International Air Safety Seminar in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, she announced the upcoming international family assistance conference to be hosted by the NTSB in Washington, D.C., March 28 and 29 of next year.

"I have been on-scene at approximately 20 major transportation accidents, and I can tell you first-hand that having the family assistance team on site is a great asset," Hersman said. "And, based on conversations with colleagues from other transportation safety organizations around the world, there is a growing need for family assistance programs."

In her remarks, Hersman highlighted the passage, by Congress, of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act in 1996 which requires airlines in the United States to have disaster contingency plans in place so assistance can be deployed immediately after a tragedy occurs.  The Act also assigned the Safety Board the responsibility to oversee the government's family assistance efforts. To meet this need, the NTSB created a Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) division and hired professionals from the mental health and forensic pathology fields.  TDA is responsible for overseeing the four critical aspects of family assistance: notification to families, dissemination of information about the accident and investigation, victim recovery and identification, and locating and returning personal effects.

"For more than 13 years, TDA has been directing family assistance in the United State and our outstanding professionals are prepared to handle almost any circumstance that arises," Hersman said. "This has taken time and a willingness to constantly learn and refine our approach. Ultimately, we judge our success by real, on the ground results."

FMI: www.ntsb.gov