UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF AVIATION ENFORCEMENT AND PROCEEDINGS WASHINGTON, DC

December 3, 1997

THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS SENT TO THE ATTACHED LIST OF 166 U.S. CERTIFICATED AIR CARRIER EXECUTIVES

On October 29, 1997, Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater and National Transportation Safety Board Chairman James Hall issued to Vice President Gore and the Congress the Final Report of the Task Force on Assistance to Families of Aviation Disasters. This report contains 61 recommendations—nearly all of them unanimous—which will help improve the treatment received by survivors and family members of the victims of aviation disasters. I urge you to carefully review this report, a copy of which is enclosed, and to implement the recommendations directed to air carriers.

Former Transportation Secretary Federico Peña and Chairman Hall previously sent you a letter advising you of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996. That law requires, among other things, that all certificated air carriers develop and submit to the Department and the NTSB a plan to address the needs of families of passengers, employees or any third-party victims involved in aircraft accidents.

The Department and the NTSB have received your plan. As we are sure you can appreciate, the plans we have received differ greatly in content, approach, and detail. Our initial review has concentrated solely on whether the plans address all of the assurances required by the statute. Although we have “accepted” all of the plans we have received, this does not constitute our “approval.” Now, our primary concern is whether each air carrier has or will be in a position to commit the necessary staffing and other resources to adequately carry out its plan in the event an accident occurs.

After any accident, the NTSB will monitor the involved carrier's implementation of the assurances given in its plan. If the NTSB determines that the air carrier did not meet the assurances required by the legislation and submitted in its plan, the NTSB will refer the matter to the Department. We will investigate and pursue enforcement action where necessary. Such action could result in a cease and desist order and civil penalties, or, in egregious cases, modification or revocation of the carrier's authority to operate. Moreover, individuals could be subject to criminal prosecution in connection with any misrepresentation made to the Federal government.

The Task Force on Assistance to Families of Aviation Disasters, which included representatives of government agencies, air carriers, and families of victims of air disasters, recommended that all air carriers consider making arrangements with third-party contractors in the event an air carrier cannot or will not be able to provide the services required under the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act. I strongly encourage you to evaluate your ability to meet your legal obligations.

We appreciate the cooperation you have shown in this important matter. Questions concerning the contents of the plans may be addressed to Gary Abe, Deputy Director, Family Support Services Office, NTSB, at 202-314-6100. Questions concerning enforcement matters relating to the plans may be addressed to Dayton Lehman, Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings, DOT, at 202-366-9342.

If you need any additional information, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Nancy E. McFadden General Counsel

Enclosure:

1 of 8 Mr. Donald Roger Ferguson Mr. Dale States Mr. James B. Ream President & CEO President President & COO AccessAir Holdings, Inc. Air 4000, Inc. Air Micronesia, Inc. 601 Locust Street, Suite 951 9208 West Royal Lane Box 8778-G Des Moines, IA 50309 Irving, TX 75063 Tamuning, GU 96931

Mr. Dick Paquette Mr. Myron L. Caplan Mr. John Affeltranger President Chairman & CEO President Air Midwest, Inc. Air Nevada Airlines, Inc. Air South, Inc. Box 7724 Mid-Continent Airport Box 11105 2625 Airport Blvd. Wichita, KS 67277 Las Vegas, NV 89111 W.Columbia, SC 29170

Mr. Geoffrey Crowley Mr. David Clark Mr. Carl Donaway President & CEO President President Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp. Air Transport International LLC Airborne Express, Inc. W6390 Challenge Drive, Suite 3800 Rodney Parham Road 145 Hunter Drive 203 Little Rock, AR 72212 Wilmington, OH 45177 Appleton, WI 54915

Mr. D. Joseph Corr Mr. Robert Swenson Mr. John F. Kelly President & CEO Chmn, President & CEO Chmn, President & CEO AirTran Airlines, Inc. AirTran Airways, Inc. Alaska Airlines, Inc. 1800 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 126 6280 Hazeltine Nat’l Dr, # 100 Box 68900 Sea-Tac Int'l Airport Atlanta, GA 30349 Orlando, FL 32822 Seattle, WA 98188

Mr. Donald R. Swortwood Mr. Michael Spisak Mr. Robert Jacobsen President President President Alaska Central Express, Inc. Alaska Island Air, Inc. Alaska Juneau Aeronautics, Inc. 3551 Postmark Drive Box 1167 1873 Shell Simmons Drive Anchorage, AK 99517 Kotzebue, AK 99752 Juneau, AK 99801

Mr. Craig Loken Mr. Ronald A. Aramini Mr. Glenn R. Zander President President & CEO President & CEO Alaska Seaplane Service, L.L.C. Allegheny Airlines, Inc. Aloha Airlines, Inc. 8995 Yandukin Drive Box 601 Harrisburg Int'l Airport Box 30028 Juneau, AK 99801 Middletown, PA 17057 Honolulu, HI 96820

Mr. Conrad A. Kalitta Mr. William A. Franke Mr. Robert L. Crandall Chief Executive Officer Chairman & CEO Chmn, President and CEO American International Airways, America West Airlines, Inc. American Airlines, Inc. Inc. 4000 E. Sky Harbor Blvd. Box 619616, Amon Carter Blvd. 1349 S. Huron Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85034 Ypsilanti, MI 48198

Mr. J. George Mikelsons Mr. David G. Bassett Chairman & CEO Mr. Steve Anderson President & CEO American Trans Air, Inc. President Amerijet International, Inc. Box 51609, Indianapolis Int'l Arctic Circle Air Service, Inc. 498 SW 34th Street Airport Box 190228 Anchorage, AK Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315 Indianapolis, IN 46251 99519

2 of 8 Mr. John Eckels Mr. Terrance Fensome Mr. Kerry Skeen President President & CEO President & CEO Arctic Transportation Services, Arrow Air, Inc. Atlantic Coast Airlines, Inc. Inc. Box 02602, Miami International 1 Export Drive 5701 Silverado Way, Unit L Airport Sterling, VA 20164 Anchorage, AK 99518 Miami, FL 33102

Mr. George F. Pickett, Jr. Mr. Michael A. Chowdry Ms. Cheryl Grue Chief Executive Officer Chairman &CEO President Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. Atlas Air, Inc. Av Atlantic 100 Hartsfield Ctr Pkwy, # 800 538 Commons Drive P.O. Box 22837 Atlanta, GA 30354 Golden, CO 80401 Ft.Lauderdale, FL 33335-2837

Ms. Marjorie Baker Mr. Igor Dmitrowsky Mr. Ken Bellows President President President Baker Aviation, Inc. Baltia Air Lines, Inc. Bellair, Inc. Box 116 63-25 Saunders Street, Suite 7-I Box 371 Kotzebue, AK 99752 Rego Park, NY 11374 Sitka, AK 99835

Mr. James Rowe Mr. Terry D. Marshall Mr. Robert E. Martens President Chmn, President and CEO Chairman & CEO Bering Air, Inc. Big Sky Airlines, Inc. Business Express Airlines, Inc. Box 1650 Box 31397, Logan Int'l Airport 55 Washington Street, Suite 300 Nome, AK 99762 Billings, MT 59107 Dover, NH 03820

Mr. Don King Ms. Dorcas Thompson Mr. Peter F. Fox President Chairman & CEO President Camai Air Cape Smythe Air Service, Inc. Capital Cargo Int’l Airlines, Inc. Box 787 Box 549 9675 Tradeport Drive Bethel, AK 99559 Barrow, AK 99723 Orlando, FL 32827

Mr. David P. Cimo Mr. Kenneth W. Gann Mr. William F. Spohrer VP & GM President Chairman Casino Express Airlines CCAir, Inc. Challenge Air Cargo, Inc. JC Harris Field, 809 Murray Way 4700 Yorkmont Road Box 523979 Elko, NV 89801 Charlotte, NC 28208 Miami, FL 33152

Mr. Steven W. Kasteler Mr. David R. Balfour Mr. David R. Mueller Vice President & GM President & CEO Chairman & CEO Champion Air CityLink Airlines, Inc. Comair, Inc. 303 North 2370 West 5701 West Industrial Highway Box 75201 Salt Lake City, UT 84122 Gary, IN 46406 Cincinnati, OH 45275

Mr. Donald J. Breeding Mr. Gordon M. Bethune Mr. Jonathan Ornstein President & CEO President & CEO President Continental Micronesia, Inc. Continental Airlines, Inc. Continental Express, Inc. Box 8778-G, A.B. Won Pat Int'l 2929 Allen Pkwy., Suite 1501 15333 JFK Blvd., Suite 600 Airport Houston, TX 77019 Houston, TX 77032 Tamuning, GU 96931

Mr. Richard Wellman Mr. Leo F. Mullen Mr. Patrick Foley President President and CEO Chief Executive Officer Custom Air Transport, Inc. Delta Air Lines, Inc. DHL Airways, Inc.

3 of 8 4101 Ravenswood Road Hartsfield-Atlanta Int'l Airport 333 Twin Dolphin Drive Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315 Atlanta, GA 30320 Redwood City, CA 94065

Mr. Grant G. Murray Mr. Grant G. Murray Mr. Herman F. Gillis, III President President President Eagle Canyon Airlines, Inc. Eagle Jet Charter, Inc. Eastwind Airlines, Inc. 275 East Tropicana Avenue 241 East Reno Avenue Bldg. 1, Scotch Road Las Vegas, NV 89109 Las Vegas, NV 89119 West Trenton, NJ 08628

Mr. David Beatson Mr. Mel Spelde Mr. Wilbur O'Brien President & CEO Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. Empire Airlines, Inc. Era Aviation, Inc. 3350 W. Bayshore Road 2115 Government Way 6160 South Airpark Drive Palo Alto, CA 94303 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 Anchorage, AK 99502

Mr. Delford M. Smith Mr. Ron Stone Mr. Thomas Del Valle Chairman Chairman President & CEO Evergreen International Airlines, Exec Express II Executive Airlines, Inc. Inc. 2080 N. Hightwy 360, # 400 Box 38032 Airport Station 3850 Three Mile Lane Grand Prairie, TX 76106 San Juan, PR 00937 McMinnville, OR 97128

Mr. Kevin Good Mr. Floyd Saltz Mr. Emilio Dirube President President Chairman & President Express One International, Inc. F.S. Air Service, Inc. Falcon Air Express, Inc. 3890 W Northwest Hwy, #700 6121 S. Airpark Place 7270 N.W. 12th Street, # 9 Dallas, TX 75220 Anchorage, AK 99502 Miami, FL 33126

Mr. J. Frank Fine Mr. Frederick W. Smith Mr. Dave Kennedy President Chmn, President and CEO President Fine Air Services, Inc. Federal Express Corporation Flagship Airlines, Inc. 2361 N.W. 67th Avenue, Bldg. 2005 Corporate Avenue Two Int’l Plaza, Suite 900 700 Memphis, TN 38132 Nashville, TN 37217 Miami, FL 33152

Mr. Richard Haberly Mr. Charles Warbelow Mr. Sam Addoms Chairman and President President President & CEO Florida West International Forty Mile Air, Ltd. Frontier Airlines, Inc. Airways, Inc. Box 539 12015 East 46th Avenue 7500 N.W. 25th Street, No. 237 Tok, AK 99780 Denver, CO 80239 Miami, FL 33122

Mr. John Hajdukovich Mr. William Stockbridge Mr. Bruce McGlasson President President & CEO President Frontier Flying Service, Inc. Gemini Air Cargo, LLC Grant Aviation, Inc. 3820 University Avenue Box 16254, Dulles Int’l Airport 203 W. 15th Ave, Suite 204 Fairbanks, AK 99709 Washington, DC 20041 Anchorage, AK 99501

Mr. Robert E. Stephan Mr. Frederick Mason Mr. Mike Hageland President President President Great American Airways Gulf and Caribbean Cargo, Inc. Hageland Aviation Svcs., Inc. Box 10165 Reno-Cannon Int'l 2200 Lee Wagener Blvd., Suite Box 220610 Airport 317 Anchorage, AK 99522

4 of 8 Reno, NV 89510 Ft.Lauderdale, FL 33315

Ms. Melanie Shallcross Mr. Bruce Nobles Ms. Kathleen H. Iskra President Chairman and President President & CEO Haines Airways, Inc. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. Horizon Airlines Box 470 Box 30008 19521 Pacific Hwy S, Box 48309 Haines, AK 99827 Honolulu, HI 96820 Seattle, WA 98188

Mr. Timothy J. La Porte Mr. Patrick O’Shea Mr. J. Elliot Black President President & CEO Chairman & CEO Iliamna Air Taxi, Inc. Jet America JetTrain Corporation Box 109 2735 Mellonville Ave., Suite 101 400 Woodlawn Road Iliamna, AK 99606 Sanford, FL 32773 Aliquippa, PA 15001

Mr. James Bern Mr. Raymond F. Petersen Mr. Michael B. Salazar President President President Jim Air, Inc. Katmai Air Ketchikan Air Service, Inc. Box 190989 4700 Aircraft Drive Box 6900 Anchorage, AK 99519 Anchorage, AK 99502 Ketchikan, AK 99901

Mr. Jerry Murphy Mr. Tom Christopher Mr. Layton A. Bennett President & CEO Chief Executive Officer President Kiwi International Air Lines, Inc. Kitty Hawk Aircargo, Inc. L.A.B. Flying Service, Inc. Hemisphere Ctr, 3rd Flr, U.S. Box 612787, 1515 W. 20th St Box 272 1&9S. DFW Int'l AP, TX 75261 Haines, AK 99827 Newark, NJ 07114

Mr. James B. Kenney Mr. Lawrence A. Chenaille Mr. Walter L. Cole President President & CEO General Manager Laker Airways, Inc. Larry's Flying Service, Inc. LorAir, Ltd. 6261 M/W/ 6th Way, Suite 201 Box 72348 102 Valencia Road Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 Fairbanks, AK 99707 Tucson, AZ 85706

Mr. Michael Hart Mr. Michael D. Yocum Mr. Cody Diekroeger President Chief Executive Officer President Lynden Air Cargo, LLC. Mahalo Air, Inc. Maverick Airways Corporation 6441 South Airpark Place 90 Nakolo Place, Suite 215 12015 East 46th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99502 Honolulu, HI 96819 Denver, CO 80239

Mr. Larry Risley Mr. Robert D. Swenson Mr. D. Ross Fischer Chairman President & CEO President Mesa Airlines, Inc. Mesaba Aviation, Inc. Miami Air International, Inc. 2325 East 30th Street 7501 26th Avenue, South Box 660880 Farmington, NM 87401 Minneapolis, MN 55450 Miami Springs, FL 33266

Mr. Robert Ferguson Mr. Timothy E. Hoeksema Mr. Ernesto Millon President & CEO Chairman and President President Midway Airlines Corp. Midwest Express Airlines, Inc. Millon Air, Inc. 300 West Morgan Street, #1200 4915 S. Howell Avenue Box 524057 Durham, NC 27701 Milwaukee, WI 53207 Miami, FL 33152

5 of 8 Mr. Thomas J.A. McClain Ms. Mary Sholton Witte Mr. Mark McDonald President President Chairman & CEO Mountain Air Express, Inc. d/b/a NAC Network, Inc. Nations Air Express, Inc. MAX 3900 W. International Airport 5275 Triangle Pkwy, # 100 2864 S. Circle Drive, Suite 900 Road Norcross, GA 30092 Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Anchorage, AK 99502

Mr. Dan McKinnon Ms. Mary A. Sholton Mr. John H. Dasburg Chief Executive Officer President President & CEO North American Airlines, Inc. Northern Air Cargo, Inc. Northwest Airlines, Inc. Bldg. 75, JFK Int'l Airport, # 250 3900 W. Int’l Airport Road 5101 Northwest Drive Jamaica, NY 11430 Anchorage, AK 99502 St. Paul, MN 55111

Mr. David Banmiller Mr. Margaret M. Olson Mr. Stan Burnstein Chief Executive Officer President President Pan American World Airways, Olson Air Service, Inc. Omni Air Express, Inc. Inc. Box 142, NE Ramp, Airport 3303 N. Sheridan Rd, Hangar 19 9300 N.W. 36th Street Nome, AK 99762 Tulsa, OK 74115 Miami, FL 33178

Mr. James C. Peabody Mr. Orin D. Seybert Mr. Jim A. Taylor President President President & CEO Panagra Airways, Inc. Peninsula Airways, Inc. Piedmont Aviation Services, Inc. 750 S.W. 34th Street, Suite 201A 4851-A Aircraft Drive 3817 North Liberty Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 Anchorage, AK 99502 Winston-Salem, NC 27105

Mr. Mark S. West Mr. Elijah Jackson Mr. Kevin Stamper President President Chairman & CEO Polar Air Cargo, Inc. Prestige Airways Pro Air, Inc. 15th Floor, 100 Oceangate 9815 Godwin Drive 101 Elliot Avenue West, # 500 Long Beach, CA 90802 Manassas, VA 22110 Seattle, WA 98119

Mr. Kevin Hack Mr. Richard E. Reeve Mr. Robert Reding President President & CEO President & CEO Promech, Inc. Reeve Aleutian Airways, Inc. Reno Air, Inc. Box 8660 4700 West Int’l Airport Road Box 30059 Ketchikan, AK 99901 Anchorage, AK 99502 Reno, NV 84520

Mr. James Qualley Mr. William Meenan Mr. Ronald D. Ryan Chairman President President Renown Aviation, Inc. Rich International Airways, Inc. Ryan International Airlines, Inc. 7830 NW 64th Street 6355 NW 36th Street 6810 West Kellogg Miami, FL 33166 Virginia Gardens, FL 33166 Wichita, KS 67209

Mr. Paul Salerno Mr. Charles Slagle Mr. Gar M. Thorsrud President President President Salair, Inc. Seaborne Aviation, Inc. Sierra Pacific Airlines, Inc. 3406 South Davison Blvd. Box 6440 7700 N Business Park Drive Spokane, WA 99204 Ketchikan, AK 99901 Tucson, AZ 85743

Mr. Ralph L. Richardi Mr. Michael O'Daniel Mr. Robert W. Iverson, II President President President Simmons Airlines, Inc. Skagway Air Service, Inc. Sky Trek International Airlines,

6 of 8 Inc. Box 612527, 1700 W. 20th Street Box 357 1011 East Main Street, # 212 DFW Airport, TX 75261 Skagway, AK 99840 Richmond, VA 23219

Mr. Richard J. Nelson Mr. Jerry C. Atkin Mr. James A. Munson President Chairman and President President Skyway Airlines SkyWest Airlines, Inc. SouthCentral Air, Inc. 4915 S. Howell Avenue 444 S. River Road 135 Granite Point Court Milwaukee, WI 53207 St. George, UT 84770 Kenai, AK 99611

Mr. Herbert D. Kelleher Mr. William G. Langton Mr. Edward W. Homfeld Chmn, President and CEO President President Southwest Airlines Co. Southern Air Transport, Inc. Spirit Airlines, Inc. Box 36611, 2702 Love Field Box 328988 18121 E. 8 Mile Road, # 100 Drive Columbus, OH 43232 Eastpointe, MI 48021 Dallas, TX 75235

Mr. John J. Skiba Mr. John Mansour Mr. Robert P. Fleming President & CEO Chmn, President and CEO President Sun Country Airlines, Inc. Sun Jet International, Inc. Sun Pacific International, Inc. 7701 26th Avenue, South 11701 Belcher Road, Suite 130 2502 East Benson Highway Minneapolis, MN 55450 Largo, FL 34643 Tucson, AZ 85706

Mr. William J. Yung Mr. Harold Esmailka Mr. Jerry A. Scudero President President President Sunworld International Airlines, Tanana Air Service Taquan Air Service, Inc. Inc. Box 60713 1007 Water Street 207 Grandview Drive Fairbanks, AK 99706 Ketchikan, AK 99901 Fort Mitchell, KY 41014

Mr. Robert Everts Mr. Morris Nachtomi Mr. Paul Finazzo President Chairman & CEO President & CEO Tatonduk Flying Service Tower Air, Inc. Tradewinds Airlines, Inc. Box 61680 Hangar 17, JFK Int'l Airport 7306 Market Street Fairbanks, AK 99706 Jamaica, NY 11430 Greensboro, NC 27409

Mr. Scott Kalitta Mr. Hulas Kanodia Mr. Gerald L. Gitner President President Chairman & CEO Trans Continental Airlines, Inc. Trans States Airlines, Inc. Trans World Airlines, Inc. 842 Willow Run Airport 9275 Genaire Drive One City Centre, 515 N. 6th St Ypsilanti, MI 48198 St. Louis, MO 63134 St. Louis, MO 63101

Mr. David Namer Mr. Gary Balnicki Mr. Donald R. Dodson President President President & CEO Tri Star Airlines, Inc. Trans-Air-Link Corporation TransMeridian Airlines 1050 East Flamingo Road, # Box 52-1298 11 Bagby Street, Suite 2520 S-105 Miami, FL 33152 Houston, TX 77002 Las Vegas, NV 89119

Mr. Hollis L. Harris Mr. Hulas Kanodia Mr. Gerald Greenwald Chairman & CEO Chief Executive Officer Chairman & CEO U.S. CalJet Airlines, Inc. UFS, Inc. United Air Lines, Inc. 3855 Lakewood Blvd., M/C 18-11 9275 Genaire Drive Box 6611

7 of 8 Long Beach, CA 90846 St. Louis, MO 63134 Chicago, IL 60666

Mr. Kent C. Nelson Mr. Stephen M. Wolf Mr. Frank L. Salizzoni Chairman & CEO Chairman & CEO President & CEO United Parcel Service Co. US Airways Shuttle US Airways, Inc. 55 Glenlake Parkway, NE Box 710616, LaGuardia Airport 2345 Crystal Dr, Crystal Park 4 Atlanta, GA 30328 Flushing, NY 11371 Arlington, VA 22227

Mr. Robert J. Phelps Mr. Rocky Spain Mr. Byron G. Ellison President Chmn, President and CEO President USA Jet Airlines, Inc. Vanguard Airlines, Inc. Viscount Air Services, Inc. Hangar 2064 D Street 7000 Squibd Road 1000 E Valencia Road Belleville, MI 48111 Mission, KS 66202 Tucson, AZ 85706

Mr. Vincent Civitello Mr. Arthur Warbelow Mr. Rolly Bergeson President President President Vision Air, Inc. Warbelow's Air Ventures, Inc. Westair Commuter Airlines, Inc 25 Boulevard Drive Box 60649 5588 Air Terminal Drive Hicksville, NY 22801 Fairbanks, AK 99706 Fresno, CA 93727

Mr. Robert A. Peiser Mr. Leon P. Christensen Ms. Mary Jordan President & CEO President President Western Pacific Airlines, Inc. Winair, Inc. Wings West Airlines, Inc. 3 South Tejon Street, Suite 400 303 N. 2370 West 1 Aerovista Place, Suite B Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Salt Lake City, UT 84116 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Mr. T. Coleman Andrews III Mr. Robert Bursiel Mr. Richard M. Anderson Chairman & CEO President President World Airways, Inc. Wright Air Service, Inc. Yute Air Alaska, Inc. 13873 Park Center Road, # 490 Box 60142, Fairbanks Int'l Airport Box 190169 Herndon, VA 22071 Fairbanks, AK 99706 Anchorage, AK 99519

Mr. Duane A. Zantop President Zantop International Airlines, Inc. 840 Detroit-Willow Run Airport Ypsilanti, MI 48198

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