Why It's Important to Have an Emergency Response Plan

For this month’s article I am bringing you information on an often overlooked topic: What you should do to prepare you, your company, and your employees for the possibility that your company is ever in some way touched by an aviation accident. I enlisted the help of Jason Kelly of Crisis Advisors. He is a wealth of knowledge in crisis management and emergency response planning.

Any company that provides maintenance services to commercial and private aircraft should invest in an aviation emergency response plan (ERP). An aviation emergency response plan for a maintenance repair organization (MRO) is key, should your business find itself pulled into an aircraft accident investigation, and subsequent lawsuits. An aviation emergency response plan provides specific steps for a company to take after an aircraft accident has occurred to protect your business. 

Insurance companies often look favorably upon ERPs because it shows prior preparation in the case of an incident or accident. The ERP gives you the framework to guide your decisions in a time of great distress. 

Having an ERP will help you and your staff be better prepared at a time when things may be at their worst. It provides the step-by-step procedures you and your employees can take to protect your business as well as your employees.

Some things to consider in an ERP are the design of an emergency response plan for the type of work your company does. An ERP can vary by maintenance functions performed, ferry flights, or other unique operations, like offsite maintenance, etc. It ensures that each key position in your company has an emergency response checklist coordinated with other positions. And it also has vetting procedures for securing and reviewing all records, standard operating procedures, and work performed. An ERP designates and trains company representatives to participate in the ICAO Annex 13 investigation. Have items coordinated ahead of time with your insurance company. Prewritten media statements and press releases should be reviewed and agreed upon by company executives. Notification statements should also be prewritten and practiced, to assist company employees or their family members.

1. You need to ensure that your employees are safe and that they are informed of the steps you are taking. Disseminating information to employees will help inform them and dispel rumors.
2. If the event draws media attention you will want to have statements prepared before an event that help guide you so that you are in control of the information not reacting to it.
3. If someone is hurt or killed at your location you should have a plan to notify the family so they are assured you are doing everything possible.
4. Keep records of who you have notified and when (police, fire, municipality).
5. Record employee drug testing and statements by employees who worked on the affected aircraft or engine.
6. Counseling services should be offered to employees who worked on the affected aircraft or engine.

An emergency response plan should not just sit on the bookshelf gathering dust – it should be practiced twice each year – with different scenarios, to ensure your ERP is the most effective it can be for your company. While many companies have an ERP, it is typically never reviewed or practiced until the day of a crisis. Having a solid ERP, well-practiced by trained employees ensures that during a time of crisis, your company’s emergency response will be competent and well thought out ahead of time. 

Is your company prepared?

If you would like more information on preparing and emergency response plan please feel free to reach out to me or Jason at [email protected].

Jamie Benthusen is a commercial insurance producer for FGMK Insurance based in Bannockburn, IL. He draws on his 16 years in the aviation industry to tailor insurance programs for the aviation industry. FGMK insurance combines the personal service of a boutique insurance broker with the experience and resources of a National insurance broker. FGMK can address your organization's insurance needs from the simplest to the most complex and everything in between. For more information you can reach him at [email protected].

Since 2011, Jason Kelly has provided consulting, as president of Crisis Advisors to over 30 airlines all over the world, including: Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, South America, and the United States. Sharing his real-world accident experience and knowledge of running an Emergency Response department, he has been able to help airlines and other companies benefit from his experience. Kelly worked at Continental Airlines for 12 years, and was Director of Emergency Management for five years, with worldwide responsibility for the Emergency Response program. During those years, he responded to the Continental Airlines flight 1404 accident in Denver, the Continental Connection/Colgan flight 3407 accident in Buffalo, and the Continental Airlines Flight 128 severe turbulence incident in Miami. Kelly led all three Go Team flights and coordinated the Emergency Response on-scene for each accident and incident.