Page 18 - InterPilot 2019 Issue 1

EMERGENCY & CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE PLANS PAGE 18

Excerpt from the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Handbook:
guIDelInes for pIloTs InVolVeD In an aCCIDenT, serIous InCIDenT or
InCIDenT

1. As soon as you are assured that the immediate physical needs of your pas-
sengers and fellow crew members are being met, call your Association and the
Operator for help IMMEDIATELY. Any delay can seriously compromise the help
which you may receive. What begins as a minor incident can be blown up into
a major event. Timeliness can be critical, particularly in the initial phase of the
investigation.

At the same time, request that your Association provide you with legal assistance
prior to speaking with aeronautical authorities or making any statements. It is
strongly emphasized that no statement should be made to any authority before
advice and assistance is obtained.

2. Your Association will handle any media statements or requests. NEVER make a
direct statement to the news media and advise your family not to do so either.

3. If possible do not make any statements to ANYONE, other than your Association
or legal representative until you are thoroughly rested, and you are certain that
you are not in shock. In addition, if you are injured or in shock, make no state-
ments while you are under sedation, or until you are cleared by a physician and
your advisors to be interviewed.
4. If possible do not make any statements to ANYONE until your legal and/or Asso-
ciation representative has been consulted. If pressed for a statement or interview
by the Government investigators, advise them that you will make a statement
after you have consulted with your legal representative. You will need time to
collect your thoughts and regain your composure. Should an immediate safety
of flight item need correcting, you can of course, preferably through your As-
sociation, mention it, but then in any case stop right there until you have legal
representation.

Do not talk casually to a Government investigator or inspector about the accident
or incident. Anything you say during such conversation may be used against you
later. Assume any telephone conversations will be recorded. Remember that you
have an absolute obligation to co-operate with the investigation in an appropri-
ate manner.

5. Keep your crew together if possible and obtain rest facilities away from the air-
port for all crew members. If there are fatalities, with the resultant media atten-
tion, one option available to you is to check into the nearest hospital. Advise the
medical personnel of your situation and your desire to get some rest. Specify
those persons whom you wish to see and ask that no other visitors be allowed.
Be sure to include your Association and legal representatives among those per-
sons allowed to see you.

6. Contact your family if you wish, but do not invite them to the scene. This has
been shown to have an adverse psychological effect upon both the crew mem-
bers and their families. Advise them that the Association will send someone to
help them.