Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan
In accordance with Department of Transportation Enhanced Protections for Airline Passengers regulations (14 CFR Part 259), Swift Air, LLC (d/b/a iAero Airways) has established a Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan, has committed sufficient resources to implement the plan, and has coordinated the plan with all of the airports it serves. In the unlikely event of a long onboard delay prior to takeoff or upon landing, our Operations Control Center will coordinate with the Pilot-in-command on the aircraft, the local Airport Operations Team, and authorities at the airport to implement our plan.
Onboard delays are situations we always try to avoid. Sometimes weather, gate-space limitations, visibility, airport conditions, mechanical problems, Air Traffic Control requirements, or other uncontrollable circumstances cause unavoidable ground delays.
For the purpose of this Plan a Tarmac Delay (hereinafter a “Delay”) is defined under Part 259 as: “the holding of an aircraft on the ground either before taking off or after landing with no opportunity for its passengers to deplane.” Swift commits that should a plane be delayed in a manner that passengers cannot deplane, either before departure or after landing, that the following amenities and assistance will be provided.
Swift’s Plan is divided into two time components whereby Swift will provide and/or take action. The first time threshold is designated at two hours after departure from the gate or after landing and enroute to parking location at the gate. The second time threshold will be at the three hour point for domestic flights and at the four hour point for international flights.
For all flights, Swift Air, LLC will provide passengers on the delayed flight notification regarding the status of the delay every 30 minutes while the aircraft is delayed, including the reasons for the tarmac delay, if known.
For all flights, Swift Air, LLC will provide passengers on the delayed flight notification beginning 30 minutes after scheduled departure time (including any revised departure time that passengers were notified about before boarding) and every 30 minutes thereafter that they have the opportunity to deplane from the aircraft if it is at the gate or another disembarkation area with the door open, provided the opportunity to deplane actually exists.
During a delay, Swift will provide a comfortable cabin temperature onboard its aircraft, and will ensure operable lavatory facilities as well as adequate medical attention to its passengers, if needed, while the aircraft remains on the tarmac.
Further Swift assures its passengers that it has sufficient resources to implement this required Plan.
At Two Hours:
Unless, the Pilot-In-Command determines that safety or security precludes such service (e.g. weather, a directive from an appropriate government agency), the Carrier shall ensure the provision of:
- Snack and drinking water service
- Potable water for operation of lavatories & sinks
- Operable lavatory facilities
- Adequate medical attention if needed
At Three Hours for Domestic Flights and at Four Hours for International Flights:
- Aircraft must be at gate with the door open, or
- At remote parking with air stairs connected.
Exceptions to the Rule include, if in the judgment of the Pilot-In-Command there is a safety or security related reason not to return; if in the opinion of the FAA Air Traffic Controller movement of an aircraft subject to this rule would significantly disrupt airport operations.
Swift’s Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan has been coordinated with airport authorities at each U.S. large hub airport, medium hub airport, small hub airport and non-hub airport that the carrier serves, as well as its regular U.S. diversion airports.
Swift’s Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan has also been coordinated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at each large U.S. hub airport, medium hub airport, small hub airport and non-hub airport that is regularly used for that carrier’s international flights, including diversion airports.
Swift will share facilities and made gates available at airports in an emergency . Swift will also work with airport officials and, if necessary, other airlines to share or acquire equipment such as portable stairs, buses, vans, or other means by which customers may deplane and be safely escorted to a terminal or other reasonable facility.
TDCP-R4