CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR LENGTHY TARMAC DELAYS
(Applicable only to Surinam Airways operations at a United States Airport)
This Plan is adopted for all scheduled and public charter flights operated by Surinam Airways.
Surinam Airways’ assurances to Customers:
1. For international flights covered by this Plan that depart from or arrive at a U.S. airport, Surinam Airways will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac at a U.S. airport for more than four hours before allowing passengers to deplane, unless:
a) The pilot-in-command determines there is a safety-related or security-related reason why the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac to deplane passengers; or
b) Air Traffic Control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to the gate or another disembarkation point elsewhere in order to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations..
2. For all flights covered by this Plan, Surinam Airways will provide adequate food and potable water no later than two hours after the aircraft leaves the gate (in the case of departure) or touches down (in the case of arrival) if the aircraft remains on the tarmac, unless the pilot-in-command determines that safety or security considerations preclude such service.
3. For all flights covered by this Plan, Surinam Airways will provide operable lavatory facilities, as well as adequate medical attention if needed, while the aircraft remain on the tarmac.
4. Surinam Airways will notify passengers on the delayed flight regarding the status of a the delay every 30 minutes while the aircraft is delayed, including the reasons for the tarmac delay, if known; the passengers on the delayed flight will be notified 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 an aircraft that is at the gate or another disembarkation area with the door open if the opportunity to deplane actually exists.
5. Surinam Airways has sufficient resources to implement this Plan.
6. Surinam Airways needs to and will coordinate this Plan with the United States Customs and Border Protection and with the United States Transportation Security Administration at the airports in the United States that it normally serves or uses as a diversion airport.
7. Retention of records: Surinam Airways will retain for two years the following information about any tarmac delay that lasts more than three hours:
a) The length of the delay
b) The precise cause of the delay
c) The action taken to minimize hardships for passengers, including the provision of food and water, the maintenance and servicing of lavatories, and medical assistance;
SURINAM AIRWAYS
