Introduction

Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL), in compliance with 14 CFR Parts 244, 250, 253, 259, and 399, and the US Department of Transportation’s modified Tarmac Delay Rules (pursuant to the change made to the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016) has adopted this contingency plan to mitigate inconveniences for airline passengers during lengthy tarmac delays. This plan applies to PAL’s scheduled and public charter flights at large hub, medium hub, small hub, and non-hub U.S. airports where PAL operates. This plan contains separate sections covering maximum hold times on aircraft delays, provisioning of adequate food and potable water, adequate medical attention and operable lavatory facilities, notifications, resources to implement the plan, and assurances that the plan has been coordinated with airport and government authorities.  As used throughout this plan, the term “tarmac delay” means the holding of an aircraft on the ground either before taking off or after landing with no opportunity for passengers to deplane.

 

• On Tarmac Delays 

  
  For PAL flights that depart from, or arrive at a U.S. airport, PAL will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac at a U.S. airport for more than four (4) hours without providing passengers an opportunity to deplane, unless: (i) the pilot-in-command determines that there is a safety or security related reason why the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac to deplane passengers; or  (ii)  the pilot-in-command determines that deplaning passengers at a suitable disembarkation point would jeopardize passenger safety or security ; or (iii) local Air Traffic Control (ATC) advises the pilot-in-command that returning to the gate or other disembarkation point elsewhere in order to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations. 

 

• Adequate Food and Potable Water

  
  PAL will provision all flights with adequate food and potable water on board the aircraft. During a tarmac delay, PAL will provide adequate food and potable water to passengers, free of charge, no later than two (2) hours after the aircraft main door is closed  (in the case of a departure) or touches down (in the case of an arrival) at the airport, as the case may be, unless the pilot-in-command determines that safety or security considerations preclude such service. 

 

• Operable Lavatory Facilities

  
  All PAL aircraft are equipped operable lavatories. For all flights, PAL assures its passengers of operable lavatory facilities while the aircraft remains on the tarmac.  

 

• Adequate Medical Attention 

  
  
  PAL will arrange for adequate medical attention to be provided to passengers in need thereof during a tarmac delay. All PAL aircraft are equipped with an emergency medical kit as well as a first aid kit and PAL cabin crew are trained in first aid. 

 

• Notifications

  
  
  On delayed flights, PAL assures its passengers that they will receive a notification regarding the delay, including the reasons for the tarmac delay, if known,  after 30 minutes have lapsed from the scheduled departure time.  Thereafter, PAL shall timely notify its passengers of any opportunity they may have to deplane from the aircraft that is at the gate or another disembarkation area with the door open, if and only when the opportunity to deplane actually exists.  
  
  However, passengers that are deplaning do so at their own risk and the flight could depart at any time without them.  

 

• Sufficient Resources 

  
  PAL will commit sufficient resources in order to implement this plan fully. PAL will coordinate with necessary authorities and offices to ensure that all subject areas of this plan are implemented. 

 

• Coordination with Airports 

  
  PAL assures its passengers that the plan has been coordinated with airport authorities (including terminal facility operators where applicable) at each U.S. large hub airport, medium hub airport, small hub airport and non-hub airport that PAL serves, as well as its regular U.S. diversion airports.  

 

• Coordination with Government Authorities

  
  PAL assures its passengers that the plan has been coordinated with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at each U.S. large hub airport, medium hub airport, small hub airport and non-hub airport that PAL serves, including diversion airports.