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Annex 2 - Work Program

It was the consensus of the Working Group that the following action items will form the Working Group’s work program to achieve the objectives set out in the Terms of Reference. Working Group members acknowledged that, as work progresses, work program items may change as other issues arise and priorities are identified.

WORK PROGRAM

Incident Information System

The Working Group will develop a national standard system for recording, reporting and tracking of dispositions of incidents of abusive and unruly passenger behaviour.

Transport Canada will develop a draft model reporting form and suggested elements of an information system for the Working Group’s consideration at the next meeting.

Enforcement of Offences Committed by Non-Canadian Passengers

The Working Group will study the need for a rapid response mechanism to obtain the consent of the Attorney General of Canada to charge a non-Canadian citizen with offences under the Criminal Code of Canada that are committed on aircraft.

Transport Canada will provide a status report at the Working Group’s next meeting.

Creation of A New Offence

The Working Group will consider proposing the development of a new offence (Criminal Code of Canada and/or Canadian Aviation Regulations) that would prohibit persons on board an aircraft from interfering with a crew members in the performance of their duties. Transport Canada will research creating such an offence with the Department of Justice.

A status report will be provided at the Working Group’s next meeting.

Public Awareness Campaign

The Working Group will develop proposals for a public awareness campaign to educate the travelling public on conduct considered inappropriate on board aircraft and the repercussions of such conduct. Transport Canada will develop campaign materials for consideration at the next Working Group meeting.

International Support

The Working Group encouraged Transport Canada to use all available means to encourage other States to take prompt and effective action in dealing with unruly and disruptive actions on board aircraft arriving in their territory.

FUTURE WORK PROGRAM ITEMS

Restraint Devices On Board Aircraft

The Working Group will study the issue of restraining abusive and unruly passengers in-flight with a view to establishing the need to require restraint devices on aircraft. Examination of this matter should address such matters as air carrier policy on the use of restraints, training provided, the types of restraints used/available, accessibility/storage of restraints on board aircraft and related legal issues.

Awareness Program

The Working Group will develop recommended elements of an awareness program for flight/ground crews, police/Transport Canada and judicial authorities that outlines requirements and procedures for enforcement of offences related to abusive and unruly passenger behaviour. The awareness program should address, as a minimum, the roles and responsibilities of crew, police services and Transport Canada, including the peace officer role of pilots in command.

Training Program

The Working Group will develop a proposal for mandatory training of flight/ground crew on detecting, responding to and managing abusive and unruly passenger behaviour. This should be supported by the development of minimum training standards (qualifications of trainers, duration of training, recurrent training), a standard training syllabus (applicable laws, enforcement requirements) and a model training program.

 
Date modified:
2010-05-03