U.S. Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan

The Atlantic Airways Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan (the “Plan”) applies to all of our scheduled and public charter flights that depart from or arrive at a U.S. airport.  We have established this Plan to comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation's “Enhanced Protection for Airline Passenger” regulations (14 CFR Part 259). A copy of the Plan can be found here on our website. 

1. For international flights that depart from or arrive at a U.S. airport, we will not permit our aircraft to remain on the tarmac at a U.S. airport for more than four hours before allowing passengers to deplane, with the following exceptions:

a. For departing flights, when the flight begins to return to a suitable disembarkation point no later than four hours after the main aircraft door is closed in order to deplane passengers. If the aircraft is in an area not under the carrier’s control, the aircraft has begun to return to a suitable disembarkation point when a request is made to the Federal Aviation Administration control tower, airport authority, or other relevant authority directing the aircraft’s operations. If the aircraft is in an area under the carrier’s control, the aircraft has begun to return to a suitable disembarkation point when the pilot begins maneuvering the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point; or

b. The pilot-in-command determines that deplaning passengers at a suitable disembarkation point would jeopardize passenger safety or security, or there is a safety-related or security-related reason the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac to deplane passengers; or

c. Air traffic control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations.

2. For all flights covered by the Plan, we will provide adequate food and potable water no later than two hours after our aircraft leaves the gate (in the case of a departure) or touches down (in the case of an arrival) if our 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 the  Plan,  we will provide operable lavatory facilities and adequate medical attention, if needed, while our aircraft remains on the tarmac.

4. For all flights covered by the Plan, we will notify our passengers within 30 minutes regarding the status of the tarmac delay.

5. We will notify passengers on board the aircraft that passengers have the opportunity to deplane each time the opportunity to deplane exists at a suitable disembarkation point for all departing flights and diversions.

6. We have sufficient resources to implement the Plan.

7. We have coordinated the Plan with all applicable airport authorities, including U.S. Customs & Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration, at all U.S. airports we serve, including all diversion airports.