We are especially proud to have received an important new assignment from a leading Italian airport operator to train its staff who are part of the Airport Contact Team.
The entry into force in autumn 2023 of the new Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) “Regulation on Assistance to Air Accident Victims and their Relatives” requires airport operators to draft and implement a “Plan for Assistance to Air Accident Victims and their Relatives.”
The regulation also assigns to the airport operator important responsibilities within the Airport Contact Team, which is the team responsible for ensuring proper information is shared with victims and their relatives in case of accidents. The Team is composed of at least one representative each of ENAC and the airport operator, who must have undergone specific training. Pending the intervention of ENAC, the Team is coordinated by the staff of the Airport management company.
Our Task
To ensure the preparation of its staff members who are part of the Contact Team and any other members fielded by state institutions and agencies, the airport operator asked us to develop a training plan.
The plan – developed with one of our Associate Advisors who is an expert in emergency psychology – includes theoretical and practical training organized in short training sessions lasting about 3 hours each. 20 psychology graduates will simulate relatives following an ad-hoc training course we specifically organized.
The importance of preparedness
The emergencies in which our society is increasingly embroiled have urged many organizations to develop appropriate response plans to better manage critical complexities.
Many of the plans put in place aim to support people first and foremost. People are recognized as crucial for coping with threats and helping those most affected by the events.
Providing relief and responding to the material and non-material needs of all stakeholders (users, employees, family members, etc.) is therefore an ethical priority and also an organizational and corporate culture choice.
In this context, the training of personnel in charge of early emergency and crisis management becomes crucial, and in particular the development of appropriate skills to manage communications and human relations under stress.
