Compensation for accident victims.

[TunaBum]

Part of the "Towards a National Aviation Policy Statement - Issues Paper" is the topic "Compensation arrangements in the event of an accident."

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/avi...Papril2008.pdf (http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/nap/files/AviationIPapril2008.pdf)

Section 4.5 on page 3 states:


"The Australian Government has a primary role in setting minimum levels of liability and insurance for airlines, so that people who suffer loss in the event of an aviation accident can quickly gain access to fair compensation."

It asks a number of questions including: "Is there a better system or model for compensating people?"

I'm wondering whether anyone has any thoughts in relation to this? Is our current system fair and fast? Are there any examples of areas for concern? Or is it a minefield of legal/judicial/insurance red tape and uncertainty.

Is there a better way?

TB http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/puppy_dog_eyes.gif

[Diatryma]

I recall some media on the Lockhart River accident where there were some complaints about lack of compensation three years after the accident.

That all seemed to blow over.

I guess from the lack of interest to your topic Tuna that this is not a concern generally.

Di :ok:

[Falling Leaf]

Tuna,

I have not read the proposal but I just completed the IATA Emergency Response course and we spent a bit of time looking at the Montreal Convention 2003 which is the single legal instrument that governs the liability of international air carriers in respect of compensation payments.

Australia is a signatory and I understand that 5 years after the event the Convention has just been ratified through parliament, so maybe its a case of one hand of Government not knowing what the other is doing in the question that was asked above.

There is also ICAO Circular 285 which deals with Guidance on assistance to aircraft accident victims and their families.