U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao recently established the National In-Flight Sexual Misconduct Task Force as a subcommittee of the newly reformed Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC).
The task force’s purpose is to review U.S. airlines’ practices and protocols regarding how employees report allegations of sexual misconduct by passengers on aircraft and how airlines respond to reports.
The task force will then provide recommendations regarding training, reporting, and data collection regarding sexual misconduct incidents by passengers.
The ACPAC is tasked with evaluating aviation consumer protection programs. It will provide Chao with recommendations for improving programs.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 requires the Secretary of Transportation appoint four ACPAC members. The members must be representatives of a nonprofit public interest group with expertise in consumer protection, a state or local government, an airport operator and a U.S. airline.
Other members must be from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation, labor organizations representing flight attendants and pilots, law enforcement agencies, and members representing national consumer protection organizations, organizations that specialize in providing services to sexual assault victims, and travel organizations.
ACPAC will meet for the first time on Jan. 16.