Bill Overview
Title: National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act of 2022
Description: This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a national aviation preparedness plan for communicable disease outbreaks, including to (1) create a process to identify appropriate personal protective equipment to reduce the likelihood of exposure to a communicable disease that has the potential to cause an epidemic or pandemic of infectious disease that would constitute a public health emergency of international concern (i.e., a covered communicable disease); and (2) improve coordination between airports, air carriers, and governmental entities with respect to preparing for and responding to communicable disease outbreaks. In developing the plan, DOT must consult with aviation industry and labor stakeholders such as air carriers. The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study assessing the plan, including (1) whether the plan meets the obligations of the United States under international conventions and treaties, and (2) the extent to which the U.S. aviation system is prepared to respond to an outbreak of a covered communicable disease.
Sponsors: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in and utilizing global aviation services
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The aviation industry includes millions of employees globally, including pilots, flight attendants, airport staff, and aircraft maintenance and logistics teams.
- International travelers are a significant subset of the global population, and this plan would impact how their travel is handled during disease outbreaks.
- Governments and entities involved in public health response and aviation regulations will be directly influenced by this legislation.
- It's important to consider frequent international travelers who might be impacted by changes to aviation practices due to this bill.
Reasoning
- I aimed to capture a cross-section of people who would be directly affected by the policy within the aviation industry and frequent travelers. This includes airline employees, travelers, business executives, and public health officials.
- Given the ubiquity of air travel and the large number of people involved, I also considered the varying levels of policy impact, from high (industry workers) to low (infrequent travelers).
- Budget restraints meant focusing on key stakeholders with direct connections to communicable disease readiness in aviation, largely within regulatory and compliance aspects rather than customer service improvements.
Simulated Interviews
Pilot (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about my health and safety, especially when flying to regions with ongoing health issues.
- I support better coordination and preparedness measures to prevent disease spread onboard.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Flight Attendant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important to have PPE and clear protocols. I feel vulnerable as I'm constantly exposed to various people.
- I hope this leads to more safety measures on our flights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Business Executive (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Global travel is crucial for my company. This plan could minimize disruptions due to pandemics.
- I support proactive measures to handle potential health crises effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Public Health Official (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An aviation preparedness plan is critical for public health. We need structured responses to protect everyone involved.
- The policy aligns well with our goals to prevent disease spread across borders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Airport Staff (Miami, FL)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Dealing with passengers during health scares is tough. This plan should make us more prepared.
- I expect better support in handling health emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Airport Security (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Security and health safety go hand in hand. A preparedness plan reinforces both elements.
- This policy should improve our tactical response capabilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Freelance Journalist (Newark, NJ)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An effective preparedness plan can prevent stories I've covered about airline chaos during pandemic-like situations.
- I'm interested to see the coordination this policy mandates.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Travel Consultant (Houston, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I give travel advice based on safety. Having structured plans will enhance travel security for my clients.
- It might influence how travel advisories are administered.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This plan gives me assurance about safe flying during global health crises.
- I’m optimistic it could minimize travel disruptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Biomedical Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A robust preparedness plan could support research by facilitating safer travel for scientists.
- This is a step in the right direction for global health security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 5: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The cost of the plan would primarily involve initial set-up and implementation phases, with decreasing expenses in later years as processes stabilize.
- Coordination efforts between diverse stakeholders require complex logistical and administrative planning.
- The act's success heavily depends on cooperative engagement from multiple sectors, including international entities due to the global nature of aviation.