Allied Pilots Association

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the Allied Pilots Association (APA) serves as the certified collective bargaining agent for the 16,000 professional pilots who fly for American Airlines. APA was founded in 1963 and is the largest independent pilots’ union in the world. APA provides a broad range of representation services for its members and devotes more than 20 percent of its dues income to support aviation safety.

HEADLINES

APA in the News

Daily Herald, March 2


‘The right stuff and more’: What happened in near miss at Midway Airport

“Two pilots in a matter of less than seconds had to make a decision that saved lives, and they did it,” APA spokesman Capt. Dennis Tajer told the Daily Herald. “It’s an affirmation that the system ultimately can work, but it should never be pushed to that close of a margin.” Read the article …

 


WGN-AM, Feb. 26


Pilots’ union spokesman gives details of aborted landing at Midway Airport

APA spokesman Capt. Dennis Tajer told WGN that everyone in aviation should take a minute for safety: “You wouldn’t walk into an open-heart surgery and go to the surgeon and say, ‘Hey, come on, can you hurry it up here? How quick can you get this done?’ And really, that’s what’s happening in the skies.” Listen to the interview …

 


WVUE-TV, Feb. 9


Descending: The cost of a sinking airport

Officials at MSY admit the New Orleans airport has been sinking since it was built 60 years ago, and repairs to address related issues have cost as much as $500,000 since 2019. “This clearly is going to impact the timeliness of the flights,” APA spokesman Capt. Dennis Tajer told WVUE-TV. “We’ve got to make sure, above all else, it does not affect the safety.” Watch the report ...

 

WHAT'S HAPPENING

APA Public Statements

Docking Guidance System Update

Docking Guidance System Update APA and TWU Local 513 Members, American Airlines has announced that it will discontinue using the Docking Guidance System at domestic DGS-equipped gates and rely on guide persons and wing walkers to meet incoming aircraft at the assigned gate. In response to this announcement, the APA and TWU safety teams have been in close coordination to help ensure a smooth transition. We encourage all pilots and fleet service workers to ensure strict adherence to the Clean Ramp Policy, to report safety concerns to your respective safety teams, and to notify your professional standards representatives of any issues you may encounter. This transition represents a notable change in procedure for both of our work groups. As such, it will require ongoing cooperation, clear communication, and a measure of patience with one another. As always, safety must remain foremost in all our minds. Thank you for your usual outstanding professionalism and for maintaining our mutual commitment to a safe operation. FO Nick Silva President, Allied Pilots Association Greg Cosey President, Transport Workers Union Local 513 CA Jason Sharp APA Safety Committee Chair

Crew Meals – Stick to the Contract

Crew Meals – Stick to the Contract Last week, all 10 of the domicile Flight Offices coordinated to include an identical message in their weekly newsletters regarding crew meals that are not boarded or are materially incomplete. This Company message included non-contractual misrepresentations regarding reimbursement limits and a time limit for the purchase of replacement meals. Contrary to the statements in the coordinated messages, the accurate information regarding reimbursement and time limits is as follows: There is no contractual time limit for a pilot to purchase a replacement meal in relation to the flight’s departure or arrival, although it should be proximate in time and location to the missed crew meal. There is no contractual reimbursement limit for a replacement meal. $30 for a replacement meal is only the automatic approval limit and should not result in a blanket denial. Submissions over $30 may require additional coordination with the Flight Office staff.  Although the Company’s message states that replacement meals must “generally” be purchased within 90 minutes of the segment on which the crew meal was not boarded, APA understands that reimbursement requests are routinely being denied using the 90-minute time limit as a rule. By imposing this arbitrary and non-contractual time limit, Flight Offices have created an environment that may result in delays of required pre-departure pilot duties. In order to comply with this arbitrary time limit, pilots will be forced to focus on securing a timely meal rather than preparing for the performance of their duties. All this, simply in an effort to create an easier way for Flight Offices to deny meal reimbursement claims. We have also received anecdotal feedback that casts doubt on the accuracy of some reported missed crew meals. To ensure accurate reimbursement, you are encouraged to submit your Crew Meal Not Boarded form through Comply365 as soon as possible, especially if the missed meal is discovered before departure. It may also be advisable to secure a replacement meal before departure to avoid any issues with the Company-imposed time limit. Remember that the Comply365 form currently pays $35.92 (this amount is annually adjusted) on a future Pay Statement and is in addition to the reimbursement for a replacement meal (typically paid as an off-cycle direct deposit). Keep in mind that your assessment of fitness for duty includes securing adequate sustenance for your current segment or future segment(s), which is what the Crew Meal contractual provision was intended to provide.

Aviation Coalition Underscores Commitment to Safety

Aviation Coalition Underscores Commitment to Safety Our country is mourning after the unthinkable loss of the passengers and crews of Flight 5342, PAT 25, and Med Jets Flight 056. The entire aviation community is united in our grief and our commitment to taking action to ensure accidents like these never happen again. We never take safety for granted, and we never will. Aviation remains the safest mode of transportation in the world. Nearly 50,000 flights take off and land safely each day in the U.S., and our National Airspace System remains the gold standard of safety. “We have the safest skies in the whole world,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said. “Traveling by air is the safest mode of transportation.” National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy echoed that, saying, “I assure you that the safest mode of transportation is air travel. It is incredibly safe.” We are confident that the NTSB, working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Defense (DOD), and other parties, will identify root causes and issue recommendations for the aviation industry and the U.S. military to prevent future accidents. The work of Chair Homendy, NTSB Board Member Todd Inman, other NTSB Members, and the NTSB staff is critical for responding to these accidents and making our system even safer. As Member Inman recited days ago, “Through tragedy, we draw knowledge to improve the safety for us all.” We strongly support this important work and urge policymakers to ensure that the NTSB and the FAA have the staffing and resources needed to ensure that the U.S. aviation system is safe and efficient and can continue to innovate. We will find out what caused the terrible tragedies last week. We will learn from them. We will undoubtedly make changes. And by making an incredibly safe system even safer, we will honor the passengers, crew members, and U.S. servicemembers who have been lost. Aeronautical Repair Station Association Air Line Pilots Association, International Air Traffic Control Association Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Airlines for America Airports Council International – North America Association of Flight Attendants-CWA American Association of Airport Executives Association of Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International Aviation Technical Education Council Cargo Airline Association Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations Experimental Aircraft Association Inc. General Aviation Manufacturers Association Global Business Travel Association International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers International Council of Air Shows National Agricultural Aviation Association National Air Carrier Association National Air Traffic Controllers Association National Air Transportation Association National Association of State Aviation Officials National Business Aviation Association Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO Recreational Aviation Foundation Regional Airline Association Travelers United U.S. Travel Association Vertical Aviation International Vertical Flight Society

We Extend Our Deepest Condolences

We Extend Our Deepest Condolences On behalf of the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines we are honored to serve, we extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all who perished in Wednesday’s accident at DCA. We share your grief and are keenly aware of the far-reaching impact of this tragedy. We also want to acknowledge the first responders who remain on the scene for the recovery effort. They have been working tirelessly in extremely challenging conditions. With the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the accident now underway, it is essential to refrain from speculation about the cause. APA’s safety team will remain in close contact with their counterparts at American Airlines, and we are committed to learning all we can from the investigation. APA stands ready to support our ALPA and AFA-CWA colleagues in whatever way we can. As pilots, we belong to an extended airline family, and their loss is our loss. Humbly, FO Nick Silva, APA President CA Chris Torres, APA Vice President FO Patrick Clark, APA Secretary-Treasurer CA Paul McFarland, BOS Domicile Chair CA Gemma Meehan, BOS Domicile Vice Chair CA Heather Boulanger, CLT Domicile Chair FO Hickory Ham, CLT Domicile Vice Chair CA Chris Wachter, DCA Domicile Chair CA Thomas Lawler, DCA Domicile Vice Chair CA Brian Smith, DFW Domicile Chair FO Jason Gustin, DFW Domicile Vice Chair CA Bill Evans, LAX Domicile Chair CA Timothy Dick, LAX Domicile Vice Chair CA Mark Lokey, LGA Domicile Chair CA Jim Scanlan, LGA Domicile Vice Chair CA Jay Wilhelm, MIA Domicile Chair FO Jamie Funderburk, MIA Domicile Vice Chair CA Wes Smith, ORD Domicile Chair FO Paul Meyers, ORD Domicile Vice Chair FO Michael Drost, PHL Domicile Chair CA Brian Sweep, PHL Domicile Vice Chair CA Michael Saracino, PHX Domicile Chair CA Jeremy Ryder, PHX Domicile Vice Chair

APA’s Legislative Priorities

APA makes its voice heard on Capitol Hill.

Video Highlight

“We Are Proud”

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