This is Communications Committee member First Officer Scott Shankland with the APA Information Hotline for Friday, April 24.
ASAP STILL ON HOLD: The APA National Safety Committee has been closely monitoring the ASAP approval process as our newly agreed-to Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) works its way through the FAA. The major reason for the delay reinstating our ASAP program appears to the FAA’s workload. Our ASAP MOU was submitted for approval at approximately the same time the Independent Pilots Association pilots at UPS and TWU here at AA submitted their ASAP applications.
While we await the reinstatement of our ASAP program that should once again set the industry standard, we want to remind all pilots to continue to utilize the APA Safety Committee for P2 reviews and assistance with NASA/ASRS reports. You can easily access Safety Committee assistance through the prominent button on the members’ home page of alliedpilots.org.
UPDATE YOUR CELL PHONE INFORMATION: The APA Strike Preparedness Committee is testing and evaluating text messaging as a means of communicating short-notice information to the membership. To accomplish this, all members need to ensure APA has your correct cell phone information. Checking and updating your member information is as simple as clicking on the bright red “Update Your Cell Phone” button on the members’ home page of the alliedpilots.org Web site. Please take time to do so.
APA NEWS DIGEST: This week’s APA News Digest contains a wealth of valuable information. The lead article is a discussion of growing governmental concern in the United States and European Union countries regarding international joint business ventures, which are more appropriately termed “virtual mergers.” Other articles include TWU mechanics highlighting concerns with Boeing windshields, a brief look at which airlines beat Wall Street expectations for the most recent quarter and a clarification of an AA pilot pay figure cited in a recent Wall Street Journal article. This week’s APA News Digest should be in your email or can be found via the Communications Committee page of alliedpilots.org.
THE MESSAGE TO EMPLOYEES NEVER CHANGES: Consider the following two AMR management quotes addressed to employees:
“American has reached a turning point in its 64-year history. Our industry has undergone a fundamental and permanent transformation…”
“We are in the toughest economic climate we have experienced in a long time – and maybe ever.”
One is from 15 years ago, while the other is from this week. The first appeared in a 1994 letter to pilots from then-AMR Executive Vice President Bob Baker. The second is from this week’s letter to employees from AMR CEO Gerard Arpey.
The lesson here is to be careful not to get hung up on management communications intended to lower your expectations. It is a management tactic designed to weaken your resolve for restoration. Keep that thought in mind.
That’s all we have for today. Remember, your participation is essential to our success in getting the contract you deserve! Thanks for checking this hotline.
