This is APA Communications Committee Chairman Captain Sam Mayer with the APA Information Hotline for Friday, September 25.

Executive Administrator David Ahles’ briefing included a review of the union’s information technology equipment purchase and control procedures, which are designed to ensure appropriate standardization and accountability. Mr. Ahles also discussed the current approach to performance reviews for APA staff members.

Director of Industry Analysis Allison Clark recapped American Airlines’ recent actions to bolster liquidity. She noted that the airline’s 2010 forecast includes net growth of 1 percent and a focus on hub flying at DFW, ORD, MIA, LAX and NY, with a concurrent pull-down at STL and RDU. The Board subsequently approved a motion to make Ms. Clark’s report accessible via “Headliners” on the members’ home page of alliedpilots.org.

The Board re-elected SFO Domicile Vice Chairman Captain Mark O’Grady to serve on the Financial Audit Committee.

Following first-round Negotiating Committee nominations yesterday, the Board conducted second-round nominations today, waived policy governing the minimum number of Negotiating Committee members required and elected Captain Marcus Spiegel and First Officer Scott Nielson to that committee. The Board then elected First Officer Nielson to serve as chairman. In addition, the Board waived policy governing Scope Committee elections, which by policy immediately follow Negotiating Committee elections. The Board approved a motion directing that Scope Committee elections would be the last order of business at the meeting.

Security Committee Chairman First Officer Mike Karn previewed for the Board a series of materials focusing on the dynamics of a crisis that will be incorporated in future training syllabi. He reiterated the committee’s mantra to “Prepare for the unthinkable, as thought it was inevitable.” First Officer Karn, who also serves as Chairman of the Committee for Armed Defense of the Cockpit (CADC), additionally briefed liaison efforts between CADC and the National Association of Police Organizations.

Also today, the Board voted to approve the following resolutions:

R2008-67, “Deletion of C&B Article VIII Executive Administrator,” which deletes that section from the APA Constitution and Bylaws in its entirety. As a reminder, changes to the APA Constitution and Bylaws are subject to a 100-day abeyance period. You can review the full text of this resolution and others in the abeyance period via the “Pending Constitution & Bylaws Changes” link under the “National Information” tab at the upper left-hand side of the alliedpilots.org members’ home page.

R2009-59, “Annual Economic Report,” which facilitates the inclusion of second-quarter data in APA’s Annual Economic Report by shifting the publication date from July to August.

R2009-60, “Collective Bargaining Agreement Economic Modeling,” which stipulates the creation of a working economic model for use in contract negotiations. This resolution stipulates that the information obtained by this modeling effort shall be kept confidential similar to the information obtained via pilot polls and surveys.

R2009-61, “Negotiating Training,” which acknowledges that the makeup of the APA Board of Directors and Negotiating Committee has changed since the most recent formal negotiating training and directs that the Board, National Officers and Negotiating Committee be provided negotiating training.

We would also like to correct an error in yesterday’s Hotline message. We reported that the Appeal Board was reelected for a 12 month term, when per APA Policy the term is 24 months. We apologize for the error.

That’s it for today. Thanks for checking this hotline.