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Allied Pilots Association: “We Stand with Our Spirit Airlines Colleagues”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-312-3901 Allied Pilots Association: “We Stand with Our Spirit Airlines Colleagues” FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 18, 2024) – The Allied Pilots Association expressed its support for the pilots of Spirit Airlines following that carrier’s announcement it has filed a Chapter 11 petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York. Spirit Airlines is the first major passenger carrier to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring since American Airlines did so in 2011. “Many of the pilots APA represents know firsthand how challenging Chapter 11 is for the employees who are involved, and we stand with our Spirit Airlines colleagues as they prepare to navigate the restructuring process,” said APA President First Officer Nick Silva. “It’s also important to acknowledge this news personally affects some of our own pilots who have family members and friends who fly for Spirit Airlines, including some who are already furloughed. “The airline pilot community is a closely knit group, and we will do everything we can to help our Spirit Airlines colleagues protect their career interests while the airline restructures,” Silva said. “This news serves as the latest reminder of the airline industry’s dynamic, intensely competitive nature. “Above all, I want the pilots of Spirit Airlines to know that we’re here for you,” he said. Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association – the largest independent pilots union in the United States – has its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s website is AlliedPilots.org.
Press Releases

APA News Digest: Nov. 15, 2024

APA News Digest Nov. 15, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... American Extends Ban on Haiti Service Through Feb. 12 Positive Rate Episode 35: Joint Implementation Action Committee Grievance Filed Regarding International Deadheads Hotel Committee: Use ECS for Hotel/Limo Needs IT Steering Committee: Logbook Beta Testing to Begin Next Week Flight Time/Duty Time Committee: Issues With Fatigue Reporting Tool Membership Committee: Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Membership Committee: Gone West APA Medical Minute – Situational Depression Domicile Events TWA Flight 514 Ceremony Scheduled for Dec. 1 Dream Flights Crew Marks Veterans Day Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ Wreaths Across America Sharing the Holiday Spirit with Christmas Epaulets If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars American Extends Ban on Haiti Service Through Feb. 12 On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a 30-day ban on Haiti service by U.S. carriers after aircraft operated by American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Spirit Airlines were struck by gunfire in Port-au-Prince. American subsequently extended its service suspension through Feb. 12, 2025. The U.S. Department of State’s Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti cites “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care.” In a membership update , APA President FO Nick Silva emphasized that “APA will remain in close contact with the company about the situation in Haiti, and we will be involved in any decisions by American Airlines and the FAA regarding the resumption of service. Ensuring the safety and security of our crews and passengers will always be our highest priority.” Positive Rate Episode 35: Joint Implementation Action Committee In the latest episode of APA’s “ Positive Rate ” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Joint Implementation Action Committee (JIAC) Chair FO Matt Stanley and Negotiating Committee Chair FO Adam Rutherford about the effectiveness of JIAC in facilitating contract implementation. Each episode of “Positive Rate” features various APA leaders and the subject-matter experts working on the membership’s behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts . We welcome your feedback on this format. If you have a question or comment, please send it to Communications Director Gregg Overman via goverman@alliedpilots.org . Grievance Filed Regarding International Deadheads This week, APA President FO Nick Silva filed a Presidential Grievance concerning deadheading on Company aircraft on international flights. Silva Presidential Grievance No. 24-137 protests the Company’s violation of CBA Section 19.D.2 by unilaterally changing the process by which pilots can deviate on their international last-leg deadhead to base and/or residence or designate city. More specifically, the Company requires pilots to make a listing after arrival from the last operating leg and then requires the pilot to contact Crew Tracking to upgrade their seat to the highest class aboard if deviating to base, or business class if deviating to the pilot’s residence or designated city, if available to the time of booking. Additionally, the Company unilaterally changed the seat assignment for the first leg of international deadhead deviations by failing to provide the highest class of seats and, instead, requiring the pilot to deadhead on their scheduled flight in the highest class, use non-revenue travel, or jumpseat instead of allowing deviation. APA is seeking the following relief: An order directing the Company to immediately cease and desist breaching Section 19.D.2., all related sections, and past practices. An order directing the Company to immediately comply and maintain compliance with Section 19.D.2., all related sections, and past practices. An order directing the Company to make all affected pilots whole plus interest. Other relief as deemed appropriate. If your international deadheading experience is not contractually compliant, please submit an Online Grievance Form and attach supporting documents. Upon receipt, APA Legal will review your situation and advise if you are eligible to be listed as an affected pilot.  Use ECS for Hotel/Limo Needs This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. The Hotel Committee is monitoring the progress of Electronic Communication System (ECS) usage for crews’ hotel/limo needs. We have seen the numbers increase, and the response times have been much better than the historical call-in data. We encourage pilots to use ECS for hotel/limo needs. We are still seeing multiple members of a crew request a room on ECS and/or call in, which slows the process for other crew members while not expediting the process for your crew. Please have one person make the request for room/transportation while selecting the option to book for the entire crew. Additionally, we have seen crews use BizHero while also telling the company via ECS that they need a room. This leads to double bookings. Below is a piece we ran in the Sept. 6 edition of the News Digest that provides a full description of the options available to crews when using ECS for hotel/limo needs. With the rollout of the Electronic Communication System (ECS), pilots have multiple options to reach the Hotel/Limo Desk. By pressing the blue “Contact AA” button and selecting the “Hotel/Limo” option at the bottom of the menu, you can send the Hotel/Limo Desk notification of a problem such as no assigned hotel and/or limo. You also can inform them that your transportation is late. If you would like to speak with a Hotel/Limo agent about a more complicated issue, there is a feature that puts you in the queue for a call back, versus having to wait on hold. Most options will ask for flight number, station, and how many people on your crew require assistance. Only one member from the crew needs to complete the request. We do not recommend you or members of your crew make an ECS request and call the desk simultaneously. You will receive an acknowledgement message and a message that the action is complete in the “All Messages” function of the ECS app. If you have requested a call back, it will come from the AA VIP Crew Line, which is the same phone number that Crew Scheduling and Crew Tracking use when they call pilots. If you have any issues related to ECS and the Hotel/Limo Desk, please submit a Hotel Debrief so we can address with the company. Since we published that, the company has added options to request a day room or cancel your room. For more information, check out the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Logbook Beta Testing to Begin Next Week This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. We are excited to announce that we are adding a Logbook feature to the APA Pilot app. This feature will provide a detailed log of your flight history, including other pilots with whom you have flown. Logbook will be made available to a select group of beta testers next week. This will allow us to gather valuable feedback and ensure a seamless user experience. Soon after this limited testing phase, Logbook will be released to all members. Issues With Fatigue Reporting Tool This is a repeated message from the APA Flight Time/Duty Time Committee. Your Flight Time/Duty Time Committee understands that many pilots have had issues submitting fatigue reports due to an inability to sign in to the reporting tool. This issue is apparently related to a recent upgrade to AAPilots and a resulting internal conflict with Fatigue Event Manager. While not a formal workaround, we have found that using an “incognito” browser is often effective in countering this difficulty. The official method for submitting a narrative when the reporting tool is unavailable is via an email to frms@aa.com . Should you need to use this means to submit your report, we recommend including your name and employee number in the subject line, then the narrative and recommendations in the main body. Please copy us at fatigue@alliedpilots.org so we can help ensure your event is received and processed by AA Fatigue Risk Management (FRM). This is a known problem and is beyond the control of AA FRM. They are prepared and ready to accept reports via email in the event you are unable to access the reporting tool. As always, please contact us via email at fatigue@alliedpilots.org if you have further issues or questions. Fini Flight Honors Retiring Pilots This is an updated message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. CA Kirk Rogers was honored at DFW on Oct. 4. He had flown for American Airlines since 1985. Fini Flight is an APA program designed to honor our retiring members. If a pilot chooses to participate, we meet them at the gate after (or sometimes before) their final flight as an American Airlines pilot. We include friends and family, play some music, bring a cake, and make their last flight memorable! You can see more photos of October celebrations on APA’s Facebook page. For more information on how to get involved, as an honoree or as a volunteer, email finiflight@alliedpilots.org . Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate these pilots who upgraded to captain in October. They are listed by their post-upgrade base and equipment: BOS 737: William Bilton CLT 320: Bryan Brearley, Jeffrey Owen, Benjamin Pendergrass, John Shanaberg, and Christopher Wendt DCA 737: Michael Basileo, Robert Bey, William Clarke, Arturo Coronel, William D’Onofrio, Charles Faith, Aaron Kelley, Kevin Robb, Conward Thompson, Daniel Vail DCA 320: Yonas Bekit, Kevin Hoppin, Douglas McEnerney, Rachel Rea, and Boma Tamuno DFW 777: Michael Bumgardner DFW 737: George Arbuckle, Christopher Barnard, Goliath Demisie, Corey Leuwerke, Luis Ornelas, Flemming Rix, and Brian Storck DFW 320: Raymond Crownhart and Jay Morgan LGA 777: Brent Dye and Lauren Nalbandian LGA 787: Dan Frank LGA 737: Stephen Orban and Anand Vaswani MIA 777: Michael Allred MIA 737: Jose Alvarado, John Baker, John Blanc, Brian Brown, William Browne, Fernando Contreras, Alexandre Dal Medico Chain, Tal Frumerman, Eleodoro Garza, Javish Hernandez Rivera, Erick Izzeppi, Silas Johnson Zdybel, Andrew Kiefhaber, Donald Nin, Thomas Palmer, Humberto Ramirez, Syed Rashid, Christopher Smoak, Ashenafi Tadese, Hampton Terry, and Keith Weaver MIA 320: Felix Adjorlolo, Jason Coley, Stephen Crews, Ian Cutting, Jonathan Hope, Arash Khezri, Sinclair Lagergren, and Christopher Stoddard ORD 320: Michael Balling and Michael Whiting PHL 320: Joseph Boyer, Christopher Brown, Rondal Davis, Ian Henry, Kevin Krause, Alejandro Langa, Evan Maxwell, Gregory Michne, Patrick Monahan, Brian OConnell, Michael O’Malley, Alexandru Raileanu, Shahrukh Rais, Robert Riggs, Xavier Rivera Colon, Disapong Silberman, Alex Smither, Andrew Steele, Thomas Tryon, Brent Wenz, and Matthew Winkler PHX 737: Jeremi Avakian, Karen Barnett, Marc Britton, Garrett Davis, James Ferguson, Cory Havens, Zac Johnson, Alexander Meyberg, John Owens, Edward Russell, and William Urling APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Nov. 13, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: William Bilton Jr., Michael Bumgardner, Anthony Callahan, Jason Coley, Alexandre Dal Medico Chain, William Engle, Garrett Hodges, Aaron Kelley, Alexander Meyberg, Andrew Olson, Noel Peyton, Christopher Stoddard, Hampton Terry, Michael Weatherley, and Christopher Wendt. Gone West This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of these pilots, whose deaths we learned of in October: Gene Libert, 93, on July 5; Edward Dunn, 66, on Aug. 14; Bob Shepperd, 75, on Aug. 27; Arnold Newman, 66, on Sept. 12; Jack McGowan, 90, on Sept. 14; Sam Grotte, 89, on Sept. 15; Greg Kincheloe, 72, on Sept. 22; Jesse Cobb, 93, on Sept. 23; Colin Reynolds, 80, on Oct. 7; Martin O’Leary, 89, on Oct. 9; and Kent Rothrock, 85, on Oct. 19. APA Medical Minute – Situational Depression In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Kathy Parr discusses situational depression and its implications for pilots and the FAA. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. Domicile Events Click the image for a closer look. The DFW Domicile hosted a party at the Hilton Southlake Town Square on Nov. 9 to honor pilots who had retired since November of 2023. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: CLT: Holiday Party on Dec. 15 DCA: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 13 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 13 DFW: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 3 ; IMAX Training on Dec. 5 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: Temecula Lunch on Nov. 20 ; San Diego Lunch on Dec. 10 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Dec. 11 ; Dana Point Lunch on Dec. 12 ; Temecula Lunch on Dec. 18 MIA: Holiday Party on Dec. 13 ORD: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 5 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 PHX: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 6 TWA Flight 514 Ceremony Scheduled for Dec. 1 TWA Flight 514 crashed in Bluemont, Va., on Dec. 1, 1974, resulting in the loss of 92 lives. Significant aviation safety enhancements resulted from the accident, including improved communication procedures between air traffic controllers and pilots and the mandatory installation of terrain avoidance systems on commercial aircraft. The 50th anniversary of the accident will be marked with a ceremony that will include the unveiling of an indoor bronze plaque and an outdoor black granite memorial at the Bluemont Community Center (33846 Snickersville Turnpike, 20135). The ceremony is scheduled for 1300 Eastern on Dec. 1. Relatives of those lost are invited, as are members of APA, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. If you have any questions, contact United Airlines CA Scott Seeberger, who is a member of the Bluemont Citizens Association: 303-949-6910 or scott.seeberger@alpa.org . Dream Flights Crew Marks Veterans Day Pilots for Dream Flights train year-round at Castroville Municipal Airport near San Antonio, and on Veterans Day, the nonprofit teamed up with a local skydiving operation for a patriotic display. APA Communications Department staffer Drew Boterf took Monday off so he could see the show, and he was lucky enough to hitch a ride in an empty seat. You can see more of his photos on APA’s Facebook page. APA is a proud supporter of Dream Flights, which characterizes its mission as “giving back to those who gave” by giving veterans rides in its World War II-era biplanes. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. President: Suspension of Haiti Service President: Honoring Our Nation’s Veterans Communications Committee: We Remember American Airlines Flight 587 Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (2) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Information Technology Steering Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Can a resolved submission to Professional Standards be referenced in a future action? No. A resolved issue cannot be used to support other disciplinary actions. An agreement exists with management that Professional Standards referrals are never part of an employee’s permanent record. Professional Standards volunteers will never be asked to relate any case information in the employee discipline process. Confidentiality rules apply to management also. Once an issue is released to the Professional Standards program, it is as if management “forgets” the issue ever occurred. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 Wreaths Across America Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit whose primary mission is to fulfill its motto of “Remember, Honor, and Teach” – that is, remember our fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve, and teach your children the value of freedom. Part of that mission includes coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies each year at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 4,700 other locations. We are continuing our campaign of American Airlines pilots adopting a national cemetery in each of our domiciles, including BNA, STL, and GSW. This will enable our pilots to give as one group while supporting deceased veterans at their home base. Please visit the AA Pilots – Wreaths Across America website and click the link for your domicile. You will find information on this year’s ceremonies and opportunities to help the local coordinators. There is also a link at the bottom of the main page to find a cemetery near you if you do not live in your domicile and wish to help your local area. This year’s wreath laying will be on Saturday, Dec. 14, and the deadline to sponsor wreaths is Friday, Nov. 29. We encourage you to support this worthy cause by sponsoring wreaths at your nearest national cemetery. If you have any questions, please contact CA Dave Branzell at dsb81@live.com . Sharing the Holiday Spirit with Christmas Epaulets This popular, long-running program benefits the families of our nation’s fallen heroes and young people seeking ways to further their education, as detailed in a December 2023 Aero Crew News article by CA Tim Knutson and Episode 32 of our Positive Rate podcast. CA John Knutson – U.S. Army veteran and a pilot for North Central, Republic, and Northwest Airlines – lost his battle with cancer in 1997 at age 56. To honor his memory, John’s widow, Mary, decided to start making Christmas epaulets. Mary originally directed all proceeds to the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Scholarship Foundation, because John was a 1959 graduate of Chetek High School. In an acknowledgement of John’s love of country, the proceeds have been shared between the Gary Sinise Foundation/Snowball Express and the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Scholarship Foundation in recent years. You may buy your epaulets  here for $20 plus $5.50 for shipping and handling. They’re also available at Crew Outfitters stores at DFW and IAH. If you have any questions, please contact CA Tim Knutson via  info@christmasepaulets.com . Thank you for supporting this worthy cause. If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Honoring Our Nation’s Veterans

Honoring Our Nation’s Veterans Today, our nation observes Veterans Day in honor of our military veterans. The freedoms we enjoy as Americans are without precedent, but they come at a steep cost. We owe them to the service and sacrifice of everyone who has served in our armed forces throughout our history. The values we hold dear in this country will always face challenges from hostile forces, and it is the duty of those in uniform to protect us by pushing back and risking all. In turn, each of us shares the same debt of gratitude to them — a debt we can never repay, but simply acknowledge. With that in mind, please join me in honoring all who have served, including American Airlines pilots now on active duty in conflict zones around the world. We are forever grateful.
President Public News

APA News Digest: Nov. 8, 2024

APA News Digest Nov. 8, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... “They Gave Me Peace of Mind” Donation Boosts APA Emergency Relief "> Bidding for December Opened Today Positive Rate Episode 34: National Communications Network Compass Project Committee: Volunteers Needed for Various Initiatives Compass Project Committee: Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 Flight Time/Duty Time Committee: Issues With Fatigue Reporting Tool Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: Jumpseat Reservation System Listings Hotel Committee: New Hotels for November Investor Relations Committee: 2024 Pre-Tax Profits and Profit Sharing Investor Relations Committee: Analyst on AAL Corporate Sales and Gap in Long-Haul International Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class APA Contract Minute – Annual Sick Bank Cash Payout APA Medical Minute – Traumatic Brain Injuries TWA Flight 514 Ceremony Scheduled for Dec. 1 Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars “They Gave Me Peace of Mind” When FO Thomas “TJ” Wineinger broke his leg as a new hire one week before the scheduled start of his training, his first call was to APA’s Project Wingman. “Within five minutes I had a phone call back,” he said. His next call was to his Compass Project mentor, who helped him navigate the process of delaying his training. “I would say that APA proved its worth as a new hire extraordinarily quickly to me.” When the unexpected happens, APA can help through Project Wingman , the Compass Project , the Sudden Grief Response Program , our aeromedical team — including the APA Medical Advisors and the programs the Aeromedical Committee offers — and the many other peer support programs APA provides. If you find yourself unsure where to turn, remember the resources that are available to you as a member of the APA family. We’re here for you, and we will provide the support you need to get through whatever you’re experiencing. Donation Boosts APA Emergency Relief box-sizing: border-box;">The directors of the Allied Pilots Association Seniority Defense Fund Trust Agreement (SDF Trust) have decided to close it and distribute all remaining assets to the APA Emergency Relief the SDF Trust provided funding to the American Airlines Merger Committee during the seniority integration proceedings. The directors have determined that the purposes of the SDF Trust have been achieved, the seniority issues that arose from the merger of US Airways and American Airlines have all been adjudicated, and no more grievances or other issues are anticipated for which the SDF Trust would be needed. As of Nov. 1, the SDF Trust donated $2.4 million to the APA Emergency Relief box-sizing: border-box;">The SDF Trust’s directors included CA Sam Bertling, CA Bob Dunning, CA Rich Girard, CA Russ Moore, CA Mark Stephens, and CA Keith Wilson. Bidding for December Opened Today Bidding for December opened at 1200 Central today. You may want to check the list of events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar before submitting your bid. CLT: Holiday Party on Dec. 15 DCA: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 13 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 13 DFW: Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Domicile Meeting on Dec. 3 ; IMAX Training on Dec. 4 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Nov. 12 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Nov. 13 ; Dana Point Lunch on Nov. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Nov. 20 ; San Diego Lunch on Dec. 10 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Dec. 11 ; Dana Point Lunch on Dec. 12 ; Temecula Lunch on Dec. 18 MIA: Holiday Party on Dec. 13 ORD: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 5 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 PHX: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 6 You should also review the Scheduling Committee’s latest email that contains reminders and guidance regarding PBS. Positive Rate Episode 34: National Communications Network In the latest episode of APA’s “ Positive Rate ” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair CA Josh Daneault talks about how the National Communications Network facilitates two-way, fact-based communication between line pilots and union leadership. NCN communicates with line pilots directly, relying on face-to-face communication in airport concourses and in various other venues. Each episode of “Positive Rate” features various APA leaders and the subject-matter experts working on the membership’s behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts . We welcome your feedback on this format. If you have a question or comment, please send it to Communications Director Gregg Overman via goverman@alliedpilots.org . Volunteers Needed for Various Initiatives This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project would not be what it is today if it weren’t for all the volunteers that dedicate their time to share experiences, knowledge, and guidance. The committee keeps growing by seeing a need for support and expanding the resources offered to our pilots to fill that need. With this growth comes the demand for new volunteers. New hire classes will resume in January, and we need volunteers to sponsor and mentor these new pilots. All you need is a desire to help fellow pilots navigate life at American Airlines during this stage of their careers, when the amount of new information can be overwhelming. If you are interested, visit the Compass Project webpage or complete the Sponsor Signup Form . With the increasing number of new families, the Family Navigation Team is also looking for volunteers to sponsor new and expecting parents. These parents are matched with a Family Navigation sponsor who will guide them through the intricacies of family leave, the complexities of maternity and paternity benefits that vary by state, pay, and many other topics. Email FamilyNav@alliedpilots.org to be part of the team and become a sponsor. The Captain Support Team is another valuable branch within the Compass Project. Volunteers are needed to provide new and returning Captains with the support they need while transitioning to the left seat or when coming back from LTD, LOA, or other extended absences. Sponsors help new and returning Captains feel more comfortable with their role as the Pilot In Command. To become a Captain Sponsor, call the Compass Hotline, 817-302-2401 (option 2), or email CaptainSupport@alliedpilots.org . While the Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (DPASC) is not part of the Compass Project, they are also looking for volunteers. Part of the Aeromedical Committee, the DPASC supports APA pilots and their families until they return to flying status or retire, whichever comes first, by providing guidance on Company pay, sick, and disability benefits, and other related contractual provisions. The DPASC is looking for caring and motivated pilots who are willing to provide support to pilots in need. If interested, visit the DPASC webpage or watch this video . These are some of the opportunities available to volunteer and help other pilots. If you would like to be part of this rewarding and fulfilling experience, please visit the Compass Project or DPASC webpages. We are always looking for volunteers to be part of these special programs. The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading pilot mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line-pilot sponsors, as well as tutorial videos and an extensive database of stage-based documents covering a number of helpful topics that are beneficial to all pilots. Click here for more information . Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 This is a repeated message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres will host a “YOUnion 301” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Nov. 13. This “Captains’ Development Seminar” is intended to help new captains and soon-to-be captains understand their authorities, APA support, and safety trends within our airline. If you register now, you will receive reminder emails in advance of the meeting. Click here to register for the Nov. 13 meeting . Issues With Fatigue Reporting Tool This is a new message from the APA Flight Time/Duty Time Committee. Your Flight Time/Duty Time Committee understands that many pilots have had issues submitting fatigue reports due to an inability to sign in to the reporting tool. This issue is apparently related to a recent upgrade to AAPilots and a resulting internal conflict with Fatigue Event Manager. While not a formal workaround, we have found that using an “incognito” browser is often effective in countering this difficulty. The official method for submitting a narrative when the reporting tool is unavailable is via an email to frms@aa.com . Should you need to use this means to submit your report, we recommend including your name and employee number in the subject line, then the narrative and recommendations in the main body. Please copy us at fatigue@alliedpilots.org so we can help ensure your event is received and processed by AA Fatigue Risk Management (FRM). This is a known problem and is beyond the control of AA FRM. They are prepared and ready to accept reports via email in the event you are unable to access the reporting tool. As always, please contact us via email at fatigue@alliedpilots.org if you have further issues or questions. Jumpseat Reservation System Listings This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. We have received several questions about the number of allowed Jumpseat Reservation System (JRS) listings between a city pair each calendar day. JRS Listings: Each pilot may make one listing per calendar day, per city pair (including co-terminals) when they hold the #1 position on the JRS list. The JRS list is accessed by selecting “Priority List” in JetNet Travel Planner “tools” for any AA Mainline flight. Each pilot who holds a #2 or lower position on the original listing between city pair (including co-terminals) may make an additional listing for a different flight. The maximum number of JRS listings between a city pair (including co-terminals) on a given calendar day is two. A pilot may check in for only one PNR at a time. In short, if a pilot is listed for more than two JRS listings or more than one JRS #1 position listings between a city pair on a given calendar day, that pilot needs to choose which reservation(s) to cancel. These reservations are not monitored by AA systems, and self-policing is done by pilots. Pilots are responsible to maintain their listings, and failure to do so may harm another pilot's ability to manage their jumpseat travel. Please fill out a Jumpseat/Deadhead/Non-Rev Debrief if you have questions about this policy or any other jumpseat, deadhead, or non-rev topics. New Hotels for November This is an updated message from the APA Hotel Committee. PVD: Omni Providence will be replacing our incumbent hotel for long layovers. PSP: Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel will be replacing our incumbent property for both long and short layovers. It is four blocks from the center of downtown Palm Springs. ( NOTE: After we published this information last week, we learned this replacement will take effect in January.) XNA: Motto by Hilton is a new property for long layovers. For more information, check out the QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. 2024 Pre-Tax Profits and Profit Sharing This is a new message from the APA Investor Relations Committee. The pilot profit-sharing formulas for American, Delta, and United are the same (aside from United’s pilot profit sharing not being pensionable), but the comparative estimated payouts will vary due to the pre-tax profits generated by each management team and the number of employees that are included in the profit-sharing pool. While estimated profit-sharing payouts have yet to be determined, American management’s business and network plan will produce less profits than Delta and United and will also be shared with more employees. Source: Estimated by Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth Source: APA Contract Comparison (February 2024) Employee counts disclosed in the most recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings: AAL: 134,200 DAL: 103,000 UAL: 106,500 Analyst on AAL Corporate Sales and Gap in Long-Haul International This is a new message from the APA Investor Relations Committee. TD Cowen airlines analyst Tom Fitzgerald recently provided the following AAL update to investors: “American detailed their corporate sales initiatives. Management estimates flown revenue from indirect channels (worth $14bn in 2023) fell 11% in 2Q24 and 10% in 3Q24 vs their historical share. Forward bookings from indirect channels fell 10% from their historical share in June but recovered to 7% in September. The airline noted that winning back share in the most competitive premium markets (NYC, LA, and Chicago) will be a challenge.” “We are intrigued about the company’s AAdvantage Business (AB) program targeted at small-and-business sized businesses (SMBs). American rolled up 3 former programs all tailored at this market into the AB program. They are still scaling it up, but to the extent the economy settles in somewhere between a soft landing and a no landing this is an exciting opportunity for them given the growth of SMBs in their core markets.” “Management also faced more questions around their overall network and gap in international long-haul relative to peers. Widebody orderbooks are filled up for years. This would be a difficult program to address even if they wanted to, but questions will come up so long as long-haul outperforms. United seems to have tapped into something real regarding the consumer’s worldwide wanderlust.” APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Nov. 6, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Jeremi Avakian, James Beuke Jr., James Dall, Garrett Davis, Thomas Gottfredsen, Silas Johnson Zdybel, Andrew Kiefhaber, Stephen Orban, Syed Rashid, Randall Rosen, Phillip Smith, and Hampton Terry. APA Contract Minute: Annual Sick Bank Cash Payout In the latest APA Contract Minute , Contract Compliance Committee Chair CA Jason Saxer discusses the contractual provisions governing annual sick bank cash payout requests. Pilots electing the cashout option must do so no later than Dec. 1. APA Medical Minute – Traumatic Brain Injuries In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Cassie Bien discusses traumatic brain injuries, including common causes, symptoms, and FAA-required recovery times based on the extent of the injury. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. TWA Flight 514 Ceremony Scheduled for Dec. 1 TWA Flight 514 crashed in Bluemont, Va., on Dec. 1, 1974, resulting in the loss of 92 lives. Significant aviation safety enhancements resulted from the accident, including improved communication procedures between air traffic controllers and pilots and the mandatory installation of terrain avoidance systems on commercial aircraft. The 50th anniversary of the accident will be marked with a ceremony that will include the unveiling of an indoor bronze plaque and an outdoor black granite memorial at the Bluemont Community Center (33846 Snickersville Turnpike, 20135). The ceremony is scheduled for 1300 Eastern on Dec. 1. Relatives of those lost are invited, as are members of APA, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. If you have any questions, contact United Airlines CA Scott Seeberger, who is a member of the Bluemont Citizens Association: 303-949-6910 or scott.seeberger@alpa.org . Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Captain’s Authority Committee: Clarification on FOB 24-008 Retirement and Benefits Committee: 2025 Open Enrollment – Imputed Income Refresher Scheduling Committee: PBS Bidding Opens Soon Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (2) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Information Technology Steering Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Since the program is voluntary, can a person choose not to be a part of the program? The Professional Standards Program is completely voluntary. If you are approached by a committee volunteer, it is your choice whether to participate. However, please remember the choice to not participate may lead to the company resolving the issue at their sole discretion. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Nov. 1, 2024

APA News Digest Nov. 1, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Board of Directors Adds Five New Members Collaboration is Key Positive Rate Episode 33: Girls in Aviation Day Attention, Supplemental Medical Plan Participants Hotel Committee: New Hotels for November Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: Flight Deck Luggage Storage Investor Relations Committee: Analysts’ Latest on 3Q24 Results Family Awareness Committee: Bringing APA to the Membership Compass Project Committee: Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Future Alliances Should be “Metal Neutral” APA Attends Summit on Battery Safety APA Medical Minute – Premature Ventricular Contractions Digital Bulletin Board Added at BOS Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Board of Directors Adds Five New Members As of this morning, the APA Board of Directors includes five new members: CLT Chair CA Heather Boulanger, 48, was hired in September of 2017. She flies the A320. CLT Vice Chair FO Hickory Ham, 32, was hired in June of 2022. He flies the 737. LGA Chair CA Mark Lokey, 54, was hired in June of 1996. He flies the 737. MIA Chair CA Jay Wilhelm, 52, was hired in February of 2005. He flies the A320. MIA Vice Chair FO Jamie Funderburk, 51, was hired in June of 2016. He flies the 737. Additionally, LGA Vice Chair CA James Scanlan, 61, was re-elected this week. He was hired in October of 1999 and flies the 737. These six Domicile Officers are the first to be elected to three-year terms, as dictated by R2024-12 Rev 1 , “BOD Term Length and Limits,” and R2024-47 , “Election Category Modifications.” Their terms will end on Oct. 31, 2027. The next domicile elections will be for the BOS, LAX, and ORD positions. As term lengths transition from two to three years, the pilots who win those elections will serve 42-month terms – from May 1, 2025, through Oct. 31, 2028. Collaboration is Key APA President FO Nick Silva sent the following message to all members on Thursday. One of my top priorities as your APA President is to reestablish effective collaboration with our peers. To that end, I recently attended two external pilot union events. First, I participated in last week’s SWAPA-hosted International Conference of Pilot Unions in Dallas as a panelist, with several other APA officials also serving as panelists. The panel discussions addressed negotiating strategy, pilot mental health, the influx of large numbers of new-hire pilots and early-time Captains, and other timely topics. Then, earlier this week APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and I attended the ALPA Board of Directors Meeting in Chicago. We met with ALPA President CA Jason Ambrosi (pictured below), General Manager David Krieger, the Master Executive Council leadership from Delta, United, JetBlue, Air Canada, and American Airlines’ wholly owned regional airlines, as well as other ALPA officials. Both events proved highly productive, providing opportunities for renewed information exchange, networking, and relationship building, and I am grateful for the hospitality that SWAPA and ALPA extended to us. No matter which carrier we fly for and regardless of which union represents us, we all share the same goal as professional pilots — we want to enjoy full, rewarding careers. Cross-union collaboration is a vital element in accomplishing that goal. By learning all we can from one another and providing mutual support, we can bolster our respective efforts in foundational areas such as safety, scheduling, and collective bargaining. In the coming months, you have my commitment that we will continue reaching out to our professional pilot counterparts across the industry. Collectively, our profession is a small, select community, and it is essential that we work together to the maximum extent possible. In Unity, FO Nick Silva APA President Positive Rate Episode 33: Girls in Aviation Day In the latest episode of our “ Positive Rate ” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with ORD-based FO Barbara Gordon about Girls in Aviation Day, which provides an opportunity for girls to learn about aviation careers in a fun, interactive way. American Airlines will host a Girls in Aviation Day at ORD from 0800 to 0530 on Saturday, Nov. 2. The event will include a tour of the airport environment aboard a 737 – complete with a water cannon salute and de-icing – as well as flight deck tours, cabin tours, and walk-arounds hosted by pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics. Girls in Aviation Day events are designed “to inspire the next generation,” FO Gordon said. For more information about future events, contact MIA-based CA Christine Rupert . Each episode of “Positive Rate” features various APA leaders and the subject-matter experts working on the membership’s behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts . We welcome your feedback on this format. If you have a question or comment, please send it to Communications Director Gregg Overman via goverman@alliedpilots.org . Attention, Supplemental Medical Plan Participants Effective Jan. 1, 2025, Luminaire Health will be the new claims processor for medical, custodial care benefit, orthodontia, and dental claims for the Supplemental Medical Plan (SMP). WebTPA will no longer serve as third-party administrator for the Plan; WebTPA will process any claim with a date of service before Jan. 1. Any claim with a date of service on or after Jan. 1 will be processed by Luminaire Health. All plan participants will receive new medical and dental ID cards. Cigna Network and PHCS Networks (the provider and facility networks) are not changing, and the Pharmacy Benefit Manager BeneCard is not changing. NGS will process all eligibility and contributions for the SMP. We will provide additional information soon. New Hotels for November This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. PVD: Omni Providence will be replacing our incumbent hotel for long layovers. PSP: Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel will be replacing our incumbent property for both long and short layovers. It is four blocks from the center of downtown Palm Springs. XNA: Motto by Hilton is a new property for long layovers. For more information, check out the QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Flight Deck Luggage Storage This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. The Captain has final authority on whether any item is allowed to be carried on the flight deck. The following guidance applies to AA/AE and OAL jumpseaters. CBA Section 19.C.3 The luggage for the one or two pilots issued a Flight Deck Jumpseat boarding pass (1W, 2W) shall be secured: In the flight deck, or If the jumpseat occupant’s crew luggage cannot be accommodated in the flight deck, Jumpseat occupants will be allowed to use available cabin overhead bins for storage of crew luggage. If the jumpseat occupant’s crew luggage cannot be accommodated in either above: For American Airlines Pilots, the pilot may check such pilot’s crew baggage (Gate Valet or similar) for retrieval on the jet bridge at destination. If a Pilot’s baggage is lost, the Pilot shall be subject to the Company’s policy regarding lost luggage applicable to revenue passengers. For off-line Jumpseat occupants, luggage shall be gate checked for pick up in baggage claim at the destination. Those final two options are to be used only after all other options are exhausted, which means the Captain must first be given the opportunity to determine whether the luggage can be accommodated on the flight deck or in the cabin. Also, these contractual provisions apply regardless of whether the pilot is in uniform or business casual attire. (Reference WebRef: D6 Jumpseat Attire and Baggage). Please, Captains, be proactive and engage the gate agents before boarding. Brief them on how you want pilots’ baggage accommodated. Be clear and professional with this guidance. During boarding, pay attention to the G*/PALL, and note any FDJ or D6 travelers. If you encounter any issues, please let us know via a Jumpseat/Deadhead/Non-Rev Debrief . Analysts’ Latest on 3Q24 Results This is a new message from the APA Investor Relations Committee. Soon after American Airlines management published third-quarter financial results, Wall Street analysts released their respective notes to investors. The analysts cover American’s recovery of the annual $1.5 billion loss in corporate revenue, competitive network details, a new credit card deal currently being negotiated, as well as the competitive product landscape. We have provided select excerpts from the analysts’ notes to investors . Meanwhile, Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth published these fourth-quarter and full-year predictions for American, Delta, and United: Bringing APA to the Membership This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. Attention, ATL and AUS commuters: The APA Family Awareness Committee has scheduled events in your cities on Nov. 3 and Nov. 12, respectively. The ATL event will be at Atlanta Golf text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> AlliedPilots.org/Calendar . Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 This is a repeated message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres will host a “YOUnion 301” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Nov. 13. This “Captains’ Development Seminar” is intended to help new captains and soon-to-be captains understand their authorities, APA support, and safety trends within our airline. If you register now, you will receive reminder emails in advance of the meeting. Click here to register for the Nov. 13 meeting . Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. A321 aircraft 950 , which used to belong to Alaska Airlines, entered AA revenue service on May 6. Since then, it has been written up for a Class 2 air bleed message 18 times, been on MEL nine times, and been out of service six times. It was most recently signed off on Oct. 28. (As we documented last month, another A321 previously flown by Alaska has a similar recurring problem.) APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Oct. 30, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: George Allie, Kevin Brake, Teodoro Collazo Jr., Patrick Dexter, Brent Dye, German Giachino, Kyle Hupfer, Marshal Orchard, Michael Rogers, and Skyler Villers. Future Alliances Should be “Metal Neutral” During JetBlue’s earnings call this week, an analyst asked President Marty St. George how quickly new partnerships could be implemented. “It’s certainly something that we’re looking at,” he said. “It certainly could be with American. It could be another carrier.” APA spokesman CA Dennis Tajer told Forbes that the association would be more open to a new Northeast Alliance between American and JetBlue if it would break up “the Delta and United duopoly in New York.” He said APA’s original coolness to the NEA was based on concerns that the partnership was not “metal neutral,” but rather provided more flying to JetBlue pilots than to American pilots. “If American gets feed traffic, we want to make sure that American pilots also get some of that feed flying,” CA Tajer said. APA Attends Summit on Battery Safety CA Gavin Tade, the APA Safety Committee’s Deputy Chair overseeing the Safety Operations Subcommittee, and CA Harvey Meek, Chair of the APA Government Affairs Committee, recently attended the TRIP Summit at DFW Airport. The Thermal Runaway Incident Program (TRIP) is a voluntary reporting program focused on better understanding lithium-ion battery incidents and related safety issues within both passenger and cargo aviation operations. The goal of the summit was to facilitate information exchange amongst major airlines and cargo carriers to reduce the risk of a lithium-ion battery incident causing an aviation accident. APA Medical Minute – Premature Ventricular Contractions In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Kathy Parr discusses premature ventricular contractions. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. Digital Bulletin Board Added at BOS Two APA employees – Senior Web Administrator Drew Boterf and Service Desk Engineer Robert Hugghins – flew to BOS this week to install a digital bulletin board. They have placed similar screens at JFK, LGA, LAX, and ORD to enhance APA’s methods of conveying national and domicile messages to the membership. They are pictured with CA Lawrence Cutler, the former LGA Domicile Chair who is transferring to BOS, and BOS Domicile Vice Chair CA Gemma Meehan. Domicile Events Click the image for a closer look. These pilots were among the honorees at the LGA Retirement Party on Oct. 26. You can see more photos on APA’s Facebook page. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: CLT: Holiday Party on Dec. 15 DFW: Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Domicile Meeting on Dec. 3 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Nov. 12 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Nov. 13 ; Dana Point Lunch on Nov. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Nov. 20 ORD: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 5 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 PHX: Domicile Meeting on Dec. 6 Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Secretary-Treasurer: CLT Runoff Round Results Secretary-Treasurer: LGA Runoff Round Results Secretary-Treasurer: MIA Runoff Round Results Check Pilot Committee: Proficiency Election and OT Awards Communications Committee: “When the Chips are Down and You Don’t Know Where to Go” Scheduling Committee: Improvements to TTS Reason Reports Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (2) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Information Technology Steering Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What issues are not appropriate for Professional Standards? Professional Standards will not normally address CBA disagreements, substance/alcohol abuse, and any immediate threat to safety of flight. The program is not designed to address issues related to security violations; legal, medical, or criminal issues; or gross negligence. Professional Standards is not able to address issues arising from “The Line” forums, nor should PS volunteers post to “The Line” forums. However, if you are in doubt about which APA committee is best suited to handle your needs, all Professional Standards volunteers are familiar with the vast network of support offered at APA and through the company. Call Your Union First! To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Oct. 25, 2024

APA News Digest Oct. 25, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Thank You For Tuning Into Town Hall Domicile Runoffs End Next Week “When the Chips are Down and You Don’t Know Where to Go” APA Participates in Conference of Pilot Unions Positive Rate Episode 32: Christmas Epaulets Investor Relations Committee: American Reports Net Loss on Record Revenue Hotel Committee: Overage Hotels for November Safety Committee: Focus on Broken Tow Bars Continues Compass Project Committee: Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class APA Medical Minute – Post-Vaccine Downtimes Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Annual Enrollment Opens on Oct. 28 Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Thank You For Tuning Into Town Hall We appreciate all of the pilots who took time to watch or listen to Wednesday’s national town hall meeting featuring APA President FO Nick Silva, Vice President CA Chris Torres, and representatives of the Joint Implementation Action, Negotiating, and Scheduling committees, and thanks to those members who submitted questions in advance. If you were not able to participate live, you can watch a recording of the meeting. Domicile Runoffs End Next Week Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA have until 0001 Central on Oct. 30 to cast a ballot . Runoff Round voting opened on Oct. 8, with the following candidates still in contention: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Jay Wilhelm You can learn about the candidates on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. “When the Chips are Down and You Don’t Know Where to Go” The APA Communications Committee sent the following message to all members on Thursday. After DFW-based CA Stuart Egerton and his wife got the diagnosis – their son would be born with achondroplasia dwarfism – he knew his family would need support, so he reached out to APA’s Project Wingman. “It’s a great resource to have when the chips are down and you don’t know where to go and need help,” he says in a new video . “They can find the resources quickly.” When the unexpected happens, APA can help through Project Wingman , the Compass Project , the Sudden Grief Response Program , our aeromedical team – including the APA Medical Advisors and the programs the Aeromedical Committee offers – and the many other peer support programs APA provides. If you find yourself unsure where to turn, remember the resources that are available to you as a member of the APA family. We’re here for you, and we will provide the support you need to get through whatever you’re experiencing. APA Participates in Conference of Pilot Unions The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association hosted the International Conference of Pilot Unions in Dallas this week. One of the conference’s panels included APA President FO Nick Silva in conversation with (from right) SWAPA President CA Casey Murray, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots Vice President CA Paulette Gilbert, and Teamsters Local 2750 President CA Yngve Paulsen. SWAPA Vice President CA Tom Nekouei (left) was the moderator. Other panel discussions and breakout sessions included remarks from these APA volunteers: FO Brian Bell, Retirement and Benefits Committee Chair FO Steve England, Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee Chair CA Rondeau Flynn, Aeromedical Committee Chair CA Ryan Gertz, Scheduling Committee Deputy Chair-PBS CA Andrea Hoover, Communications Committee Chair CA Val Jester, Scope Committee Chair CA Jeff Leisten, Aeromedical Committee Deputy Chair-Disabled Pilots Awareness CA Harvey Meek, Government Affairs Committee Chair CA Steve Pacheco, Membership Committee Chair FO Chelsea “CJ” Page, Scheduling Committee Chair FO Adam Rutherford, Negotating Committee Chair CA Gavin Tade, Safety Committee Deputy Chair-Safety Operations CA Dennis Tajer, Investor Relations Committee Chair CA Ann Marie Tazzar, Training Committee Chair Positive Rate Episode 32: Christmas Epaulets In the latest episode of our “ Positive Rate ” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Tim Knutson about how the  Christmas Epaulets tradition began. Each episode of “Positive Rate” features various APA leaders and the subject-matter experts working on the membership’s behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts . We welcome your feedback on this format. If you have a question or comment, please send it to Communications Director Gregg Overman via goverman@alliedpilots.org . American Reports Net Loss on Record Revenue This is a new message from the APA Investor Relations Committee. This week, AAL management released financial results for the third quarter and guidance for the fourth quarter. Here a few stats from the report: Record third-quarter revenue of $13.6 billion. Net loss of $149 million. Excluding special items, a pre-tax profit of $271 million, generating a per-tax margin of 2.0%. The net special items were $354 million, “which principally included one-time charges resulting from the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement with the company’s mainline flight attendants.”   American continued to strengthen its balance sheet in the third quarter by reducing total debt by approximately $360 million. The company is more than $13 billion toward its goal of reducing total debt by $15 billion by the end of 2025. The company ended the third quarter with $11.8 billion of total available liquidity. Fourth-quarter capacity plan: +1% to +3%. After previously citing an expected annual revenue loss of $1.5 billion due to the failed corporate sales and distribution strategy, CEO Robert Isom reported these updates to revenue damage and the status of loyalty and premium revenue: “American’s corporate and agency flown revenue share bottomed at 11% below our historical share. Since then, our share of indirect bookings has started to recover, and we estimate we are currently at 7% below historical levels, and we expect to see continued improvement in the months ahead.” “Premium revenue increased by approximately 8% year-over-year on 3% more capacity. Paid load factor in our premium cabins remains historically high and was up more than 4 points year-over-year with strength in both domestic and international.” “Loyalty revenues were up approximately 5% year-over-year, with AAdvantage members responsible for 72% of premium cabin revenue. Spending on our co-branded credit cards was up approximately 7% year-over-year in the third quarter, highlighting the value of American’s loyalty program today and moving forward.” Raymond James airlines analyst Savanthi Syth provided investors with the following overview of comparative results: Overage Hotels for November This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. Below is the list of overage hotels that will be utilized in November. If you are scheduled to stay at one of these properties, we recommend you review our article about non-contracted hotels . BED: Archer Burlington BGI: Courtyard Bridgeton BTR: Hotel Indigo Baton Rouge CHO: Graduate by Hilton Charlottesville CLE: Crowne Plaza Playhouse COU: Capital Plaza City View CZM: Wyndham Cozumel Hotel and Resort EZE: Park Tower and Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel GRU: Sheraton Sao Paulo WTC Hotel LBB: Overton and Staybridge Suites LNK: Graduate by Hilton Lincoln MHK: Courtyard Aggieville MRY: Embassy Suites Monterey Bay Seaside OAX: City Centro, Fiesta Inn, and Grand Fiesta PGV: Courtyard Marriott Greenville PVD: Hilton Providence SDF: The Brown TPA: Epicurean Hotel UVF: Marigot Bay XNA: Hyatt Place For more information, check out the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Focus on Broken Tow Bars Continues This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee. Broken tow bars cost millions of dollars’ worth of damage to aircraft and ground equipment, and they also disrupt the operation by causing flight delays and cancellations. APA and the Transport Workers Union continue to collaborate on ways to mitigate the risk of safety hazards associated with broken tow bars during push back. CA Gavin Tade, Deputy Chair of the APA Safety Committee, recently traveled to Miami International Airport to conduct push back of aircraft along with CA Lee Thompson, Chair of the MIA Domicile Safety Committee, and Joseph Rodriguez, Chair of the TWU Local 568 Safety Committee. Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 This is a repeated message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres will host a “YOUnion 301” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Nov. 13. This “Captains’ Development Seminar” is intended to help new captains and soon-to-be captains understand their authorities, APA support, and safety trends within our airline. If you register now, you will receive reminder emails in advance of the meeting. Click here to register for the Nov. 13 meeting . Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since Oct. 6, the weather radar on B737 aircraft 3FY has been written up nine times – including one air-interrupt – and has been on MEL and out of service four times. It was most recently signed off on Oct. 25 and was restricted to class 1 or 2 maintenance stations. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Oct. 23, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Stephen Abrams, Steve Abrams, Jay Andrews, William Arner III, Erick Izzeppi Artola, Michael Basileo, Robert Bey, Jason Bullard, Jordan Bullock, Blake Burdick, Jason Burkett, Jeromy Byrd, Arturo Coronel Jr., David Cruz, William D’Onofrio, Rondal Davis, Lucas Faddis, Kenneth Gilkes, Thompson Haigh, Ian Henry, David Hong, Tellys Hunter, Ryan Lacher, Kyle Lindsay, Jose Altuve Lozada, Patrick Monahan, Donald Nin, Michael O’Malley, Brian OConnell, Joe Penate, Rhaneawrys Pepen, Shahrukh Rais, Hiram Rivera Jr., Flemming Rix, Mitchell Rosnick, Phillip Smith, Alex Smither, Lucas St. Laurent, Jay Stevens, Emilio Urena, Keith Weaver, and Matthew Winkler. APA Medical Minute – Post-Vaccine Downtimes In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Tina Smith discusses the amount of time you will be grounded after receiving certain vaccinations. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. Domicile Events Click the image for a closer look. These pilots were among the honorees at the PHL Retirement Party on Oct. 19. You can see more photos on APA’s Facebook page. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: CLT: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 30 DFW: Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Domicile Meeting on Dec. 3 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Nov. 12 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Nov. 13 ; Dana Point Lunch on Nov. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Nov. 20 LGA: Retirement Party on Oct. 26 ORD: Holiday Party on Dec. 6 Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Joint Implementation Action Committee: ECS Version 1.4  Safety Committee: Your Post-Incident Resources Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (2) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Information Technology Steering Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Annual Enrollment Opens on Oct. 28 American Airlines has established a My Enrollment website where you and your family can review your benefits options. That website also features an Events tab that lists dozens of in-person roadshows plus several virtual sessions that have already begun. American Airlines’ Annual Enrollment runs from Oct. 28 through Nov. 11. Don’t miss your deadline, and be sure to double check your elections, your beneficiary information, and your mailing address. You can also call the Benefits Service Center at 888-860-6178 for enrollment information. Benefits Service Center regular hours: 0800 to 1700 Central, Monday through Friday Benefits Service Center extended hours: 0800 to 2000 Central, Nov. 8–10 Look for the Imputed Income Option when enrolling, and be sure to click the option that is best for you. Professional Standards FAQs What types of issues will Professional Standards accept? Almost any issue that would benefit from the peer-to-peer method of resolution is acceptable, such as individual conflicts, ineffective operating methods/techniques, problems of a professional or ethical nature, conduct that could lead to discipline, and recognizing exceptional performance. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Oct. 18, 2024

APA News Digest Oct. 18, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... APA President to Host Town Hall on Oct. 23 Annual Enrollment Opens on Oct. 28 AA Flight 1590: In Their Own Words Compass Project Committee: Family Navigation Team Answers FAQs Compass Project Committee: Join Us For YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 Family Awareness Committee: Fini Flight Honors Retiring Pilots International Alliance Committee: APA Represented at Global Congress Professional Standards Committee: SWAPA Provides Opportunity for Collaboration Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class APA Medical Minute – Atrial Fibrillation Domicile Elections Domicile Events Week in Review Life Insurance Annual Dividend to be Distributed Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ Sharing the Holiday Spirit with Christmas Epaulets If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars APA President to Host Town Hall on Oct. 23 The APA Communications Committee sent the following message to all members on Tuesday. APA President FO Nick Silva will host a national town hall meeting via Zoom beginning at 1800 Central on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Vice President CA Chris Torres and representatives of the Joint Implementation Action, Negotiating, and Scheduling committees will also be on hand to brief the membership and answer questions. Click here to register for the meeting . Registering in advance will enable email reminders. To ensure maximum participation, all members in good standing will receive a call from Telephone Town Hall Meeting, the vendor that assists APA with its town halls, at 1800 Central on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Pilots who are not in a position to watch the town hall meeting via Zoom will be able to listen via their phones. The number that will appear in your caller ID is 817-302-2171. We encourage you to add this number to your contacts. Members who are unable to answer the outbound call may connect by dialing 855-269-4484. To submit questions in advance, please send an email to TownHall@alliedpilots.org . We look forward to meeting with you on Oct. 23. Annual Enrollment Opens on Oct. 28 American Airlines has established a My Enrollment website where you and your family can review your benefits options. That website also features an Events tab that lists dozens of in-person roadshows plus several virtual sessions. The in-person events have already begun, and the virtual sessions will start on Oct. 23. American Airlines’ Annual Enrollment runs from Oct. 28 through Nov. 11. Don’t miss your deadline, and be sure to double check your elections, your beneficiary information, and your mailing address. You can also call the Benefits Service Center at 888-860-6178 for enrollment information. Benefits Service Center regular hours: 0800 to 1700 Central, Monday through Friday Benefits Service Center extended hours: 0800 to 2000 Central, Nov. 8–10 Look for the Imputed Income Option when enrolling, and be sure to click the option that is best for you. AA Flight 1590: In Their Own Words This new video features CA Scott Russell and FO William “Chance” Perkins recounting Flight 1590, which was scheduled from MFE to DFW on April 23, 2023. CA Russell and FO Perkins received the Michael Michaelis Safety Award for Excellence during last week’s APA Board of Directors meeting for their handling of the flight. They also received the Lieutenant General Harold L. George Civilian Airmanship Award from the Order of Daedalians. Family Navigation Team Answers FAQs This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project’s Family Navigation Team provides support and resources for new and expecting parents and their families. These parents are matched with a Family Navigation sponsor who will guide them through the intricacies of family leave, the complexities of maternity and paternity benefits that vary by state, pay, and many other topics. To help provide answers to some of the most common questions, the Family Navigation Team has created a Frequently Asked Questions document. Among the topics covered are how to apply for FMLA leave, pay, and travel benefits. To access this new document, visit the Compass Project webpage, scroll down to “Family Navigation,” and click “Frequently Asked Questions.” If you have any questions or need assistance, a Parental Leave Coordinator will gladly provide guidance and support. Email the Family Navigation Team at FamilyNav@alliedpilots.org with your inquiries, and someone will be in touch. If you would like to be part of this rewarding and fulfilling program, please visit the Compass Project webpage or email FamilyNav@alliedpilots.org to become a sponsor. We are always looking for volunteers to be part of this special team. The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading pilot mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line-pilot sponsors, as well as tutorial videos and an extensive database of stage-based documents covering a number of helpful topics that are beneficial to all pilots. Click here for more information . Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 This is an updated message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres will host a “YOUnion 301” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Nov. 13. This “Captains’ Development Seminar” is intended to help new captains and soon-to-be captains understand their authorities, APA support, and safety trends within our airline. If you register now, you will receive reminder emails in advance of the meeting. Click here to register for the Nov. 13 meeting . Fini Flight Honors Retiring Pilots This is an updated message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. Fini Flight is an APA program designed to honor our retiring members. If a pilot chooses to participate, we meet them at the gate after (or sometimes before) their final flight as an American Airlines pilot. We include friends and family, play some music, bring a cake, and make their last flight memorable! You can see more photos from September celebrations on APA’s Facebook page. For more information on how to get involved, as an honoree or as a volunteer, email finiflight@alliedpilots.org . APA Represented at Global Congress This is a new message from the APA International Alliance Committee. APA International Alliance Committee Chair CA Shawn Gray and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres were in Morocco this week for the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s Global Congress. They were among more than 960 delegates representing approximately 20 million transportation workers, including roughly 800,000 in the civil aviation sector. The federation has a significant role in shaping global aviation labor policy through engagement with the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization and International Labour Organization. SWAPA Provides Opportunity for Collaboration This is a new message from the APA Professional Standards Committee. This week, your national Professional Standards Committee participated in a conference hosted by our counterparts at the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. SWAPA Professional Standards Committee Chair CA Jon Ross (pictured), who has attended three of our training sessions, ran the conference that included representatives of all unionized work groups at Southwest Airlines. SWAPA’s Professional Standards team fields inquiries on many of the same topics we deal with at APA, including misuse of personal electronic devices, social media complaints, jumpseat issues, and conflicts with colleagues from other work groups. “We might wear different uniforms,” CA Ross said, “but we are all the same type of people dealing with the same types of issues.” Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since Oct. 1, A319 aircraft 806 has been written up for a yaw damper fault seven times, been on MEL once for 10 days, and been out of service five times. It was most recently signed off on Oct. 16. A319 aircraft 746 was at a foreign contract MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) station for 84 days. After two functional check flights were accomplished by NRFO2 management crews, it returned to revenue service on Sept. 26. Since then, the flight deck door has been written up 11 times, been on MEL once, and been out of service four times. It was most recently signed off on Oct. 15. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Oct. 15, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Stephen Abrams, Felix Adjorlolo, Michael Allred, Michael Balling, Yonas Bekit, John Blanc, Jason Burkett, Russell Campbell, Matthew Couch, Stephen Crews, Dominic Delrosso, Luc Derenne, Tal Frumerman, Kevin Hazuka, David Hong, Brent Kistner, Dalton Klugh, Evan Maxwell, Jeremiah McBride, Gregory Michne, George Moore III, Vihas Nair, John Owens, Alexandru Raileanu, Paul Saracen, Disapong Silberman, Roque Soto, Ryan Strayve, Andrew Stutzman, Ashenafi Tadese, Doyle Tonneson, Thomas Tryon, Brent Wenz, Michael Whiting, and Mark Wingert. APA Medical Minute – Atrial Fibrillation In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisors Manager Marsha Reekie discusses atrial fibrillation and flutter, including signs and symptoms, medical risks, treatment, and related FAA requirements. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. Domicile Elections Runoff Round voting opened on Oct. 8, with the following candidates listed on the ballots: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Jay Wilhelm You can learn about the candidates on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA have until 0001 Central on Oct. 30 to cast a ballot . Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: CLT: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 30 DFW: Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Domicile Meeting on Dec. 3 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Nov. 12 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Nov. 13 ; Dana Point Lunch on Nov. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Nov. 20 LGA: Retirement Party on Oct. 26 ORD: Holiday Party on Dec. 6 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: Agent Display Membership Committee: Potential APA Members Negotiating Committee: Negotiating Committee Recruiting New Members  Scheduling Committee: Holiday Pay Life Insurance Annual Dividend to be Distributed Per R2024-43 and R2024-44 , which the APA Board of Directors approved last week, eligible participants in APA’s Group Term Life Insurance Plan will receive a dividend distribution on or about Nov. 6 in the checking or savings account that you have on file with NGS. Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (2) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Information Technology Steering Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs How does management or an employee submit an issue to Professional Standards? Committee volunteers are identified for each domicile on AlliedPilots.org and on each domicile APA bulletin board. Management is furnished contact information for every domicile and national deputy, and they may approach a committee volunteer with an issue. Emails, texts, and detailed phone messages are to be avoided, as the information is not confidential and may not be protected. Telephone contact and face-to-face meetings are encouraged, as confidentiality is paramount to the success of the program. You can reach your domicile Professional Standards Committee via our phone tree: 817-402-2181. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 Sharing the Holiday Spirit with Christmas Epaulets This popular, long-running program benefits the families of our nation’s fallen heroes and young people seeking ways to further their education, as detailed in a December 2023 Aero Crew News article by CA Tim Knutson. CA John Knutson – U.S. Army veteran and a pilot for North Central, Republic, and Northwest Airlines – lost his battle with cancer in 1997 at age 56. To honor his memory, John’s widow, Mary, decided to start making Christmas epaulets. Mary originally directed all proceeds to the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Scholarship Foundation, because John was a 1959 graduate of Chetek High School. In an acknowledgement of John’s love of country, the proceeds have been shared between the Gary Sinise Foundation/Snowball Express and the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Scholarship Foundation in recent years. You may buy your epaulets  here for $20 plus $5.50 for shipping and handling. They’re also available at Crew Outfitters stores at DFW and IAH. If you have any questions, please contact CA Tim Knutson via  info@christmasepaulets.com . Thank you for supporting this worthy cause. If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Oct. 12, 2024

APA News Digest Oct. 12, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... APA Board of Directors Elects FO Nick Silva as President National Communications Network: Background Info on Recall Procedures Compass Project Committee: Join Us For YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 Family Awareness Committee: Bidding Alert for ATL and AUS Commuters IT Steering Committee: Sunsetting of MyOT Legacy Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Membership Committee: Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains Domicile Elections Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars APA Board of Directors Elects FO Nick Silva as President On Thursday, the APA Board of Directors elected DFW FO Nick Silva to serve as APA President through June 30, 2025. The Board conducted the election in accordance with the procedures contained in Section 9.05 of the APA Policy Manual. Members of the Board also nominated DCA CA Joe Collins, LGA CA Tim Knutson, ORD CA Dennis Tajer, DFW CA Chris Torres, and CLT CA Kevin Wilkes for consideration. FO Silva received a majority of votes cast in the third round of balloting. FO Silva has been serving as the Chair of the APA Economic height: 0.5px; background-color: darkgray; overflow: visible; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); box-sizing: border-box;" fr-original-style="margin: 20px 0 30px 0;height: 0.5px;background-color: darkgray;"> Background Info on Recall Procedures This is a new message from APA’s National Communications Network. Given the events of the past week, pilots understandably have questions about recall procedures, Article VII charges, and voter lists. We conveyed facts about all three topics in the latest edition of the CROSSCHECK , our periodic newsletter for NCN volunteers. NCN is a subcommittee of the Communications Committee. Our volunteers are tasked with facilitating two-way communication between line pilots and their elected leaders. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the training module on this page . Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13 This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres will host a “YOUnion 301” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Nov. 13. This “Captains’ Development Seminar” is intended to help new captains and soon-to-be captains understand their authorities, APA support, and safety trends within our airline. Click here to register for the Nov. 13 meeting . Bidding Alert for ATL and AUS Commuters This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. As part of our continuing effort to bring APA to the pilots, we have scheduled gatherings at Atlanta Golf text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Easy Tiger in Austin on Nov. 12. Please keep these events in mind when submitting your PBS bid for November. Sunsetting of MyOT Legacy This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. Over the last several months, the IT Steering Committee and APA IT Department have provided guidance (emails, mobile notifications, and APA News Digest articles) regarding sunsetting the MyOT Legacy product and the switch to MyOT Beta, which is found in the APA Pilot application. MyOT Legacy was decommissioned at 1600 Central on Oct. 11, and notifications will no longer be available through that service. Guidance on setting up your MyOT Beta profile can be found under the MyOT Beta tab on the IT Steering Committee’s Latest Releases webpage. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since Sept. 29, A321 aircraft 195 has been written up and out of service six times for the right engine FADEC. It was most recently signed off on Oct. 7. A321 aircraft 870 was at a contract MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) station for a C11 check and returned to service on Sept. 28. Since then, it has been written up and out of service four times for cabin pressurization. It was most recently signed off on Oct. 11. A321 aircraft 951 , which was previously flown by Alaska Airlines, entered AA revenue service on May 16. Since then, it has been written up for a Class 2 air bleed message 15 times, been on MEL 11 times for a total of 89 days, and been out of service six times. It was most recently signed off on Oct. 6. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Oct. 9, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Dean Baker, Marc Britton, Christopher Brown, William Browne, Joseph Fung, Aaron Kelley, Jeffrey Owen, Thomas Palmer, Giovanni Pavese, Reynaldo Posadas, Humberto Ramirez, Edward Russell, Roque Soto, Scotty Taylor Jr., and Kevin Wheat. Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate these pilots who upgraded to captain last month. They are sorted by their post-upgrade base and equipment. BOS 737: Jay Andrews, Thomas Knox, Benjamin Russo, and Stephen Spear CLT 320: Hobson Black, James Bowman, Matthew Couch, Dominic DelRosso, Luc Derenne, Scott Mann, Marshal Orchard, and Dan Wold DCA 737: Evan Bottorff, Daniel Edelsberg, Kenneth Gilkes, David Pettey, and Aran Stynes DCA 320: Kevin Hazuka, Todd Mercer, Emilio Urena, and Jeffrey Watson DFW 737: Jordan Bullock, Douglas Clark, Robert Frey, Kyle Hupfer, Ryan Lacher, Michael Rogers, Mitchell Rosnick, James Shawn, and Mark Wingert DFW 320: Jeffrey Copeland, Heath Reed, Jason Robinson, and Doyle Tonneson LAX 320: Stephen Abrams, Oliver Da Silva Martins, Joseph Fung, and Joe Penate LGA 787: George Allie and James Edwards LGA 737: Christian Barone, Russell Campbell, David Cruz, Jonathan Espin, Michael Hoxmeier, and Brent Kistner MIA 737: Jose Altuve Lozada, Jason Burkett, Joshua Correa, Jorge Giovannini, Phillip Holty, Lucas St. Laurent, Ryan Strayve, and Andrew Stutzman MIA 320: Teodoro Collazo Jr., Robert De Pol, Lucas Faddis, Bryan Henry, Tellys Hunter, Dalton Klugh, Jeremiah McBride, Khiem Nguyen, Giovanni Pavese, Rhaneawrys Pepen, Reynaldo Posadas, Charles Schaefer, Daniel Shaheen, Phillip Smith, Roque Soto, Scotty Taylor Jr., Skyler Villers, and Kevin Wheat ORD 320: Daniel Allen, Jason Bullard, Jeromy Byrd, Tom Haigh, Nehad Hmoud, Ryan Kline, Kyle Lindsay, George Moore, Mona Naik, and Robert Porter Jr. PHL 320: William Arner, Aaron Buhr, Joshua Crowley, James Dall, Patrick Dexter, Amani Evensen, German Giachino, Matthew Husbands, Steven Kneussle, Vihas Nair, Andrew Reese, David Reiff, Hiram Rivera Jr., Paul Saracen, Keith Scharer, and Joseph Toth PHX 737: Dean Baker, Blake Burdick, Nicholas Chaplin, David Hong, and Jason Scales Domicile Elections Runoff Round voting opened on Oct. 8, with the following candidates listed on the ballots: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Jay Wilhelm You can learn about the candidates on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA have until 0001 Central on Oct. 30 to cast a ballot . Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: CLT: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 30 DFW: Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Domicile Meeting on Dec. 3 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: Temecula Lunch on Oct. 16 ; San Diego Lunch on Nov. 12 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Nov. 13 ; Dana Point Lunch on Nov. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Nov. 20 LGA: Retirement Party on Oct. 26 ORD: Holiday Party on Dec. 6 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Board of Directors: A Change in Leadership Board of Directors: First Officer Nick Silva, APA President President: Focusing on What Lies Ahead Vice President: Thanks to CA Sicher for His Service APA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Recalls President APA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Briefed on Survey Results APA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Reconvenes Fall Meeting APA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Elects FO Nick Silva as President APA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Concludes Fall Meeting Membership Committee: Emergency Relief Funds Available Scheduling Committee: PBS Bidding Opens Today Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (2) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Information Technology Steering Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What time frame can be expected when Professional Standards is working an issue? Professional Standards issues will normally be resolved within a few days. Due to scheduling complexities, some cases may take longer. The expectation is that committee volunteers will be as timely as possible and not delay the processing of any issue submitted to the PS committee. Most cases are resolved with two days. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

First Officer Nick Silva, APA President

First Officer Nick Silva, APA President Today, in compliance with the APA Constitution and Bylaws, Article IV, Section 3.C, your Board of Directors elected First Officer Nick Silva to serve as APA President for the remainder of the current term ending June 30, 2025. The upcoming National Officer elections will take place in accordance with a schedule established by the Secretary-Treasurer as set forth in APA C&B Article IX, Section 2.A. We would like to thank all those who expressed their willingness to be considered for election – we are fortunate to have had many highly qualified members who were willing to step up to serve the membership. We look forward to working with President Silva on behalf of each of you, our membership. In Unity, CA Paul McFarland, BOS Chair CA Gemma Meehan, BOS Vice Chair CA Dan Scola, CLT Chair CA Erik DeWinne, CLT Vice Chair CA Chris Wachter, DCA Chair CA Tom Lawler, DCA Vice Chair CA Brian Smith, DFW Chair FO Jason Gustin, DFW Vice Chair CA Bill Evans, LAX Chair CA Tim Dick, LAX Vice Chair CA Lawrence Cutler, LGA Chair CA Jim Scanlan, LGA Vice Chair CA Thomas Copeland, MIA Chair CA Anne Witcher, MIA Vice Chair CA Wes Smith, ORD Chair FO Paul Meyers, ORD Vice Chair FO Mike Drost, PHL Chair CA Brian Sweep, PHL Vice Chair CA Mike Saracino, PHX Chair CA Jeremy Ryder, PHX Vice Chair
Public News Board of Directors

A Change in Leadership

A Change in Leadership Today, pursuant to the APA Constitution and Bylaws, Article IV, Section 5, Paragraph B, the Board of Directors recalled the APA President. The result of the recorded vote was 15-5. We encourage the membership to review today’s discussion and debate, which was held almost entirely in open session. The recording will be posted to AlliedPilots.org/Videos as soon as possible. The Board will fill the vacancy in accordance with C&B Article IV, Section 3, Paragraph C, before the conclusion of the Fall Board Meeting. In accordance with C&B Article IV, Section 4, Paragraph B, the Vice President will perform the duties of the President until such time as the vacancy has been filled. We thank CA Sicher for his service to our membership. In Unity, The APA Board of Directors
Public News Board of Directors

APA News Digest: Oct. 6, 2024

APA News Digest Oct. 6, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Runoff Round Voting Begins Tuesday Fall Board Meeting Begins Monday “Pilots Need Checklists” Family Awareness Committee: Critical Pilot Response Stands Ready Hotel Committee: Shoulder Season Climate Control Captain’s Authority Committee: Should You Accept the Aircraft? Information Technology Steering Committee: Changes to APA Pilot Forced Updates Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee: Massive Solar Flares Detected Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee: APA Represented at Cabin Air Conference Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Membership Committee: Gone West Domicile Events Presidential Constitutional Interpretation – Article VII, Section 1.A.7 Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Closing of the Seniority Defense Fund Trust Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Runoff Round Voting Begins Tuesday The following Election Round results were certified by Sequent on Oct. 1: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger: 337 CA Erik DeWinne: 337 CA Casey Granger: 47 CLT Vice Chair FO Hickory Ham: 401 FO Tammy Smart: 171 CA Michael Pfeifer: 149 LGA Chair CA Mark Lokey: 349 CA Jeff Kerr: 336 LGA Vice Chair CA James Scanlan: 339 CA David Hines: 250 CA Sam Pool: 96 MIA Chair CA Jay Wilhelm: 519 CA Thomas Copeland: 456 CA Andrew Weingram: 102 MIA Vice Chair FO James “Jamie” Funderburk: 671 CA Anne Witcher: 406 Congratulations to FO Ham, CA Lokey, and FO Funderburk, whose three-year terms will begin on Nov. 1. The CLT Chair, LGA Vice Chair, and MIA Chair winners will be determined via runoffs. The Runoff Round will open on Tuesday, Oct. 8, with the following candidates listed: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Jay Wilhelm Click here to learn more about the candidates. Between 0000 Central on Oct. 8 and 0001 Central on Oct. 30, you can click here to cast your vote. Fall Board Meeting Begins Monday The APA Board of Directors will convene at union headquarters in Fort Worth on Monday, Oct. 7, for its regularly scheduled fall meeting. As you can see on the posted agenda , the meeting will include a Membership and Guest Hour on the first day. Policy stipulates that “Any APA member(s) in good standing or, with the consent of the Board, a guest of a member shall be allowed to address the board. Allocation of time will be 60 minutes divided by the number of members/guests desiring to speak; however, no individual will be afforded more than 10 minutes, including any questions/ answers by the Board. Members and guests must advise the meeting Chair of their desire to address the Board.” Please email asmith@alliedpilots.org if you wish to address the Board. The list of resolutions that may be considered during the Board meeting can be found here . “Pilots Need Checklists” The APA Communications Committee sent the following message to all members on Wednesday. When the Compass Project helped CA Kathy Shelton get back to the flight deck after more than two years on long-term disability, she came away from the experience “extremely impressed” with the support she received — so impressed, in fact, that CA Shelton decided to become a Compass Project volunteer just weeks after returning. She then spearheaded the development of the Compass Project’s return-to-work checklist . Remember, when you encounter a professional or personal challenge – or both simultaneously, which is often the case – APA can help through Project Wingman , the Compass Project , the Sudden Grief Response Program , our aeromedical team – including the APA Medical Advisors and the programs the Aeromedical Committee offers – and the many other peer support programs APA provides. If you find yourself unsure where to turn, remember the resources that are available to you as a member of the APA family. We’re here for you, and we will provide the support you need to get through whatever you’re experiencing. You can see more “ APA Member Stories ” on our YouTube account. Critical Pilot Response Stands Ready This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. CA Adam Rosenberg and FO Will Heybruck, who are both based at CLT, are among the pilots who have been contributing to Operation Airdrop in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. You can learn more about Operation Airdrop in this report from NBC News. With communities across the Southeast dealing with widespread devastation, APA’s Critical Pilot Response program has been working closely with the CLT Domicile to coordinate needs and resources. Please let us know if you need help, or can assist APA pilots and families, via CPR@alliedpilots.org or call/text Family Awareness Committee member CA Jerry Gemma at 561-703-2219. Shoulder Season Climate Control This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. One of the things that both AA and APA look at when we conduct a hotel site review is the type of climate control system the hotel utilizes. While newer buildings have modern HVAC systems that can heat and/or cool rooms on demand, older buildings tend to have two-pipe climate control systems. A two-pipe climate control system utilizes one pipe for heating and another pipe for cooling. This system circulates hot or chilled water through radiators or fan coils to regulate indoor temperatures. There are several constraints with these systems. The primary drawback of a two-pipe system is its inability to provide heating and cooling simultaneously. Additionally, maintaining consistent temperatures across multiple rooms or zones can be challenging. Different spaces may have varying exposure to sunlight, occupancy levels, and insulation quality, leading to uneven heating or cooling. This can result in hot or cold spots within a building. As seasons transition, maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures can be a challenge. In particular, the shoulder seasons – those periods between winter and spring or summer and fall – often present fluctuating weather conditions that can make traditional two-pipe systems less effective. Unfortunately, many hotels in Europe and some of our markets in the Northeast have two-pipe systems. When we are sourcing the market, we try to avoid contracting with hotels that have two-pipe systems; however, this can be difficult in markets where they are more prevalent. Transitioning between heating and cooling modes requires time for the system to adjust. It can take up to several days for the system to fully switch over. Because of this timeline, many properties will ensure they have a couple of consistent warm or cold days forecasted before making the switch. This delay can be particularly noticeable in the shoulder seasons, where temperatures fluctuate significantly. While you will not have as much control over the temperature in a two-pipe hotel, there are a few things you can do to mitigate discomfort during the shoulder season. If you are concerned about the room being too warm, ask for rooms on the east side of the building (if you are sleeping during the afternoon/night) and west side if you are a day sleeper. Keep your window shades drawn during the day to prevent sunlight from warming the room. Most two-pipe hotels will deliver fans to your room to assist in keeping the room cooler. If you have the opposite problem and the room is too cold, ask the hotel for additional blankets. We understand this type of climate control system is not desirable, and we always seek out properties with updated systems. One additional issue in Europe is that governments often set regulations on heating and cooling of buildings. AA Hotel Contracts communicates regularly with our European hotels about their plans to switch from AC to heat and vice versa. Some hotels are better at managing their systems than others, and we use your Hotel Survey data to determine whether the hotel is doing a good job. If they are not, and pilots are reporting uncomfortable stays, we ask AA to source the market. For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Should You Accept the Aircraft? This is a new message from the APA Captain’s Authority Committee. From Jetnet – Safety Systems, Efficiency and Compliance: The Safety Systems, Efficiency and Compliance department’s mission is to protect our customers, employees and equipment by maintaining a strong safety and compliance culture . From AA’s Rules of Conduct: -Conduct yourself in a moral and decent manner. -Consider the welfare of the Company and your fellow team members. Perform no act that is detrimental to either . Please continue to file Captain’s Authority Threats reports when warranted. Here are two such reports we recently received. Report #1 – Pressured to “Move the Metal” The previous crew reported that the evacuation horn began to sound in the flight deck as they left the aircraft. We called for maintenance and entered it in the EAML. Maintenance sent several mechanics to reset the system several different ways, which only resulted in the horn sounding intermittently. Ultimately the mechanic took the aircraft out of service. After this, several maintenance personnel and supervisors boarded and attempted to persuade me to take the aircraft because the horn was not currently sounding. I refused and finally asked my FO and cabin crew to leave the aircraft in order to allow the mechanics to work. The aircraft was taken out of service which delayed the flight enough to cause an illegal duty day and removal from flight. I later noticed the same aircraft at the same gate fully loaded with the jet bridge pulled and checked the EAML to discover the aircraft was signed off and given to another crew without additional maintenance performed. That crew attempted to push the aircraft, but the horn sounded after the cabin doors were closed and the slides were armed, resulting in the aircraft again being taken out of service. An erroneous evacuation horn could have resulted in slide deployment by passengers or flight attendants, causing an unnecessary evacuation and all the risks and hazards involved. Further, ignoring the evacuation horn by flight and cabin crews could lead to a delayed evacuation during an actual emergency. Report #2 – Director of Flight “Pilot Pushing” At 2010L I was awarded a sequence that had already been delayed seven hours for maintenance (MX), arriving to the airport at 2250. I called MX to address four AML entries, which included getting an Engineering Authorization for peeling erosion tape. After three hours of steady communication, coordination, and problem solving, it was 0230 and I was in the Yellow (AA Flight Training Threat Error Management model). We asked dispatch for a new aircraft to expedite departure and were assigned an aircraft with an INOP APU. I refused this second aircraft and received a third aircraft 15 minutes later. After transitioning from external electric to APU on the third aircraft, we experienced a fume event (strong smell of musty, sweaty socks associated with oil in the air conditioning system). Only the crew was onboard at this time, and I told them to disembark. A maintenance technician on the jetbridge stairs outside said to me, “If you don’t want to go, go home.” I had him repeat what he was saying to be sure I understood what he was trying to tell me. He repeated his first statement and added, “You didn’t like the first airplane, you didn’t like the second airplane, and you don’t like this airplane. If you don’t want to go, just go home.” I then told him, “When you want to talk professionally and respectfully, let me know,” and went back inside. I advised the CSM and MX that we would not take the airplane. I filled out the AML and I submitted a Smoke Odor Fume (SOF) form online. Departure was delayed to the next morning, and I returned home without reassignment. The next morning the Director of Flight stated that I should have taken the INOP APU aircraft and that the MEL’s Captain’s Authority to refuse this aircraft didn’t apply to my situation. He also assigned a Removal Code 15 (no pay removal) to the sequence (a violation of the CBA). APA Contract Compliance and AA Labor corrected this pay issue, and I received full pay for the 2-day sequence. MEL Introduction - Flight Crew Procedures  3.1.B “The Captain may request equipment requirements above the minimums listed in this MEL or CDL whenever, in the Captain’s judgment, such added equipment is essential to the safe and prudent operation of a particular flight under the unique conditions prevailing at the time.” FOM Preflight-Maintenance-AML 3m.1.7 Airworthiness Concerns/Questions “... The Captain has the authority to reject an aircraft prior to departure of a flight if dissatisfied with any aspect of the airworthiness/maintenance status of the aircraft.” Changes to APA Pilot Forced Updates This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. We have heard your feedback regarding the forced update required when a new version of an application is released. When pilots need immediate information, it’s not always feasible to wait for the latest update to download, especially in areas with a slow connection. With that in mind, we have made changes to this process. With Version 2.9.4 of APA Pilot, upon opening the app, you will be given the option to update immediately or to delay updating to some point within the time frame stated in the message. Press the X in the top right corner if you wish to delay the installation. Note: APA IT will utilize this capability for future updates when possible. In addition, please note that while you may choose to delay the installation, there will be a limit to the length of the delay; typically, this will be for three days. Decommissioning of Legacy MyOT: As a reminder, the APA IT Department will soon begin decommissioning the legacy MyOT application. Please use the next week to transition your preferences to the new MyOT Beta environment. Complete access to the legacy MyOT and its notifications will be available until Oct. 11. MyOT Beta currently provides notifications within an average of 11 seconds of the legacy product, with many produced as much as 45 seconds quicker. However, APA IT will continue to work toward bringing down that differential further. Android Push Notifications: A bug causing Android devices not to receive push notifications has been fixed. If you are still experiencing this issue, please visit the Google Play store and download Version 2.9.6 of APA Pilot. New Favorites Available: Many of the services available on the APA Pilot app are now available on your desktop and can be added to your custom list of Favorites. Links to these services can also be found on our IT Steering Committee webpage . Massive Solar Flares Detected This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee’s Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center recently observed two massive solar flares aimed Earthward. One is the largest since 2017. The flares ejected large amounts of plasma that are expected to reach Earth this weekend. This is similar in nature to the May geomagnetic storm that saw auroras in the southern United States. This storm may also cause auroras visible to southern latitudes and the potential to disrupt navigation satellites, particularly at high latitudes. If you happen to experience any disruptions to navigation or radio sources, please file a CERS report under Space Weather/Navigation/Radio Blackout (current FOM procedure). Please reference the Pilot Occupational Health page on AlliedPilots.org for more information or reach out to the committee with any questions: cmte-occupationalhealth@alliedpilots.org. APA Represented at Cabin Air Conference This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee’s Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee. CA Rondeau Flynn, CA Bridget Van Scoy, CA John Adams, CA Kevin Macelhaney, and CA Joshua Hicks Your APA Pilot Occupational Health team recently traveled to London for the Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference hosted by the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive . The conference focused on the effects of smoke, odor, fumes (SOF) events and methods of prevention. Attendees included representatives from airlines, pilots’ unions, cabin crew unions, aircraft manufacturers, lubricant manufacturers, professors, and medical professionals. A few crewmembers who were affected by SOF events presented how those events affected their careers and personal lives. These stories highlight the importance of education and outreach to navigate a SOF event. Many potential solutions were brought to the table, including cabin air not originating from bleed air (removing the potential for engine lubrication leaks causing SOF events), catalytic converters and filters (preventing hazardous volatile organic compounds from entering the cabin), and non-toxic engine lubrication. Your Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee is working hard to ensure you are well represented. We are utilizing multiple avenues to improve your safety and wellbeing. We are working to influence legislation, to advocate for the use of safer equipment, to provide better medical care and understanding, to streamline incident response, and to implement company policies to take care of our aircrew. If you have had a SOF event and need to reach the POH team, please call 817-302-2154, ext. 2. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since Sept. 14, B777 aircraft 7AL has been written up six times for left engine bleed air, been out of service once, and been on MEL five times. At the time of this writing, it remained on MEL and was restricted to Class 1 or 2 maintenance stations. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Oct. 2, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Hobson Black, Dominic Delrosso, Daniel Frank, Jonathan Hudik, Ryan Kline, Corey Leuwerke, Maci Minor, Todd Murphey, Heath Reed, David Reiff, and Daniel Wold. Gone West This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of these pilots, whose deaths we learned of in August and September: Dorn Porter, 78, on Jan. 7, 2023; Steve Alderson, 72, on May 6, 2024; Joe D’Ambra, 80, on May 27; Jim Baker, 93, on June 5; Tom Carrigan, 76, on July 1; Mike Davis, 80, on July 6; Mike Madden, 78, on July 11; Chuck Schulz, 88, on July 11; Alan Abell, 74, on July 13; Lewis Insley, 76, on July 18; Bob Farrell, 91, on July 22; Wally Cullum, 86, on July 26; Don Werthe, 91, on July 26; Herb Carter, 82, on July 28; Ed Mitchell, 95, on July 31; Bob Johnson, 92, on Aug. 3; Al Wolchak, 95, on Aug. 5; Paul Cowdrey, 70, on Aug. 6; Don Schweitzer, 94, on Aug. 8; Ed Svetlik, 88, on Aug. 8; Jim Thomas, 91, on Aug. 12; Mike White, 76, on Aug. 13; Ron McGetrick, 74, on Aug. 15; Jack Clough, 86, on Aug. 16; Bob Morgan, 87, on Aug. 17; Nick Breheny, 78, on Aug. 18; Rich Secor, 80, on Aug. 19; Eric Furst, 77, on Aug. 22; Ed Zenner, 74, on Aug. 24; Roald “Skip” Gustafson, 84, on Aug. 26; Chuck Mullaney, 88, on Aug. 27; Kenneth “KB” Bryan, 92, on Aug. 29; Linda Parks, 71, on Aug. 31; George Partlo, 86, on Sept. 5; and Tim Benson, 71, on Sept. 14. Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 7 DFW: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Oct. 8 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Oct. 9 ; Dana Point Lunch on Oct. 10 ; Temecula Lunch on Oct. 16 LGA: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 7; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 ORD: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8 PHL: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8; Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Presidential Constitutional Interpretation – Article VII, Section 1.A.7 The APA Constitution and Bylaws gives the APA President the exclusive authority to enforce the C text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> this interpretation regarding the meaning of Article VII, Section 1.A.7 of the C height: 0.5px; background-color: darkgray; overflow: visible; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); box-sizing: border-box;" fr-original-style="margin: 20px 0 30px 0;height: 0.5px;background-color: darkgray;"> Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. President: A Right and a Responsibility Domicile Officers: Voter Lists Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (2) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Professional Standards Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (5) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Closing of the Seniority Defense Fund Trust The directors of the Allied Pilots Association Seniority Defense Fund Trust Agreement (SDF Trust) have decided to close it and distribute all remaining assets to the APA Emergency Relief the SDF Trust provided funding to the American Airlines Merger Committee during the seniority integration proceedings. The directors have determined that the purposes of the SDF Trust have been achieved, the seniority issues that arose from the merger of US Airways and American Airlines have all been adjudicated, and no more grievances or other issues are anticipated for which the SDF Trust would be needed. The SDF Trust is an independent entity not controlled by APA. The SDF Trust’s directors decided to close it and asked APA to publish this announcement. According to the directors, all accounts have been paid, a final audit has been conducted, and there is no outstanding business that requires continuation of the SDF Trust. Legacy American Airlines pilots who desire to view the final audit may do so at the legal offices of James height: 0.5px; background-color: darkgray; overflow: visible; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); box-sizing: border-box;" fr-original-style="margin: 20px 0 30px 0;height: 0.5px;background-color: darkgray;"> Professional Standards FAQs What happens with a management referral? When a Professional Standards volunteer and a manager are both working the same issue, it is the responsibility of the volunteer to determine whether management intends to stay involved or is willing to hand the case over to Professional Standards. The volunteer and management will work together to determine whether the issue could be completed through the Professional Standards process. If an agreeable resolution is not made, the parties are encouraged to elevate the issue to the national committee for resolution or guidance. In all cases, Professional Standards will not accept an issue if management remains involved. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Sept. 27, 2024

APA News Digest Sept. 27, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Agenda Set for Fall Board Meeting Election Round Voting Ends Monday Night Compass Project Committee: Papyrus Will Point You in Right Direction Government Affairs Committee: Congress Conducts Hearings on FAA and Boeing Government Affairs Committee: Bills Would Refine Aeromedical Policies Hotel Committee: Tips for Navigating IROPs IT Steering Committee: Decommissioning of Legacy MyOT Has Been Delayed Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Membership Committee: Congratulations to Recent Retirees CA Peter Gamble Calls it a “Carreah” Southeastern Oklahoma State University to Honor CA Terry Barker APA Medical Minute – Cholesterol Medications Civil Aviation Medical Association Recognizes APA’s Kathy Parr Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Closing of the Seniority Defense Fund Trust Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Agenda Set for Fall Board Meeting The APA Board of Directors will convene at union headquarters in Fort Worth on Monday, Oct. 7, for its regularly scheduled fall meeting. As you can see on the posted agenda , the meeting will include a Membership and Guest Hour on the first day. Policy stipulates that “Any APA member(s) in good standing or, with the consent of the Board, a guest of a member shall be allowed to address the board. Allocation of time will be 60 minutes divided by the number of members/guests desiring to speak; however, no individual will be afforded more than 10 minutes, including any questions/ answers by the Board. Members and guests must advise the meeting Chair of their desire to address the Board.” Please email asmith@alliedpilots.org if you wish to address the Board. Election Round Voting Ends Monday Night The Election Round voting period opened on Sept. 9 for elections at CLT, LGA, and MIA. Each domicile will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair for three-year terms that begin on Nov. 1. The following candidates are listed on the ballots: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger CLT Vice Chair FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Jeff Kerr CA Mark Lokey LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair FO James “Jamie” Funderburk CA Anne Witcher The Election Round voting period will close at 0100 Eastern on Oct. 1. If necessary, Runoff Round voting would begin at 0100 Eastern on Oct. 8. Click here to learn more about the candidates, and click here to cast your vote. Papyrus Will Point You in Right Direction This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee. American Airlines’ vast operation is sure to bring inclement weather, delays, cancellations and a plethora of other challenges. We need to be ready to face these challenges. There is a very useful tool that will point you to all the information you need to navigate irregular operations, schedule changes, hotel issues, reassignments, RO, and all Compass Project documents, among many other things. This tool is Papyrus. From your mobile device, access Papyrus through the APA Pilot app. Type a few keywords of the subject you are searching for in the search box and documents containing those keywords will be at your fingertips. With the integrated auto-synchronization, Papyrus ensures that you always have the most up-to-date documents. What is best, all Papyrus content is available offline! We encourage you to take advantage of this great asset. Please contact our volunteers via email compassproject@alliedpilots.org or call 817-302-2401 with any questions you may have. The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading pilot mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line-pilot sponsors, as well as tutorial videos and an extensive database of stage-based documents covering a number of helpful topics that are beneficial to all pilots. Click here for more information . Congress Conducts Hearings on FAA and Boeing This is a new message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker testified about his agency’s oversight of Boeing during a pair of Congressional hearings this week. The only uniformed pilot present for both hearings was CA Ken Johnson of your Government Affairs Committee. Click the image to watch Tuesday’s House hearing. Click the image to watch Wednesday’s Senate hearing. You can read about the hearings in these articles posted to the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org. ABC News: “ Senate probe reveals Boeing’s ‘troubling and recurring’ safety failings ” Politico: “ Senators want to see major changes at Boeing. The FAA says that could take years ” Reuters: “ FAA vows to hold Boeing accountable, revamp agency safety program ” The Seattle Times: “ Facing skeptical Senate committee, FAA chief defends Boeing oversight ” UPI: “ Boeing has improved on safety but needs more time, head of FAA tells Congress ” Bills Would Refine Aeromedical Policies This is a new message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. APA President CA Ed Sicher with U.S. Rep. Sean Casten APA President CA Ed Sicher recently met with U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois, who has introduced two bills regarding aeromedical issues: The Aviation Medication Transparency Act calls on the FAA to maintain a public list of the medications active pilots can take while undergoing medical treatment. The Mental Health in Aviation Act encourages pilots to report mental health issues without fear of losing their jobs. It also calls on the FAA to annually review its policies on mental health-related special issuances for pilots and air traffic controllers. APA is championing these pieces of legislation, which would allow pilots to make informed medical decisions. Tips for Navigating IROPs This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. We are sure to feel the effects of Hurricane Helene through the operation this weekend, and we consequently expect longer-than-normal wait times for the Hotel/Limo Desk. We recommend using the hotel options in the Electronic Communication System (ECS) if the call waits are excessive or if you prefer not to call. Please coordinate with your entire crew – including the flight attendants – so that only one person contacts the Hotel/Limo Desk on the crew’s behalf. Multiple members of the crew reaching out at the same time overburdens the desk and leads to increased wait times for other crews. Furthermore, it does not reduce your overall wait. Let your FAs know you can request rooms for them in addition to the pilots’ rooms via the ECS app, as they are unfamiliar and do not have access to it. For more information, reference our “ Hotel/Limo Options in ECS ” article in the Sept. 6 edition of the News Digest. Decommissioning of Legacy MyOT Has Been Delayed This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. Due to continued feedback from our MyOT Beta testing phase, the APA IT Department has delayed the decommissioning of the legacy MyOT application located within Mobile Sabre. This is now planned to occur on Oct. 4. We are taking this extra time to refine and enhance overall performance in order to provide the best possible product. We appreciate your patience and understanding. An update to MyOT Beta and Trips Marketplace Beta will be released the morning of Sept. 30. You will NOT need to update the APA Pilot mobile app; however, you will need to force close and reopen it to access the new features. Please note that the updates to Trips Marketplace Beta will have no immediate effect. These enhancements have been added to assist with testing capabilities and are a prerequisite to the broader open release (Beta 3) expected to be available to our members the week of Oct. 7. MyOT Beta Release Notes: Corrected default values for sign-in and termination times Fixed ratios for Pay/TAFB and Credit/Pay Enhanced data cleansing, error handling, and logging operations associated with AA OpsHub data feed consumption Adjusted backend OpsHub and Sabre processing scaling factors Note:  An additional minor release will occur on Oct. 3 to address a UTC vs. HBT discrepancy. APA IT continuously monitors and updates the MyOT Beta data feed for reliability. As always, we encourage all feedback, as it is invaluable in helping us improve the services we provide to our membership. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since Aug. 6, A321 aircraft 914 has been written up nine times for a Class II air bleed fault, has been out of service six times, and has been on MEL four times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 21. Since June 13, A321 aircraft 954 has been written up 12 times for a Class II air bleed fault, has been out of service five times, and has been on MEL eight times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 26. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Sept. 25, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Evan Bottorff, Nicholas Chaplin, Joshua Correa, Joshua Crowley, Daniel Edelsberg, Mahmood Enawe, Amani Evensen, Jorge Giovannini, Todd Holbrook, Jared Jones, Christopher Oerter, Jason Robinson, Keith Scharer, James Shawn, Konstantin Shevnin, Ryan Skubik, Alexander Spencer Averhart, Brandon Turner, Jeffrey Wegner, and Armia Yacoub. Congratulations to Recent Retirees This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate the following pilots who retired in July and August. BOS: FO Peter Gonya and CA David Miller CLT: FO John Allison, CA Robert Ballard, FO Ken Linkous, CA Michael Livers, CA David Mudge, CA Robert Owen, CA Randall Page, CA Gregory Pietrocola, CA John Robinson, CA Robert Steljes, CA Joseph Thomas Jr., and CA Charles Wood Jr. DCA: CA George Irish Jr., CA Stephen Kaiser, CA Terrence O’Toole, and CA James Wilmer DFW: CA Clint Beedle, FO Kurt Bjorn, CA Charles Bowen, CA Doug Brown, CA Earl Brunner, FO Thomas Carr, CA Mike Ciaccio, CA Thomas Colburn, CA Dominic Currieri, CA Patrick Danis, FO Charles Dickenson, CA Kathi Durst, CA James Dwyer, CA Jesse Falcon, CA William Findley, CA Robert Glathe, CA Russell Grieco, CA Steven Haase, CA Jeffry Hamlin, CA Scott Harrington, FO Robert Helmus, CA William Herron, CA Michael Himes, CA Steven Holmstrom, CA David Homburger, CA James Karukas, CA Lawrence Kelly, CA Michael Kirsch, CA Steven Kline, FO Joseph Marincel, CA Frank Maury, CA Michael McCartan, FO James Meek, CA Dennis Merrill, CA James Morrison, CA Robert Ramsey, FO Gregory Rhodes, FO Nancy Richardson, CA Richard Rider, FO Mark Roberts, CA Eric Roth, CA Mitchell Sander, CA Gary Sherman, CA David Small, CA Thomas Snelling, CA Dean Swanson, CA Stephen Thomas, FO Stephen Toldy, CA Michael Turner, CA Mark Victor, CA Clark Walker, FO Michael Wallstater, CA John Wooden, CA Thomas Woods, FO John York, and FO D. Zand LAX: CA Daniel Ables, CA Michael Donohue, CA Thomas Harwood, FO James Herrin, FO Richard Jones, CA Kevin McGlynn, FO Andrew Merrick, and CA John Roberts LGA: CA Scott Berger, FO Charles Clark, FO William Jones, CA Paul MacIsaac, CA Michael Sturges, CA David Terwilliger, and CA Teresa VandenDolder MIA: CA Edward Allport, CA Carlos Ayuso, CA Catherine Beirne, CA Dale Caldwell, FO Walter Chernoch, CA Susan Cunningham, CA Joseph Delisle, CA William Devine, CA Peter Hagemann, FO Michael Haskins, CA Byron Jaffe, CA Michael Kennedy, FO Michael Krkuc, FO Brian Leazenby, CA Frederick Logan, FO Berry Long, CA Charles Martin, CA Keith Quisenberry, CA Bryan Reich, CA Stephen Tate, CA Kent Thorpe, CA Steve Walker, and CA Jack White ORD: CA Timothy Cox, CA Alonzo Haney, CA Michael Piotrowski, FO Kevin Sheets, and FO Nancy Wudtke PHL: FO Alfred Byrne, FO John Carlisle, CA Douglas Chappius, CA Ken Clark, CA Ronald Davis, FO Emily Dent d’Almuano, CA Thomas Evans, FO Mark Gesing, CA William Holden, CA Dennis James, CA Richard Kirkendall, CA Robert Knapp, FO Betty Ludtke, CA James Niles, CA Larry Quick, FO Keith Rodriguez, CA Arthur Slowey, FO John Thompson, CA Michael Walsh, and CA Scott Weaver PHX: CA Alfred Casby, CA Maren Cochran, CA Timothy Hardy, CA Brian Izard, CA Charles Morgante, and CA Craig Stefanisko CA Peter Gamble Calls it a “Carreah” CA Peter Gamble, who served four terms as BOS Domicile Chair, retired this week after more than 34 years of service. His final sequence was JFK-LHR-BOS-LHR-JFK, and his BOS layover began with a Fini Flight celebration on Sept. 19. During his eight years on the APA Board of Directors (2015-2023), CA Gamble was also a member of the Compensation Committee and the Financial Audit Committee. He additionally served on three ad hoc committees: 737 MAX Return to Service, 9/11 20th Anniversary Memorial, and Non-Routine Flight Operations Quality Assurance. Congratulations, “Petah,” and thank you for your service to your fellow pilots! We will never forget your memorable instructions for handling RAM Mounts. Southeastern Oklahoma State University to Honor CA Terry Barker In November of 2022, longtime APA volunteer CA Terry Barker lost his life in a midair collision during the Wings Over Dallas airshow. CA Barker will be honored by Southeastern Oklahoma State University during its Distinguished Alumni Awards Banquet , which is scheduled for Oct. 4. Another former APA volunteer, CA Johnathan Benton, posthumously received the same honor from the university last year. APA Medical Minute – Cholesterol Medications In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Kathy Parr discusses what pilots need to know if they take medications to control cholesterol. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. Civil Aviation Medical Association Recognizes APA’s Kathy Parr Kathy Parr with Dr. Andrew H. Miller, a member of the CAMA Board of Trustees APA Medical Advisor Kathy Parr has been honored with a prestigious fellowship by the Civil Aviation Medical Association . According to CAMA, “fellowship in the organization signifies a major accomplishment in an individual’s career in aerospace medicine” and “priority will be given to those CAMA members who have made significant contributions to civil aviation medicine.” Throughout CAMA’s history, the organization has typically conferred fellowships on medical doctors. Its selection of Ms. Parr this year, in addition to Medical Advisors Manager Marsha Reekie last year, speaks volumes about the quality of personalized aeromedical care that APA’s team of nurses provide to our membership and the recognition and reputation they have industrywide. Domicile Events Click the image for a closer look. Dozens of pilots and guests gathered at the Ballantyne Charlotte Hotel last Saturday for a retirement party. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 7 DFW: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Oct. 8 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Oct. 9 ; Dana Point Lunch on Oct. 10 ; Temecula Lunch on Oct. 16 LGA: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 3 ; Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 7; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 ORD: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8 PHL: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8; Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Communications Committee: Did You Vote Yet? Family Awareness Committee: Critical Pilot Response: Tropical Storm Helene  Safety Committee: Aviation Safety Action Program Seeks Volunteers Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Professional Standards Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (5) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Closing of the Seniority Defense Fund Trust The directors of the Allied Pilots Association Seniority Defense Fund Trust Agreement (SDF Trust) have decided to close it and distribute all remaining assets to the APA Emergency Relief the SDF Trust provided funding to the American Airlines Merger Committee during the seniority integration proceedings. The directors have determined that the purposes of the SDF Trust have been achieved, the seniority issues that arose from the merger of US Airways and American Airlines have all been adjudicated, and no more grievances or other issues are anticipated for which the SDF Trust would be needed. The SDF Trust is an independent entity not controlled by APA. The SDF Trust’s directors decided to close it and asked APA to publish this announcement. According to the directors, all accounts have been paid, a final audit has been conducted, and there is no outstanding business that requires continuation of the SDF Trust. Legacy American Airlines pilots who desire to view the final audit may do so at the legal offices of James height: 0.5px; background-color: darkgray; overflow: visible; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); box-sizing: border-box;" fr-original-style="margin: 20px 0 30px 0;height: 0.5px;background-color: darkgray;"> Professional Standards FAQs Can management continue with a traditional process after releasing a case to Professional Standards? No. Once an issue has been released to Professional Standards, management will not pursue action against an employee for actions contained in the referral. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Sept. 20, 2024

APA News Digest Sept. 20, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Dream Flights: 7,000 Flights and Counting Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: Don’t Forget to Check in With the Captain Hotel Committee: Overage Hotels for October Information Technology Steering Committee: Updates on Our Latest Releases Safety Committee: Aviation Safety Action Program Seeks Volunteers Critical Incident Response Program: CIRP Volunteer of the Quarter Aeromedical Committee: Our Recommended Reading List Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class APA Medical Minute – Over-the-Counter Medications AAL’s “Commercial Reset Could Take Time” Credit Card Revenue: Delta ($7B) Beat American ($5.2B) APA Welcomed to NATCA Conference Domicile Elections Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Dream Flights: 7,000 Flights and Counting Dream Flights visited DFW on Wednesday, flying four veterans in WWII-era Boeing Stearman biplanes. For the past few years, APA has been a proud supporter of Dream Flights, which characterizes its mission as giving back to those who gave. Several APA members have served as Dream Flights pilots, with LAX-based FO Zach Harris of the APA Professional Standards Committee at the controls for Wednesday’s flights honoring these veterans: Carlyle Hayes, 99, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who patrolled the East Coast during WWII hunting for enemy submarines. (Mr. Hayes was on board for Dream Flights’ 7,000th flight.) Al Chatwin, 98, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Pacific Theater. Jerry Brown, 92, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served as a radar operator during the Korean War and thereafter. Bill Henry, 76, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the 1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War. You can see more photos on APA’s Facebook page. We have also uploaded a video to our YouTube account. Additionally, KDFW-TV (Fox), KTVT-TV (CBS), and KXAS-TV (NBC) covered Wednesday’s Dream Flights visit for their viewers. Don’t Forget to Check in With the Captain This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. You listed for a jumpseat and got a boarding pass – hooray! Do you need to check in with the Captain? It’s always a good idea, even when deadheading or non-revving, to let a Captain know there is a pilot on board. Checking in with the Captain is required in these situations: 1. When issued a “W” pass on any AA flight , present your ID and boarding pass to the Captain. Introduce yourself as an AA pilot who has been awarded a “W” pass and state, “I would like permission to ride in your jumpseat.” AA pilots listed for a JRS listing (D1/2W) and issued a cabin seat are non-rev passengers and not considered additional crew members (ACM). 2. When issued a FDJ or cabin seat on OAL flight where you are using jumpseat privileges (not a confirmed seat you purchased or an ID90), have your medical and certificate ready to present. Introduce yourself, who you work for, and state, “I would like permission to ride in your jumpseat” or “I would like your permission to occupy a cabin seat as a jumpseater.” In both cases, you are an ACM, and checking in with the Captain is required. Also, proper jumpseat attire includes your airline uniform or business casual attire – no denim. APA does not recommend leather “tennis type” shoes, as they may be considered athletic shoes. Overage Hotels for October This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. Below is the list of overage hotels that will be utilized in October. If you are scheduled to stay at one of these properties, we recommend you review our recent article about non-contracted hotels . BMG: SpringHill Suites Bloomington CID: Avid CLE: Crowne Plaza Playhouse and Hilton Garden Inn Airport DCA: Residence Inn Capital View LBB: The Overton LEX: Springhill Fritz Farm MFE: Casa De Palmas ONT: Doubletree Ontario Airport and Embassy Suites Ontario PIT: Crowne Plaza South and Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh PVD: Hilton Downtown Providence SDF: The Brown Hotel UVF: Zoetry Marigot Bay XNA: Aloft, Hampton Inn, and Hilton Garden Inn For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Updates on Our Latest Releases This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. MyOT Being Decommissioned and Replaced with MyOT Beta On Sept. 27, the original MyOT will be decommissioned and replaced with the new MyOT Beta service currently available in the APA Pilot app. For MyOT Beta setup instructions and FAQs, please visit the Latest Releases section of our committee’s webpage. An update to MyOT Beta was released this week. It included a major overhaul to the service, incorporating elements from the AA OpsHub data feed. We welcome as much feedback as possible to ensure it continues to perform as expected for our pilots. APA Pilot App Services Now Available Via Desktop The following APA Pilot app services can now be accessed through your desktop browser: Commute Info Global Preferences IMAX MyOT Beta Reserve Sentinel Trip Info Trips Marketplace Beta Wind Components An “APA Pilot App Direct Links” link has been added to the Quick Links menu on AlliedPilots.org. Robocall v2.0 to be Released Soon The APA Robocall product has been significantly overhaled to support call redundancy, adding an “Acknowledge Call” feature and integrating a second vendor for alternate call routing. When you enable the “Acknowledge Call” feature, Robocall will ask you to actively respond by pressing any digit on your phone to confirm you have received the message. Failing to press the digit, having the call go directly to voicemail, or not receiving the call due to a provider failure will immediately result in another call from the designated secondary provider. All you need to do to enable this feature is check the “Acknowledge Call” option by the phone number(s) you have associated in Robocall. Aviation Safety Action Program Seeks Volunteers This is an updated message from the APA Safety Committee. The APA Safety Committee is looking for several line pilots to serve with the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), one of the cornerstones of the AA Safety Management System. As the volume of ASAP reports increases, we need additional committee members to handle the growing workload. Candidates need strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, excellent writing ability, and solid deductive reasoning. Among the duties of our ASAP volunteers: Conducting pilot debriefs of ASAP events to identify root causes and assist in developing mitigation strategies to help prevent a recurrence. Participating with American Airlines Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration in twice-weekly meetings as an APA Event Review Committee member to research, process, and respond to ASAP reports. Tracking and trending recurring events to mitigate identified risks. APA is committed to working with the FAA and American Airlines Safety personnel to effect meaningful change and strengthen the airline’s safety culture. We encourage you to apply if you are interested in contributing to this effort. The application window will remain open until Oct. 4. We will invite qualified applicants to interview while the application window is open and after it closes. Send your resume and cover letter (no phone calls, please) to: Amber Callahan Safety, Training, Security, Aeromedical, and Professional Standards Coordinator STSAP-Admin@alliedpilots.org CIRP Volunteer of the Quarter This is a new message from the Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee. DFW-based 777 CA Jeff Rich is a man of many talents, and we’re grateful he somehow finds time in his busy schedule to serve as a CIRP volunteer. A Navy veteran, CA Rich served as a KC/C-130 pilot based in Rota, Spain, participating in a broad range of missions throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. He also served as an instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola and developed a program for at-risk school children in the area. He joined American Airlines in 1992. In his free time, CA Rich mentors aspiring young aviators and enjoys organic gardening, cooking, skiing, and mountain biking. If you need help figuring out which vegetables grow in tough Texas soil, he’s your man! Our Recommended Reading List This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee. In an effort to improve our members’ health, we have created a recommended reading list . Each month, we will highlight a book that has helped in the prevention of, treatment of, or recovery from an injury or illness, or has elevated a member’s education. Feel free to send your book recommendations to aeromed-committee@alliedpilots.org . Understanding Addiction: Know Science, No Stigma Doctors Chuck Smith and Jason Hunt bring a unique and important perspective to the subject of addiction. Experts in the field, Smith and Hunt have personal, firsthand experience with the humiliation and shame that accompanies substance use disorder. But addiction, as they point out, is a disease, no less so than diabetes or heart disease, and it needs to be treated as such. If you, or a loved one, is struggling with addiction, you’ll find help in this book. By understanding the science behind addiction, you can begin to move forward. Beyond the stigma lies hope. Disclaimer: This recommendation is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services. Always consult with your medical provider when making health care decisions. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. In the last two weeks, the ground proximity warning system on A321 aircraft 540 has been written up eight times, been on a Category A three-day MEL twice for a combined six days, and been out of service six times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 20 and was restricted to AA maintenance stations at the time of this writing. In the last month, the left global positioning system on B737 aircraft 3HV has been written up eight times, been out of service twice, and been on MEL four times for a combined 24 days. At the time of this writing, it remained on MEL. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Sept. 18, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Daniel Allen, Anthony Bevilacqua, Timothy Buchanan, Aaron Buhr, Robert De Pol, James Edwards, Jonathan Espin, John Gorman III, David Grojean, Nehad Hmoud, Michael Hoxmeier, David Huddler, Matthew Husbands, Joshua Kratz, Donald Luczak, Patrick McBride, Jesse McGough, David Pettey, Robert Porter Jr., Jason Scales, Daniel Shaheen, Michael Stock, Aran Stynes, John Thomas, Michael Valdes, and Erik Whitt. APA Medical Minute – Over-the-Counter Medications In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Tina Smith discusses restrictions related to over-the-counter medications, noting that any misuse can have an adverse impact on aviation safety. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. AAL’s “Commercial Reset Could Take Time” AAL Down 19.1%, DAL Up 17.2%, UAL Up 27.5% This week, Barclays and Deutsche Bank analysts updated their views on AAL. The following are excerpts from their notes to investors: Brandon Oglenski of Barclays Commercial Reset Could Take Time: Unforced error with corporate customers this summer led to share loss, but management addressing the challenges; recouping losses could take time, but lower growth and cost efficiencies could help the margin outlook into 2025. In the second quarter this year, American had attempted to transition corporate accounts to a lower cost, owned distribution channel and was about to begin taking away frequent flyer benefits for booking occurring on legacy distribution systems. This led to significant disruption and frustration for some of American’s largest corporate customers, likely leading to book-away to competing airlines such as Delta and United . On the positive side, American’s relative unit revenue should benefit from the carrier’s lower growth profile as well as less ambitious industry expansion this winter . American exceeded elevated industry capacity expansion in the second quarter while also attempting the ill-fated transition to NDC. Beyond the commercial challenges this summer, we think excess growth in American markets also added to unit revenue pressure. Management is quick to highlight the company’s quick reaction to the third and fourth quarter, with scheduled growth closer to 4% relative to second quarter expansion of nearly 9%. Convertible maturity looms in 2025, but American maintains flexibility to potentially refinance; consistent aircraft capital investments and increased operating efficiency gains help the outlook . Reduced debt leverage against American’s loyalty plan and potential new aircraft financing provide some optionality for American to deal with the $1.0bn of convertible notes that are due next year. Further, with expectations for annual aircraft capital spending of $3-3.5bn, American should generate enough cash to manage normal annual debt amortization, which is around $4bn for the next few years. Michael Linenberg of Deutsche Bank American’s year-to-date share price has materially underperformed the market (down 19.1% vs. S "> However, we see those earnings headwinds turning into tailwinds for the remainder of 2024 as American reverses course on its distribution strategy, low-fare carriers scale back their growth aspirations (e.g., low-fare carrier domestic capacity projected to be down 3% year-over-year in the December quarter), and domestic and Latin America unit revenue trends move toward positive territory . Furthermore, we estimate that American’s Atlantic unit revenue for the December quarter will be at or near the top for the industry. (Note that American’s Pacific franchise is only ~4% of total ASMs). Lastly, American has the most operating and financial leverage among its peer group, so an improving industry backdrop is likely to have a greater impact to the company’s bottom line than its competitors. Credit Card Revenue: Delta ($7B) Beat American ($5.2B) Today, CNBC reported that American is in talks to make Citi its exclusive credit card partner. The following are excerpts from the article : “While it says it has the largest loyalty program, American was out-earned by Delta there, which made nearly $7 billion in payments from its American Express card partnership last year, compared with $5.2 billion for American.” “American has been working with banks and card networks on a new long-term deal for months, hoping to consolidate its business with a single player to boost the revenue haul from its cards, said the people.” “Airlines rely on card programs to help them stay afloat, earning billions of dollars a year from banks in exchange for miles that customers earn when they use their cards. Those partnerships were crucial during the pandemic, when travel demand dried up, but consumers kept spending and earning miles on their cards. Carriers have said growth in card spending has far exceeded that of passenger revenue in recent years.” APA Welcomed to NATCA Conference APA Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee members CA Drew Watkins, FO Ric Babcock, CA Angel Pinera, CA Andy Alfiero, CA Mike Jesch, CA Bill de Groh, CA Lev Prichard, and CA Brian Townsend The APA Safety Committee’s Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee attended the National Air Traffic Controllers Association’s 25th Communicating For Safety conference this week in Las Vegas. Our team was augmented by members of the Aviation Safety Action Program Subcommittee, the Learning Improvement Team, and the Professional Standards Committee. This conference provides a unique opportunity to directly engage with the hundreds of air traffic controllers from across the country and internationally. Your representatives discussed our issues and concerns from the flight deck perspective as well as gained a better understanding of the challenges controllers are facing with mandatory six-day work weeks and overtime that impacts them personally and professionally. Additionally, the team attended the annual Archie League Medal of Safety dinner that honors exemplary efforts by ATC in assisting during aircraft emergencies over the last year. We also participated in a pilot/controller breakout session that debuted one of a series of videos American Airlines and APA have developed to bring the flight deck to the controller. A go-around example was viewed and led to a robust discussion of what goes on within the flight crew during such events. Other examples have also been created and will be shown across the NAS to controllers by company and safety representatives. Several other topics were discussed that included energy management, runway changes, taxi speeds, and pilot and controller hiring. APA will continue to work closely with NATCA as we navigate the future together. APA Professional Standards Committee members CA Linda Wackerman, FO Leslie Sanders, CA Pat McGinn, and FO Evan MacPhee Domicile Elections The Election Round voting period opened on Sept. 9 for elections at CLT, LGA, and MIA. Each domicile will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair for three-year terms that begin on Nov. 1. The following candidates are listed on the ballots: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger CLT Vice Chair FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Jeff Kerr CA Mark Lokey LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair FO James “Jamie” Funderburk CA Anne Witcher The Election Round voting period ends on Oct. 1. Click here to learn more about the candidates, and click here to cast your vote. Domicile Events A crowd of about 140 pilots and guests enjoyed dinner aboard the South Beach Lady cruise ship on Sept. 14, when they celebrated MIA pilots who have recently retired. You can see more photos on APA’s Facebook page. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 7 CLT: Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Oct. 8 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Oct. 9 ; Dana Point Lunch on Oct. 10 ; Temecula Lunch on Oct. 16 LGA: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 3 ; Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 7; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 ORD: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8 PHL: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8; Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Communications Committee: Alert: DFW Terminal C South Garage Users Communications Committee: Positive Rate Episode 30: Francesca Norris Memorial Scholarship Scheduling Committee: LGA 787 International Bid Status Update Uniform Committee: Uniforms Update Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2) Professional Standards Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Can management continue with a traditional process after releasing a case to Professional Standards? No. Once an issue has been released to Professional Standards, management will not pursue action against an employee for actions contained in the referral. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Sept. 13, 2024

APA News Digest Sept. 13, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Domicile Elections – Why Voting is Vital Sept. 11, 2001 – We Will Never Forget Your Safety Crew – Collaborative Evaluation with Dispatch Government Affairs Committee: Bipartisan Group Forms Aviation Safety Caucus Professional Standards Committee: Be Professional When Using DOTC Hotel Committee: New Hotels for October Information Technology Steering Committee: Updates Planned for APA Pilot App Safety Committee: Aviation Safety Action Program Seeks Volunteers Family Awareness Committee: Kid-Friendly Aviation Events Next Weekend Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class APA Medical Minute – Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ Supporting Our Nation’s Veterans If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Domicile Elections – Why Voting is Vital The Election Round voting period opened on Sept. 9 for elections at CLT, LGA, and MIA. Each domicile will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair for three-year terms that begin on Nov. 1. If you’re based at one of these three domiciles, it’s imperative for you to cast your vote for the Chair and Vice Chair of your choosing. By doing so, you’re exercising your voice in the future of your union and in the future of your career as an American Airlines pilot. Consider this — APA and management will exchange early openers for the next round of Section 6 negotiations in just over two years’ time. One of the best ways for management to gauge membership resolve is voter turnout. If it’s low, that tells management that the APA membership is disengaged and apathetic. On the other hand, a strong voter turnout will demonstrate that our pilots are engaged and determined. Which message do you want to send to management? The choice should be clear. Don’t permit someone else who may not have your best interests in mind to determine the path forward. Exercise your right to vote. The following candidates are listed on the ballots: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger CLT Vice Chair FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Jeff Kerr CA Mark Lokey LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair FO James “Jamie” Funderburk CA Anne Witcher The Election Round voting period ends on Oct. 1. Click here to learn more about the candidates, and click here to cast your vote. Sept. 11, 2001 – We Will Never Forget This week, at the request of LAX Domicile Chair CA Bill Evans, CA Tom McGuinness shared his thoughts on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Since the beginning of time, the clock has moved at the exact same pace. When we are young going through school, it feels like our days go on forever, but as we age, we find ourselves always coming up on the holiday season asking ourselves “Where did the year go?” Twenty-three years has gone by since Sept. 11, 2001, and that was a day that changed my family’s life forever. Those that were here and flying have images and memories engrained into their minds and will never forget. The other half were much younger and have only heard stories from their parents or friends. What I remember was a normal day that my dad went to work to fly a trip from BOS to LAX. I had the full expectation, as a 14-year-old kid, that he was going to come home. He never did. FO Tom McGuiness would have celebrated his 65th birthday this week. One of my memories I want to highlight today comes from my dad’s memorial service. I remember looking out over the podium, seeing thousands of you in full uniform, intently watching me tell you about my dad and all the cool kid things he made a point to do with me growing up. After speaking, I walked back into the crowd to join you for the remainder of the service. I distinctly remember the long line where each and every one of you waited to speak to a heartbroken little boy. You all looked at me in the eyes and said, “We won’t leave you, son.” And to this day, you never have. What I’ve learned over the years is that our uniforms not only define our jobs, but they also define the expectation for how we are perceived as people. We fit the mold as being trustworthy, professional, vigilant, protective, and caring people. I believe this so much that I tell my wife where our crews stay all around the world when she travels, and if she ever needs help, she can go there and find one of our pilots (probably by the pool or local watering hole). In reality, we have over 16,000 pilots at American Airlines, which extends the reach of our family all over the world! On Sept. 10, 2001, my family celebrated my dad’s 42nd birthday. My mom made him his favorite meal. It was slow roasted chicken and peas with tomato sauce over white rice and a non-fat cheesecake for dessert. We all celebrated as a family. As I write this message, my dad would have turned 65. This would have been his retirement week from American Airlines, and I will tell you now, my family will be making this meal to celebrate his life. FO Tom McGuiness with his daughter, Jennifer, and his namesake One thing I would ask of those seeing this message: When you’re flying your trips this week, especially on Sept. 11, take the time to brief your crews. Make it a special briefing, and get everyone together. Remind them to look out for one another and always take care of each other. Let us not let the day-to-day operation and the passage of time allow us to forget what’s truly important in life. I sincerely hope you all have great trips this week. Tom McGuinness 737/CA/DFW/I APA members observed the 23rd anniversary of the attacks in a variety of ways. Monday: Volunteers representing the APA Aeromedical Committee – including CA Rondeau Flynn, FO Pete Gillespie, FO Ken Hagan, and FO Vern Reaser – were among the pilots who helped place 3,000 flags at the Healing Field in Sandy, Utah. Each flag bears a tag describing one of the victims of the 9/11 attacks. APA was invited to participate by representatives of the United Pilots MEC at ALPA. APA Aeromedical Committee Chair CA Rondeau Flynn Tuesday: APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and LGA Domicile Chair CA Lawrence Cutler were among a contingent of pilots and flight attendants who paid their respects at the National September 11 Memorial " style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; box-sizing: border-box;"> APA Vice President CA Chris Torres Wednesday: FO Mitch Hanson, who serves on our Safety Operations Subcommittee and is also a Major General in the U.S. Air Force, spoke during the ceremony at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial in Grapevine, Texas. FO Mitch Hanson of the APA Safety Operations Subcommittee You can see more photos and videos of this week’s events on APA’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Your Safety Crew – Collaborative Evaluation with Dispatch Every day, thousands of American Airlines flights are safely dispatched across the globe. An integral part of that collaborative crew effort, led by the Captain, are the union dispatchers represented by the Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA). The American chapter of PAFCA represents more than 500 highly trained and experienced FAA-licensed aircraft dispatchers and operations specialists, many of whom are licensed pilots, former air traffic controllers, and military veterans. Dispatchers are under just as much pressure as we pilots are to do more with the less. They are dealing with the same “keep the metal moving” philosophy that ensures management’s bonus-incentivized metrics are met. We must be ever vigilant to not allow these insidious or overt pressures to reach into the sacred and collaborative safety-evaluation process conducted by Captains and dispatchers. In fact, American Airlines’ Flight Operations Manual (FOM) directs this joint evaluation process for safety: “Flight Plan/Dispatch Release.  The captain and dispatcher will jointly evaluate the Flight Plan/Dispatch Release for:  — fuel requirements and alternate airports to satisfy FARs and Company policies  — cruise altitude and Mach, route, station dispatched to, and alternate(s)  — conditions, known and contemplated, that will affect safe operation of the flight in accordance with FARs and Company policies” (FOM 1g.4 Responsibility and Authority) In an effort to bolster our unions’ relationship, APA President CA Ed Sicher has committed to working directly with PAFCA-American President Alex Hart and our respective subject-matter experts to affirm our joint professional commitment to the safety of our operation and passengers. Safety must always remain our highest priority. Bipartisan Group Forms Aviation Safety Caucus This is a new message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. FO Bryan Lingle spoke at Wednesday’s press conference. Two dozen members of Congress – including 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats – have formed the Aviation Safety Caucus, which was introduced at a Capitol Hill press conference on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “This caucus is dedicated to strengthening aviation safety and security by collaborating on real legislative solutions. The safety of our skies is not a partisan issue,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York, who chairs the caucus. “Our first priority is ensuring that we close existing security gaps with the Safer Skies Act, building on the hard-won reforms enacted after 9/11, and we will continue to work to protect the millions of Americans who rely on our aviation system every day.” The Safer Skies Act , introduced in August by Rep. Langworthy and Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas, is meant to close loopholes that allow ticketed charter flights to skirt post-9/11 security screening standards. Government Affairs Committee Deputy Chair FO Bryan Lingle joined Rep. Langworthy and other caucus members at Wednesday’s press conference, as did representatives of ALPA, SWAPA, and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “In an industry like ours, there’s always going to be competition. There’s always going to be new entrants into the market offering unique products, and that’s great; we should celebrate that,” FO Lingle said. “But we should never compete on safety, and we should never compete on security. There must be one standard of safety, one standard of security, across the industry – for pilots, for security, for flight attendants, for maintenance – so that when a paying passenger boards an aircraft in the United States – whether they’re flying from a big city or flying from a small town – they know that they can be confident in their safety and the safety of their families.” Be Professional When Using DOTC This is a new message from the APA Professional Standards Committee. Two issues have recently come to our attention. Both relate to the DOTC process and pilot-initiated actions. First, if you are sick, use your sick time. Fair enough. However, some pilots are using sick calls to remove themselves from a proffered and awarded sequence. It appears these pilots clear sick in a very short time (as little as an hour after the initial sick call) and immediately reenter DOTC with another proffer to improve upon the originally awarded sequence. Discuss amongst yourselves the boundary of what is and what is not a valid time from On Sick to Off Sick. Be professional. Second, within the DOTC application, pilots can select a “reasonable” time needed from trip notification to sign-in. This “best guess” gives the operation a way to preserve scheduled departures for our customers, and award the trip to the appropriate pilot. Some pilots appear to be frequently misjudging this time. If you input a report time of five minutes, knowing you are two hours away (or even on a commute flight), that is unfair to other pilots and our passengers. Be professional. The Professional Standards Committee continues to receive calls from pilots who feel they have been disadvantaged by these and other “tactics.” Please reach out to your domicile Professional Standards volunteers to discuss further. New Hotels for October This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. LAS – We have heard your feedback regarding the Westin Lake Las Vegas, and we will no longer be laying over at that property starting Oct. 19. LAX – Good news to report on the LA front: AA crews will no longer be staying at either downtown property as of Oct. 1, when our contract will begin at the Marina Del Rey Courtyard. OMA – Due to increased layover volume in OMA, AA will be contracting with an additional long property. Beginning Oct. 1, we will be staying at the Cambria Hotel Downtown Omaha in addition to our current long property, the Hilton. For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Updates Planned for APA Pilot App This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. Robocall Users: Updated ADD Codes for Reserve Pilots (found under Global Preferences in your dashboard) With the implementation of the new Reserve Assignment System (RAS), the list of available Reserve ADD codes has been reduced. Here are your options: AR: Opposite division reserve flying (award or assignment). EA: “DOTC Volunteer” early award or assignment on first day of reserve block prior to 1000 HBT. OD: Involuntary assignment into DFP up to 1200 HBT on non-golden day. RF: Reserve flying (award or assignment). VD: Voluntary award into DFP. Please take the time to edit your selections and choose from only the codes listed above. The outdated codes will be removed by the end of next week. MyOT Being Replaced by MyOT Beta As of Sept. 27, the original MyOT will be decommissioned and replaced with the new MyOT Beta service currently available in the APA Pilot app. For MyOT Beta setup instructions and FAQs, please visit the Latest Releases section of our committee’s webpage. Upcoming Updates to Trips Marketplace Based on feedback, our developers have “tightened up” the display of sequences and made other refinements. These will be released in the coming weeks, but here is a sneak peak of what to expect. Departure and Arrival information broken apart. Reduced padding between tables. Condensed icons. Clicking on an icon will display a summary. Quickly sort by clicking column headers. Icon will display if you were notified by MyOT or if it matches your settings. Here’s how Trips Marketplace will display on a tablet. Also, internal beta testing has begun on Shared Sequences advertising and display. If all goes well, we expect that capability to be released in Trips Marketplace next week. Many thanks to our IT Steering and Operational Analysis pilot volunteers (FO Phil Johnson, CA Curt DeKeyrel, CA Vince Trevarton, FO Connor Denton, FO Ken Lambert, and FO Chai Odom), along with our APA mobile development team (Scott, Neil, Ryan, Mark, Padat, Narayan, Olena, Denys, and Polina) for their continued work on the services provided to our members! As always, we appreciate your continued feedback. Please use the Feedback option located in the side menu of the APA Pilot app. Feedback is received by the entire development team, and it is the best way for issues to be addressed as quickly as possible. Aviation Safety Action Program Seeks Volunteers This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee. The APA Safety Committee is looking for several line pilots to serve with the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), one of the cornerstones of the AA Safety Management System. As the volume of ASAP reports increases, we need additional committee members to handle the growing workload. Candidates need strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, excellent writing ability, and solid deductive reasoning. Among the duties of our ASAP volunteers: Conducting pilot debriefs of ASAP events to identify root causes and assist in developing mitigation strategies to help prevent a recurrence. Participating with American Airlines Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration in twice-weekly meetings as an APA Event Review Committee member to research, process, and respond to ASAP reports. Tracking and trending recurring events to mitigate identified risks. APA is committed to working with the FAA and American Airlines Safety personnel to effect meaningful change and strengthen the airline’s safety culture. We encourage you to apply if you are interested in contributing to this effort. The application window will remain open until Sept. 27, 2024. We will invite qualified applicants to interview while the application window is open and after it closes. Send your resume and cover letter (no phone calls, please) to: Amber Callahan Safety, Training, Security, Aeromedical, and Professional Standards Coordinator STSAP-Admin@alliedpilots.org Kid-Friendly Aviation Events Next Weekend This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. If you have any aspiring pilots in your family, we wanted to bring your attention to two upcoming events – one near MIA, the other near DFW – that are designed to be kid-friendly. The South Florida Aviators Fly-In and Educational Expo is scheduled for Sept. 20 and 21 at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport. Girls in Aviation Day Dallas will happen on Sept. 21 at the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center at Dallas Executive Airport. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since July 15, B787 aircraft 8LU has been written up 12 times for a lavatory/galley fan fault that has been on MEL once and been out of service five times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 10. Since Aug. 24, the flight deck door on A321 aircraft 580 has been written up six times, been on MEL twice, and been out of service four times. It most recently returned to service on Sept. 9 and is restricted to AA maintenance stations. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Sept. 11, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Scott Adams, Terry Armstrong Jr., Douglas Clark, Matthew Cliver, Justin Fishman, Robert Frey, Michael Ghannoum, Stanley Kendra, Thomas Knox, Fabrice Malary, Scott Mann, Craig Maternowski, Todd Mercer, Mona Naik-Yeole, Khiem Nguyen, Bo Praestegaard, Andrew Reese, Julien Riegel, Benjamin Russo, Stephen Spear, Jeffrey Watson, and Luis Zelaya. APA Medical Minute – Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Christopher Ryan discusses deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 7 CLT: Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 ; Temecula Lunch on Sept. 18 LGA: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 3 ; Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 7; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: Retirement Party on Sept. 14 ORD: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8 PHL: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 8; Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Communications Committee: “They’ve Been Like Family” Communications Committee: Congratulations to Association of Professional Flight Attendants Communications Committee: Hurricane Francine – Prepare for Possible IROPs Communications Committee: APA Network Outages Joint Implementation Action Committee: MBCBP Update – Sept. 10, 2024 Scheduling Committee: March 2025 Vacancy Bid Scheduling Committee: TALV for LAX 787 in October s Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Is management required to use Professional Standards? No. Management is not required to use Professional Standards. However, management is encouraged to refer issues that are most appropriately addressed at the peer-to-peer level. Since 2016, management has been regularly utilizing Professional Standards to assist in resolution of cases for every appropriate opportunity. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 Supporting Our Nation’s Veterans 100 Vets Who Give a Damn supports veterans by donating to numerous organizations. The group’s  next meeting is scheduled for 1800 Central on Sept. 19 at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth. If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA Network Outages

APA Network Outages Earlier today, APA’s internet access was disrupted due to a work crew with outside vendor Lumen inadvertently severing a fiber optic cable. As a result of this disruption, APA was unable to update AlliedPilots.org, and we have also been unable to send and receive individual emails and membership updates from APA HQ. While Lumen has restored connectivity through temporary measures, the vendor will be undertaking a longer-term repair that will likely result in intermittent outages. Thank you for your patience and understanding while Lumen fully corrects this situation.
Communications Public News

APA News Digest: Sept. 6, 2024

APA News Digest Sept. 6, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... We Will Never Forget Will Profits Continue to Head South? Compass Project Committee: Please Join Us for YOUnion 101 Hotel Committee: Hotel/Limo Options in ECS IT Steering Committee: MyOT Being Replaced by MyOT Beta Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class APA Medical Minute – Cardiac Calcium Score Update Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ Supporting Our Nation’s Veterans If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars We Will Never Forget This is a new message from APA President CA Ed Sicher. APA Pilots, APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and LGA Domicile Chair CA Lawrence Cutler will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at 1100 Eastern on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the 9/11 Memorial in New York. The APA delegation will be joined by representatives of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. After the ceremony, APA will host a gathering at nearby O’Hara’s Restaurant and Pub at 120 Cedar Street for pilots, flight attendants, and first responders. The gathering at O’Hara’s is open to all APA members. APA will also participate in Wednesday’s ceremony at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial in Grapevine, Texas , which is scheduled to begin at 0740 Central. DFW-based FO Mitch Hanson, who is also a Major General in the United States Air Force, will speak on APA’s behalf. This ceremony is open to all who wish to attend. I am currently in 777 upgrade training and will not be present in New York or Grapevine, but rest assured the events of Sept. 11, 2001, are never far from my thoughts. I still remember the horror of being on a layover in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and waking up to watch our own jets crash into the towers in Manhatten. We will never forget what happened 23 years ago when pilots, flight attendants, and thousands of other innocent people were brutally murdered and hundreds of first responders paid with their lives. Our world changed on that terrible day, and your APA leadership remains dedicated to doing all we can to prevent a recurrence. A few other ceremonies of note: Sandy, Utah: Pilots and their families are invited to help place more than 3,000 American flags in the Sandy Healing Field at 1700 Mountain on Monday. Shanksville, Pa.: The Flight 93 National Memorial will host a public ceremony on Wednesday that will be streamed on YouTube. Boston: The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund will host public ceremonies at the Massachusetts State House and the Boston Public Garden on Wednesday. Yardley, Pa.: The Garden of Reflection 9/11 Memorial in suburban Philadelphia will host a public ceremony at 0830 Eastern on Wednesday. These friends and colleagues and the thousands of other innocent people who died that day live in our hearts forever: American Airlines Flight 11 Pilots: Captain John Ogonowski and First Officer Thomas McGuinness Flight attendants: Barbara Arestegui, Jeffrey Collman, Sara Low, Karen Martin, Kathleen Nicosia, Betty Ong, Jean Roger, Dianne Snyder, and Madeline Sweeney United Airlines Flight 175 Pilots: Captain Victor Saracini and First Officer Michael Horrocks Flight attendants: Robert Fangman, Amy Jarret, Amy King, Kathryn LaBorie, Alfred Marchand, Jesus Sanchez, Michael Tarrou, and Alicia Titus Customer service representative: Marianne MacFarlane American Airlines Flight 77 Pilots: Captain Charles Burlingame and First Officer David Charlebois Retired pilot: Captain Bud Flagg Flight attendants: Michele Heidenberger, Jennifer Lewis, Kenneth Lewis, and Renee May Executive assistant: Mary Jane Booth United Airlines Flight 93 Pilots: Captain Jason Dahl and First Officer LeRoy Homer Flight attendants: Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, and Deborah Welsh In Sorrow and Unity, CA Ed Sicher APA President Will Profits Continue to Head South? This week, Forbes published an article called “ American Airlines Rules Sunbelt from Charlotte and Dallas, World’s Largest Hub .” The article includes commentary from APA spokesman CA Dennis Tajer, who said American faces the danger of becoming a “super regional” carrier that lacks strength outside the Sunbelt. “American’s network plan is to focus on a southern domestic route structure,” he said. “We just have to make sure that the profits don’t continue to head south.” Speaking of American’s network plan, you may want to also read “ The Vasu Raja Interview ” that The Airline Observer published this week. Please Join Us for YOUnion 101 This is a repeated message from the APA Compass Project Committee.  APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Wednesday, Sept. 11. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newer pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to register for the Sept. 11 meeting . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading pilot mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line-pilot sponsors, as well as tutorial videos and an extensive database of stage-based documents covering a number of helpful topics that are beneficial to all pilots. Hotel/Limo Options in ECS This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. With the rollout of the Electronic Communication System (ECS), pilots have multiple options to reach the Hotel/Limo Desk. By pressing the blue “Contact AA” button and selecting the “Hotel/Limo” option at the bottom of the menu, you can send the Hotel/Limo Desk notification of a problem such as no assigned hotel and/or limo. You also can inform them that your transportation is late. If you would like to speak with a Hotel/Limo agent about a more complicated issue, there is a feature that puts you in the queue for a call back, versus having to wait on hold. Most options will ask for flight number, station, and how many people on your crew require assistance. Only one member from the crew needs to complete the request. We do not recommend you or members of your crew make an ECS request and call the desk simultaneously. You will receive an acknowledgement message and a message that the action is complete in the “All Messages” function of the ECS app. If you have requested a call back, it will come from the AA VIP Crew Line, which is the same phone number that Crew Scheduling and Crew Tracking use when they call pilots. If you have any issues related to ECS and the Hotel/Limo Desk, please submit a Hotel Debrief so we can address with the company. For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. MyOT Being Replaced by MyOT Beta This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. As of Sept. 27, the original MyOT will be decommissioned and replaced with the new MyOT Beta service currently available in the APA Pilot app. For MyOT Beta setup instructions and FAQs, please visit the Latest Releases section of our committee’s webpage. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since July 24, the left engine ignition on B737 aircraft 3SC has been on MEL four times for a total of 31 days. It has been out of service twice. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 4 and is restricted to Class 1 and 2 maintenance stations. In the last 28 days, the GPS (global positioning system) on B737 aircraft 3JG has been written up seven times, been on MEL five times for a total of 23 days, and been out of service five times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 5 and is restricted to Class 1 and 2 maintenance stations. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Sept. 4, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Mark Branstrom, Oliver Da Silva Martins, Christopher Davidson, Bryan Henry, Christopher Humphries, Stanley Kendra, Steven Kneussle, David Leedom, Ian McVeigh, Charles Schaefer IV, and Joseph Toth. APA Medical Minute – Cardiac Calcium Score Update In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Kathy Parr discusses a revision to the FAA’s policy regarding cardiac calcium scores. You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel. Domicile Events LGA pilots and guests gathered at Citi Field on Labor Day to build unity while enjoying a Mets game. You can see more photos on APA’s Facebook page. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: CLT: Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Domicile Meeting on Sept. 11 ; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Sept. 10 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Sept. 11 ; Dana Point Lunch on Sept. 12 ; San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 ; Temecula Lunch on Sept. 18 LGA: Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 PHX: Arizona Diamondbacks game on Sept. 13 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. The Election Round voting period will open on Sept. 9, with the following candidates listed on the ballots: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger CLT Vice Chair FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Jeff Kerr CA Mark Lokey LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair FO James “Jamie” Funderburk CA Anne Witcher For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Captain’s Authority Committee: Working with Dispatch Disabled Pilots Awareness Subcommittee: New Form for Non-Rev Travel Hotel Committee: Do Not Cross Hotel Workers’ Picket Lines  Negotiating Committee: Telephone Polling – We Need Your Input Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Is Professional Standards a step in the traditional discipline process (Section 21)? No. The Professional Standards program is an APA volunteer committee that does not involve discipline. A call to domicile Professional Standards volunteers should be considered as the first step: First call? Union first! Resolved issues submitted to the Professional Standards Committee cannot be used by management to support other disciplinary actions at any time in the future. The objective is to facilitate a change at the lowest possible level to prevent the need for a traditional discipline approach. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 Supporting Our Nation’s Veterans 100 Vets Who Give a Damn supports veterans by donating to numerous organizations. The group’s  next meeting is scheduled for 1800 Central on Sept. 19 at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth. If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Aug. 31, 2024

APA News Digest Aug. 31, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Telephone Polling – We Need Your Input Scheduling Committee: CQT Bidding Opens Sunday Joint Implementation Action Committee: Recorded Training Sessions on RAS and ECS Compass Project Committee: Please Join Us for YOUnion 101 Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: How Many JRS Listings are Allowed? Hotel Committee: Credit Card Requirement (or Lack Thereof) Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class APA Medical Minute – Weight-Loss Medications APA Holiday Schedule Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Telephone Polling – We Need Your Input In accordance with Section 4.07.A of the APA Policy Manual, APA will conduct telephone polling next month to continue to actively solicit your feedback. We will continue to poll the membership through a mix of methods (e.g., telephone polling and web surveys), in order to produce reliable and relevant results. The poll will be conducted by University of New Hampshire employees, who will interview a number of randomly selected pilots across the system. Calls will occur from Tuesday, Sept. 3, through Thursday, Sept. 12. The poll will include questions on what our members want prioritized from Letter of Agreement 23-005 (Post-Ratification Discussions). This LOA was agreed to during the end of the Section 6 bargaining process and was designed to continue discussions on topics that, because of complexity or other related reasons, were not well-suited for the negotiations at the time. Discussions with the Company pursuant to LOA 23-005 have commenced; however, APA is seeking further guidance from the membership as to the level of interest in various items. We encourage members to review LOA 23-005 in case you are called. Your input is important! If you receive a call, please take the time to answer and respond to the questions. Responses will be anonymous. Please look for the following information if a call comes in: All calls will come from 603-397-0660. Caller ID on landlines will indicate “UNH Surv Ctr.” Caller ID on cell phones will indicate “NH Call.” Call times will be between 0900 and 2100 (time zone appropriate). If the call is missed, UNH will attempt to call you back if additional sampling is needed. As more and more telephone carriers add “spam blocking” technology, some pilots may (dependent on carrier) see a message that says “spam likely” when the call comes through. This message may be generated based on the volume of calls UNH makes. To avoid receiving this message, you may want to consider adding 603-397-0660 to your contacts. Thank you in advance for devoting your time and for providing candid input. CQT Bidding Opens Sunday This is a new message from the APA Scheduling Committee. CQT bidding for the October contractual month opens Sept. 1 Here are some important notes to consider when bidding for classes: If your bid status has equal or more classes available to the number of bidding pilots, ALL PILOTS WILL BE ASSIGNED regardless of early/base/grace status. Please keep in mind the list of eligible bidders is a snapshot and does not update as situations change. Pilots eligible for CQ can be seen on AApilots.com > AA Bidding Tools > Reference Material > PBS > PBS ">A pilot can add class choices after electing to “Add Avoid Training.” CQT is a right-to-train model, so a junior pilot may be assigned a class that a senior pilot bid for so that all classes are allocated. A pilot may not be assigned a class due to another pilot’s pre-plotted activity (i.e., military, vacation, etc.). Therefore, the Scheduling Committee strongly advises that a pilot add backup preferences to their class list. Please reach out to the Scheduling Committee for any questions and bidding assistance: CMTE-Scheduling@alliedpilots.org or 817-302-2321. Recorded Training Sessions on RAS and ECS This is a new message from the APA Joint Implementation Action Committee. With the new Reserve Assignment System (RAS) and Electronic Communication System (ECS) both being implemented on Aug. 31, we hosted a pair of training sessions via Zoom this week. Click here to watch the RAS presentation . Click here to watch the ECS presentation . Please Join Us for YOUnion 101 This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee.  APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Wednesday, Sept. 11. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newer pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to register for the Sept. 11 meeting . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading pilot mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line-pilot sponsors, as well as tutorial videos and an extensive database of stage-based documents covering a number of helpful topics that are beneficial to all pilots. How Many JRS Listings are Allowed? This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. Here are a few things to keep in mind regarding Jumpseat Reservation System (JRS) listings: Each pilot may make one listing per calendar day, per city pair (including co-terminals) when they hold the #1 position on the JRS list. The JRS list is accessed by selecting “Priority List” in JetNet Travel Planner “tools” for any AA Mainline flight. Each pilot who holds a #2 or lower position on the original listing between city pair (including co-terminals) may make one additional listing for a different flight. The maximum number of JRS listings between a city pair (including co-terminals) on a given calendar day is two. A pilot may only check-in for one PNR at a time. Note: We are working with AA to notify pilots when their JRS listing position changes. Until we have that functionality, pilots may not be aware they are holding more than one #1 listing. If you notice a pilot has more than the allowed JRS listings, please let us know via a Jumpseat/Deadhead/Non-Rev Debrief . We police JRS listings internally when notified, and we are happy to educate pilots on proper listing behavior. Credit Card Requirement (or Lack Thereof) This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. When you’re on a company layover, either scheduled or off-schedule, hotels cannot require that you provide your personal credit card – unless you plan to charge incidentals to your room. It is extremely rare that we see contracted hotels ask pilots for personal credit cards; however, it does happen more frequently at non-contracted hotels booked by the Hotel/Limo Desk. Please let the hotel staff know about the company’s policy. If they push back, you can reach out to the Hotel/Limo Desk to have them clarify the process with the hotel staff. If you do choose to put a personal credit card on file, we recommend monitoring your statement for any unauthorized charges. For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since June 23, the right engine cowl anti-ice on B737 aircraft 3TA has been written up and out of service eight times and been on MEL twice. It was most recently signed off on Aug. 28. In the last five days, the cabin pressurization on B737 aircraft 3PD has been written up four times, been on MEL once, and been out of service twice. It was most recently signed off on Aug. 29. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Aug. 28, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Jesse Almeida, Clark Arnold, Shawn Bowden, James Bowman, Kevin Brake, Brandon Candis, Stanley Chung, David Dufreche, Charles Fuller, Gustavo Gutierrez, Robert Kramer, Trent Magyar, and Brian Swyt. APA Medical Minute – Weight-Loss Medications In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Cassie Bien discusses FAA regulations regarding weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. APA Holiday Schedule APA headquarters will be closed on Sept. 2 in observance of Labor Day. Contract Administration will be open as normal from 0700 to 1900 Central on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, but it will close early at 1700 Central on Sept. 2 As always, your APA support team remains available 24/7. When Contract Administration is closed, calls will be forwarded to a phone service operated by Contract Compliance Committee and Flight Time/Duty Time Committee volunteers. Please note that call-back times may be longer than normal due to limited staffing. If your call is not urgent, we encourage you to wait until normal business hours resume. You may also want to consult the pilot volunteers on your domicile’s Contract Compliance Committee. Almost every domicile has one, and some of them have larger rosters than the national committee. Contact your local committee by visiting your domicile’s page on AlliedPilots.org and clicking the “Domicile Committee List” link. To reach a contract administrator, call APA HQ at 1-800-323-1470 and press Option 3. If you prefer to e-mail your question to the contract administrators, click here . For specific FAR 117/fatigue issues requiring immediate attention, you can also call the Emergency Help Line at 682-738-6670 manned 24/7 by Flight Time/Duty Time Committee volunteers. Domicile Events Click the image for a closer look. More than 60 BOS pilots and guests gathered at Fenway Park on Aug. 23 to build unity while enjoying a Red Sox game. You can see more photos on APA’s Facebook page. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: CLT: Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Domicile Meeting on Sept. 11 ; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Sept. 10 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Sept. 11 ; Dana Point Lunch on Sept. 12 ; San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 ; Temecula Lunch on Sept. 18 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 PHX: Arizona Diamondbacks game on Sept. 13 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. The following Nomination Round results were certified by Sequent this week: CLT Vice Chair FO Hickory Ham: 239 CA Michael Pfeifer: 98 FO Tammy Smart: 89 CA Casey Granger: 40 LGA Vice Chair CA James Scanlan: 158 CA David Hines: 121 CA Sam Pool: 72 CA Michael Phelan: 20 MIA Vice Chair FO James “Jamie” Funderburk: 191 CA Anne Witcher: 125 FO Steven Mann: 94 CA Scott Craig: 40 CA Ken Wells: 40 The top three candidates for each position have advanced to the Election Round. For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Captain’s Authority Committee: Captain’s Authority Committee Hotline: 817-302-2338 Communications Committee: Here for You When the Unexpected Happens Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors to Consider Letter of Agreement Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Approves Letter of Agreement Information Technology Steering Committee: Trips Marketplace Now Open on APA Pilot Joint Implementation Action Committee: Market Based Cash Balance Plan Update President: Reflecting on Labor Day Scheduling Committee: March 2025 Vacancy Bid Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Will the other person know it’s me who made the call? Our cornerstones are: confidentiality, neutrality, and transparency. We make every effort to protect the identity of the reporting party and, in most cases, anonymity is preserved. In a direct conflict between two parties, there is little need for remaining anonymous. In a case involving observed behavior, maintaining anonymity is easier. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Reflecting on Labor Day

Reflecting on Labor Day We celebrate Labor Day each year to honor the efforts of our nation’s workers. The three-day holiday weekend traditionally marks the end of summer, it’s one of the year’s busiest travel periods, and it’s an opportunity to get together with family and friends if you’re fortunate enough to have the time off. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the labor movement itself. One of the foundational elements of organized labor has always been the emphasis on building membership unity. The familiar adage “united we stand, divided we fall” neatly sums up the task unions face – unifying members to achieve their aims. As we approached the end game in Section 6 negotiations last year, the APA membership voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike if we couldn’t reach a satisfactory agreement with management at the bargaining table. Shortly thereafter, 95% of our pilots participated in the vote to ratify our new contract, securing $9.6 billion in additional value versus the previous agreement. As that recent experience demonstrated, unity pays, and I encourage everyone to keep that in mind considering the contract enables APA and management to begin the next round of Section 6 bargaining in November 2026 – just over two years from now. It’s in our best interests to go into negotiations as a strongly unified pilot group. That’s how we’re going to get the contractual improvements we want and need sooner rather than later. Unity means looking after our own, and my guess is we already do more of that than we might realize. Think of it this way: If you have a little brother, chances are you pushed him around when you were kids, but when someone else did, you stood up for him. Whatever our path to American Airlines – whether you learned to fly in a T-6 in the military or in a Cessna 172 at your local mom-and-pop flight school – each of us worked hard to get here, and we all belong here. We’ve all endured check rides that left us sweating, and we’ve all flown trips we don’t care to repeat. Let’s set aside whatever perceived differences we may have and focus on what we have in common. We all want to enjoy full, rewarding careers as American Airlines pilots doing something that very few other people in the world know how to do, and membership unity is one of the keys to accomplishing that. Stay safe, enjoy the holiday, and keep looking out for one another. In Unity, CA Ed Sicher APA President
President Public News

APA News Digest: Aug. 23, 2024

APA News Digest Aug. 23, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Joint Implementation Action Committee: Training on RAS and ECS Contract Compliance Committee: RAS and ECS to be Implemented on Aug. 31 Contract Compliance Committee: APA Contract Minute – Deadhead Pay IT Steering Committee: Coming Soon to APA Pilot – Trips Marketplace Hotel Committee: Overage Hotels for September Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: FDJ AA Not Appended After Check-in Safety Committee: LIT is Coming to CLT Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Hundreds of Pilots Enroll in APA Benefits Plans APA Represented at OBAP Conference APA Medical Minute – Type 2 Diabetes CLT Parking Lot Crimes Highlighted in TV Interview Domicile Events Domicile Elections Website Maintenance Scheduled for Aug. 27 Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Training on RAS and ECS This is an updated version of a message the APA Joint Implementation Action Committee sent to all members on Tuesday. The Joint Implementation Action Committee will host training sessions for the new Reserve Assignment System (RAS) and Electronic Communication System (ECS) via Zoom next week. These sessions will provide a detailed summary of each of these new systems, with questions taken live as able through the Zoom Q text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;"> townhall@alliedpilots.org . Click here to register for the RAS training from 1800 to 2000 Central on Aug. 27 . Click here to register for the ECS training from 1800 to 2000 Central on Aug. 28 . If your schedule permits, we strongly encourage you to make plans to join us for these training sessions. Because these training sessions will be visually oriented and include live demonstrations, we also encourage you to connect via a device with a screen that’s large enough for viewing a PowerPoint presentation and “drive-through” demonstrations of each system. For those unable to participate live, recordings will be uploaded to AlliedPilots.org/Videos . RAS and ECS to be Implemented on Aug. 31 This is a new message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. The CBA’s Reserve Assignment System (RAS) and Electronic Communication System (ECS) will be implemented on Aug. 31. At launch, exactly two types of required messages will utilize ECS: Reassignments and RAS Awards and Assignments. While on duty, or upon the commencement of duty, pilots are responsible for these two types of ECS messages. During the On Duty pilot state, these messages will always be forwarded to your iPad via the ECS application. Many other forwarding options are also available. For additional information, please join the ECS training session scheduled for 1800 Central on Aug. 28 and review the ECS Implementation Communications on AA Pilots. Until full implementation of CBA Section 4.C – Recovery Obligation (RO), RO notifications will continue under Current Process . A phone call to a pilot’s listed H number is the contractual method of notification for RO. APA Contract Minute – Deadhead Pay This is a new message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. CA Jason Saxer is back with a new APA Contract Minute . In this edition, he discusses Section 19.D, which governs pay for pilots deadheading on AA mainline flights as well as AA regional flights. Coming Soon to APA Pilot – Trips Marketplace This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. Trips Marketplace is the next major release in APA’s app lineup. It has been designed to streamline the pilot-to-pilot (P2P) trip-trading process while automating cumbersome FOS commands, making it easier for pilots to post and drop sequences to fellow pilots outside of TTS. APA IT is tentatively looking to make these features available as a beta version to all pilots next week. Pilots will be able to open their schedule in the Trips Marketplace through the APA Pilot app and quickly perform the following: Post or un-post sequences. Browse posted sequences. Conveniently text or call the pilot who posted a sequence. Ask a pilot to drop a sequence directly to you. Receive inbox alerts for requests and completed sequence drops to other pilots. Motivator entries. Note: Due to the inability to execute commands in FOS on a pilot’s behalf, the actual execution of dropping a sequence to another pilot must be executed in the app by the pilot who owns the posted sequence. Trips Marketplace streamlines the command to a one-button press and returns the FOS response. Successive updates over the next few weeks will include Shared Sequence, Last Live Leg, and Loaning Sequences Support. But first, the next feature to be released will be Shared Sequence Support, which includes: Advertise portions of a sequence you wish to share with other pilots. Quickly choose the portion of a sequence you wish to share. Select the pay and credit and, if applicable, the holiday pay if you want to keep it or share it. Finally, your continued feedback is desired. The IT Steering Committee has heard your requests for a more compact Trips sequence display, and this feature is in development. Please submit your ideas and suggestions via the Feedback option in the APA Pilot main menu. This email will go to the entire IT development and pilot volunteer team. These updates are brought to you jointly by the APA IT Department and the IT Steering, Scheduling, and Operational Analysis committees. Overage Hotels for September This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. In the Aug. 9 edition of the APA News Digest, we discussed reasons why you might be placed at a non-contracted hotel. One of those reasons would be an overage situation in a particular market. For your situational awareness, we are going to start publishing the list of overages for the next month after the company provides the list to us. Below is the list of overage hotels that will be utilized in September. If you are scheduled to stay at one of these properties, we recommend you review the Aug. 9 article . BUF: Embassy Suites CID: Avid CLE: Crowne Plaza DCA: Embassy Suites by Hilton DTW: Detroit Marriott Livonia and DoubleTree Suites Fort Shelby GRB: Oneida GRU: Sheraton Sao Paulo WTC Hotel LAF: Springhill Suites Lafayette LBB: Overton LIR: El Mangroove MGM: Trilogy OMA: Doubletree Omaha Downtown PIB: Hilton Garden Inn Hattiesburg PVD: Hilton Providence Downtown RDU: Durham Marriott City Center SAN: Wyndham San Diego Bayside and Intercontinental San Diego SAV: Hilton Garden Inn Historic District TCL: Hotel Indigo Tuscaloosa Downtown UVF: Marigot Bay XNA: Wingate, Hyatt Place, and Hilton Garden Inn FDJ AA Not Appended After Check-in This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. For FDJ travelers who are checked in, but FDJ AA indicator is not present on the Priority List: Ticket counter/gate agents are not authorized to manually append FDJ AA. Request the agent to contact AA System Support Center (SSC) so the FDJ indicator can be added. SSC is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Their numbers are 800-741-0329 (inside the U.S.) and 480-693-6470 (abroad). In general, these numbers are for agent use, but a pilot could call if in need of assistance. Please send us a Jumpseat/Deadhead/Non-Rev Debrief if FDJ AA is not appended upon check-in. Be sure to include the method of check-in or device used (e.g., Android/iPad/agent). LIT is Coming to CLT This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee. Line pilot members of the AA/APA Learning and Improvement Team (LIT) will be at CLT on Aug. 26 and 27 to discuss how you, the line pilot, keep operations safe at CLT. LIT will be speaking with pilots transiting CLT on those days, asking safety-themed questions about CLT operations. LIT navigators will be in uniform with APA Safety lanyards in the A, B, C, and D concourses, C concourse crew room, main food court, and exit of KCM. Any pilot interaction with LIT is voluntary and de-identified. Your reply to a few questions helps AA and APA Safety better understand operational pressures and challenges AA pilots face within the system. Thank you for your participation, and we look forward to engaging with you. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. In the last 10 days, the cabin pressurization on B737 aircraft 3FL has been written up five times, has been on MEL once, and has been out of service four times. It was most recently signed off on Aug. 22 and is restricted to Class 1 or 2 maintenance stations. In the last three weeks, A321 aircraft 975 has been written up nine times and been out of service six times for NLG (nose landing gear) vibration/shimmy. It was recently operated under a special flight permit to a maintenance base for repairs. It was most recently signed off on Aug. 22 and is restricted to AA maintenance stations. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. On Aug. 21, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Ernesto Cintado, Joseph Elredy, Todd Fieser, Kyle Flynn, Kirby Gonyer, Benjamin Louden, Jeffrey Mathemeier, Gregory Moore, Jonathon Norman, Paul Peterson, Rochell Roache-Lanza, Kyle Salem-Roy, and Benjamin Wright. Hundreds of Pilots Enroll in APA Benefits Plans Aug. 1-15 was a special open enrollment period for two of APA’s benefits plans, Pilot Mutual Aid (PMA) and the Supplemental Medical Plan (SMP). Normally, enrollment in PMA is restricted to pilots with fewer than five years of service, and enrollment is SMP is restricted to pilots who are not yet 55 years old. But last April, the APA Board of Directors approved a pair of resolutions that temporarily waived those restrictions, which made the special open enrollment period possible. Here’s a look at how many pilots signed up for each plan during the special open enrollment period: PMA 440 pilots with at least five years of service 545 pilots with fewer than five years of service 91 pilots who were already enrolled and adjusted their benefit levels SMP 235 pilots who are at least 55 years old 185 pilots who are not yet 55 years old The APA Benefits Department fielded more than 5,000 phone calls during the special open enrollment period, which equates to about 455 calls per workday. For more information about APA’s benefits plans, review these videos featuring Director of Benefits Marcy Scott . APA Represented at OBAP Conference APA members CA Shanita Polk, FO Dominique Leonard-Curry, and CA Joshua Smith were among the attendees at the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals’ annual conference in Memphis this week. APA’s booth at the conference was part of our continuing effort to reach current and future members during similar conferences hosted by the Latino Pilots Association, the National Gay Pilots Association, the Professional Asian Pilots Association, and Women in Aviation International. APA Medical Minute – Type 2 Diabetes In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Christopher Ryan addresses type 2 diabetes, including its diagnosis, medication, and the diabetes status report that must be submitted to the FAA. CLT Parking Lot Crimes Highlighted in TV Interview One our CLT-based members recently returned from a trip to find that his car’s wheels had been stolen. This was the latest in a string of thefts from the employee parking lot. “In aviation, safety is always the first priority,” CLT Domicile Vice Chair CA Erik DeWinne told WSOC-TV this week. “If we get you there on time, that’s great; that’s an added bonus. And frankly, the City of Charlotte and the airport are not putting safety first.” Click here to watch the full report . Domicile Events About 450 pilots and guests gathered at the Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte last Saturday. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: CLT: Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Domicile Meeting on Sept. 11 ; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Sept. 10 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Sept. 11 ; Dana Point Lunch on Sept. 12 ; San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 ; Temecula Lunch on Sept. 18 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: IMAX Training on Aug. 29 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 PHX: Arizona Diamondbacks game on Sept. 13 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. When there are four or more candidates for a domicile position, the APA Constitution and Bylaws calls for a Nomination Round that winnows the field to three. The Nomination Round voting period opened at 0000 Central on Aug. 7, and it will close at 0001 Central on Aug. 29. The deadline for receipt of mailed paper ballots is 1000 Central on Aug. 29. These candidates are listed on the Nomination Round ballots: CLT Vice Chair CA Casey Granger FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Michael Phelan CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan MIA Vice Chair CA Scott Craig FO James Funderburk FO Steven Mann CA Ken Wells CA Anne Witcher For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Website Maintenance Scheduled for Aug. 27 The APA IT Department will perform maintenance on AlliedPilots.org from 0600 to 0900 Central on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Please anticipate a full outage from 0600 to 0700 and intermittent service interruptions thereafter until 0900. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Communications Committee: Positive Rate Episode 29: Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee Government Affairs Committee: FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024: Secondary Barriers Membership Committee: Potential APA Members Press Release: Allied Pilots Association: “We Strongly Support Our NetJets Colleagues” Scheduling Committee: Summer 2024 TTS Statistics Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs When I make a call, am I “turning someone in” to Professional Standards? No! When you call Professional Standards, you are utilizing fellow pilots, who are trained in handling peer-to-peer conflict, to resolve an issue that you are not comfortable resolving yourself. One of the first questions a volunteer will ask you is: “Have you tried to resolve this issue yourself?” While resolving the issue between the two parties is truly resolution at the lowest possible level, many people are not comfortable with this scenario and utilize Professional Standards. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Allied Pilots Association: “We Strongly Support Our NetJets Colleagues”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-312-3901 Allied Pilots Association: “We Strongly Support Our NetJets Colleagues” FORT WORTH, Texas (Aug. 20, 2024) – The Allied Pilots Association weighed in on NetJets’ recent termination of two high-ranking NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) officials, characterizing the terminations as “egregious” and “unwarranted.” The NJASAP officials terminated by airline management – the union’s vice president and strategy group chair – both had unblemished professional records. “Intimidation, retaliation, and suppression of protected union activity have no place in a functional labor-management relationship,” said APA President Capt. Ed Sicher. “NetJets management’s actions are egregious and unwarranted.” When the terminations took place, NJASAP officials had been emphasizing the importance of resetting the labor-management relationship at the airline. In a press release following the terminations, NJASAP President Capt. Pedro Leroux said, “Choosing to terminate two high-ranking Union leaders is not simply another hurdle to resetting the landscape, but a move reflective of a strategy that is not sustainable in the long term.” APA and NJASAP are both members of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing more than 35,000 professional passenger and cargo pilots. CAPA focuses on advancing its members’ safety, security, legislative, and regulatory priorities. “We strongly support our NetJets colleagues and wholeheartedly agree with Capt. Leroux – NetJets management must change course and repair the relationship,” Sicher said. “We are all stronger when labor and management work together.” Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association – the largest independent pilots union in the United States – has its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s website is AlliedPilots.org.
Press Releases

APA News Digest: Aug. 16, 2024

APA News Digest Aug. 16, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Fall Board Meeting Set for Oct. 7-11 APA Medical Minute – Sleep Apnea Pilot Couple Highlighted by Travel Blog Contract Compliance Committee: APA Contract Minute – HEAT Delays Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: Be Sure to Check Your Travel Profile Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Seatbelts are Important, but Mandatory? Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review National Aviation Week at the 9/11 Memorial Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Fall Board Meeting Set for Oct. 7-11 The APA Board of Directors will convene at union headquarters in Fort Worth on Monday, Oct. 7, for its regularly scheduled fall meeting. The meeting agenda will include a Membership and Guest Hour on the first day immediately following the APA President’s report. Policy stipulates that “Any APA member(s) in good standing or, with the consent of the Board, a guest of a member shall be allowed to address the board. Allocation of time will be 60 minutes divided by the number of members/guests desiring to speak; however, no individual will be afforded more than 10 minutes, including any questions/ answers by the Board. Members and guests must advise the meeting Chair of their desire to address the Board.” Please email asmith@alliedpilots.org if you wish to address the Board. The Board is tentatively scheduled to receive receive briefings from the following committees during the meeting: Benefits Review and Appeals Board Check Pilot Committee Committee for Armed Defense of the Cockpit Economic and Financial Analysis Committee Financial Audit Committee Grey Eagles Liaison Committee Grievance Resolution Committee Hotel Committee Internal Compensation and Expenses Committee Investor Relations Committee Joint Implementation Action Committee Negotiating Committee Scheduling Committee Security Committee Strategic Planning Committee Training Committee The meeting will also include these agenda items as required by policy: The List of Grievances Above Step 2 National Officers’ Compensation Domicile Issues Discussion Michael Michaelis Safety Award for Excellence Actions Taken on Previous Motions and Tasking Orders Budget Variance Reporting Committee Budgets Update on General Reserve Fund Balance, Maximum and Minimum Annual Review of General Reserve Fund and Use of Excess Reserve Funds National Committee Recommendation List Approval of Newly Appointed National Committee Members Internal Compensation and Expenses Committee Election Financial Audit Committee Election Financial Audit Committee Reports Benefits Review and Appeals Board Election BOD Steering Committee Election BOD Executive Personnel Committee Negotiating Priorities APA Medical Minute – Sleep Apnea In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisors Manager Marsha Reekie addresses sleep apnea, including signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, risks associated with not treating it, and the FAA process for pilots who are diagnosed with this sleep disorder. Pilot Couple Highlighted by Travel Blog Due to shifting schedules and standard operating procedures, there’s a good chance that the pilots on any given flight are meeting for the first time when they show up for work. On a recent flight documented by One Mile at a Time , that was definitely not the case. This one was operated by a married couple, CA Kale Gregory and FO Alan Gregory. Click the link above to read blogger Ben Schlappig’s account. APA Contract Minute – HEAT Delays This is a new message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. CA Jason Saxer is back with a new APA Contract Minute . In this edition, he discusses how pilots are properly paid for delays related to the Hub Efficiency Analytics Tool (HEAT). Be Sure to Check Your Travel Profile This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. Be sure to check your Jetnet travel profile for accurate passport information before the next time you jumpseat. Several pilots have reported that their information was incorrect or deleted when they tried to jumpseat on Southwest flights. Southwest and other carriers use this information to clear pilots in CASS. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since July 28, the left engine bleed air on B737 aircraft 3LE has been written up eight times and been out of service six times. It was most recently signed off on Aug. 10. UPDATE: Since June 13, A321 aircraft 553 has been written up 23 times and been out of service 10 times for flight control elevator servo faults. At the time of this writing, it was out of service and restricted to AA maintenance stations. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Aug. 14, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Christopher Archibald, Brandon Bolwerk, Kirby Gonyer, Shaikh Islam, Richard Linn, John Miller, Jonathon Norman, Ian Pico, Aubrey Rogers, Daniel Smith, Joel Tamayo, and Thomas Thai. Seatbelts are Important, but Mandatory? Despite the changes in turbulence over the years, APA spokesman CA Dennis Tajer told Fox Business he doesn’t believe the FAA’s seat belt regulations need an update. But he said it’s vital that passengers wear seat belts while seated. “As basic as it is, the highest form of technology that can keep you from getting injured is having the seat belt on,” he said. Read more here: “ Turbulence is rising. Mandating a seatbelt might not be the answer, pilot says ” Domicile Events Click the image for a closer look. About 600 pilots and guests gathered at Globe Life Field on Aug. 6 to watch the Texas Rangers play the Houston Astros. See more photos on APA’s Facebook page. Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Boston Red Sox game on Aug. 23 CLT: Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Domicile Meeting on Sept. 11 ; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: Temecula Lunch on Aug. 21 ; San Diego Lunch on Sept. 10 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Sept. 11 ; Dana Point Lunch on Sept. 12 ; San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: IMAX Training on Aug. 29 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 PHX: Arizona Diamondbacks game on Sept. 13 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. When there are four or more candidates for a domicile position, the APA Constitution and Bylaws calls for a Nomination Round that winnows the field to three. The Nomination Round voting period opened at 0000 Central on Aug. 7, and it will close at 0001 Central on Aug. 29. The deadline for receipt of mailed paper ballots is 1000 Central on Aug. 29. These candidates are listed on the Nomination Round ballots: CLT Vice Chair CA Casey Granger FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Michael Phelan CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan MIA Vice Chair CA Scott Craig FO James Funderburk FO Steven Mann CA Ken Wells CA Anne Witcher For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Week in Review Here is a recent message you may have missed. Government Affairs Committee: Enhanced Oversight of Foreign MRO Facilities  National Aviation Week at the 9/11 Memorial During National Aviation Week (Aug. 19-25), the 9/11 Memorial text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;">www.911memorial.org/aviationweek Please print your ticket before you visit. Once you arrive, you will be asked to present your flight crew credentials. The Memorial is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, and the Museum is open Wednesdays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last entry to the Museum is at 5:30 p.m. Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Does Professional Standards only handle pilot-to-pilot issues? No! We support our pilots in the performance of their duties and interaction with many other entities. Almost every person with whom a pilot engages during day-to-day operations enjoys union representation. We have established relationships for working through issues with gate agents (CWA/IBT), flight attendants (APFA), dispatchers (PAFCA), and maintenance (TWU/IAM). In addition, we also work closely with ALPA, NATCA (air traffic controllers), SWAPA, USAOA (Cathay Pacific), and all of our regional carriers. In collaboration with the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee, we also handle cases that arise between pilots of other carriers. In a nutshell: If you face a challenge with another employee, let us be your first call. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Aug. 9, 2024

APA News Digest Aug. 9, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... IT Steering Committee: APA Pilot App: Statistics for July 2024 Contract Compliance Committee: APA Contract Minute – Expenses Away From Base APA Medical Minute – FAA Standards for Blood Pressure and Hypertension Medications Compass Project Committee: YOUnion 401 Retirement Preparation Seminar Hotel Committee: Non-Contracted Hotels “The Safety Culture Needs a Lot of Work” National Aviation Week at the 9/11 Memorial Aeromedical Committee: Our Recommended Reading List Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Membership Committee: Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars APA Pilot App: Statistics for July 2024 This is a new message from the APA IT Steering Committee. For the month of July, 15,851 pilots utilized the APA Pilot app and the convenient features it provides, with a record 5.2 million My Open Time Alerts sent to 7,063 pilots. During the last 18 months, the APA IT Department has rolled out successive updates and new features based on member feedback and requests. Recently, these have included a new Robocall, Calendar Sync, Commute Info, and an improved My Open Time alerts. With each new rollout, the membership has responded with positive feedback and follow-on requests for further capabilities. The APA IT Department is hard at work with ongoing development, focusing on the continual improvement of these applications. Looking ahead, here’s a preview of some of the features we will bring online in the coming months: Trips Marketplace. Ability to pilot to pilot drop, advertise shared and last live leg sequences in one convenient application. Logbook . New and updated logbook integrated into the APA Pilot app. Sequence History . One stop to find every change to your sequence HSS/HI3, so pilots will be able to readily reference what their sequence looked like at any point in time. Calendar Sync . Include RAP, DFP and other calendar events for syncing. The APA IT Department, in conjunction with the IT Steering and Operational Analysis Committees, has continued to improve and develop products that pilots have requested. We value all membership feedback — please provide yours via the APA Pilot app, main menu, select feedback. The APA IT Development team will respond promptly. APA Contract Minute – Expenses Away From Base This is a new message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. CA Saxer is back with a new APA Contract Minute . In this edition, he discusses Section 7.A, which provides pilots who are scheduled, rescheduled, or reassigned to a sit period in excess of more than four hours lodging at a short-layover hotel. APA Medical Minute – FAA Standards for Blood Pressure and Hypertension Medications In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Cassie Bien addresses the FAA’s standards for blood pressure and hypertension medications. YOUnion 401 Retirement Preparation Seminar This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee. Intended to help retiring pilots understand their AA margin-bottom: 1rem; box-sizing: border-box;" type="disc"> For - Pilots within 15 years of retirement From - AA ">When - Wednesday, Aug. 14, 1100 Central How - Via Zoom Webinar Register in advance via the link below: https://alliedpilots-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bfkfzJKyTkyt_ZqNPOIWeA#/registration After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Send your feedback to YOUnion@alliedpilots.org Non-Contracted Hotels This message from the APA Hotel Committee was originally published on March 1, 2024. When there is no APA Hotel Webpage for your assigned hotel, it is a good indicator that you are staying at a non-contracted hotel. We create a webpage for a new hotel once AA has signed a contract with the hotel and an official CCI announcement has been made. If there is no webpage, then APA and AA, most likely, have not vetted this hotel. We see this often in our pop-up and overflow markets, in IROPs situations, and with off-schedule flights, as our contracted hotels may not have availability to accommodate additional rooms. We also see this during relocations, which can happen for a myriad of reasons. Can the company put you at a non-contracted hotel in these situations? Yes. Should you be concerned if you are at a non-contracted hotel? Not necessarily. Often these hotels are very good, but sometimes they are not. One of the concerns the Hotel Committee has with non-contracted hotels (and the source of many Hotel Debriefs on these properties) is that the hotel may not understand crew. When AA signs a contract with a hotel, the market specialist coaches the hotel on how to handle crew. Additionally, this occurs when we conduct a site review. There are many nuances for hotels to plan for when accommodating crew, like room placement and abnormal check-in/checkout times. When you check in to a non-contracted hotel, we recommend you take more caution. Is there a quieter side of the hotel you can request? Request a non-adjoining room if this is important to you. Do they have a late checkout annotated properly if your show time is after the hotel’s normal checkout? Please also understand that there will most likely not be a negotiated discount. Just like a layover at a contracted hotel, you can contact the Hotel/Limo Desk and/or the Duty Pilot to be relocated if you have issues. If you are unable to solve a problem, sometimes a quick call from the Hotel/Limo Desk to the hotel can help. Please debrief issues at non-contracted hotels so we can have AA look into the root cause of the issue or poor selection of the hotel. Sometimes we ask the company to move these hotels to a “do not use” list after receiving your debriefs. “The Safety Culture Needs a Lot of Work” The National Transportation Safety Board conducted a two-day hearing this week in Washington, D.C. regarding the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines midflight door plug blowout and broader concerns about the state of Boeing’s manufacturing and quality control. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said “the safety culture needs a lot of work. It is not there from the evidence itself. There’s not a lot of trust.” In a News Nation interview, APA Communications Committee member CA Dennis Tajer — who attended the hearing — characterized the situation at Boeing as “a human factors nightmare.” National Aviation Week at the 9/11 Memorial During National Aviation Week from August 19-25, the 9/11 Memorial text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;">www.911memorial.org/aviationweek Please print your ticket before you visit. Once you arrive, you will be asked to present your flight crew credentials. The Memorial is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, and the Museum is open Wednesdays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last entry to the Museum is at 5:30 p.m. Our Recommended Reading List This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee. In an effort to improve our members’ health, we have created a recommended reading list. Each month, we will highlight a book that has helped in the prevention of, treatment of, or recovery from an injury or illness, or has elevated a member’s education. Feel free to send your book recommendations to aeromed-committee@alliedpilots.org . The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance The debate is as old as physical competition. Are stars like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Serena Williams genetic outliers put on Earth to dominate their respective sports? Or are they simply normal people who overcame their biological limits through sheer force of will and obsessive training? In this controversial and engaging exploration of athletic success and the so-called 10,000-hour rule, David Epstein tackles the great nature vs. nurture debate a how far science has come in solving it. Through on-the-ground reporting from below the equator and above the Arctic Circle, revealing conversations with leading scientists and Olympic champions, and interviews with athletes who have rare genetic mutations or physical traits, Epstein forces us to rethink the nature of athleticism. Disclaimer: This recommendation is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services. Always consult with your medical provider when making health care decisions. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since July 7, A319 aircraft 738 has been written up for a right engine start fault 13 times and out of service eight times. It was last signed off on August 8 and is currently restricted to AA maintenance stations only. Since April 4, A319 aircraft 769 has been written up for vibration issues 19 times and out of service 17 times for a total OTS time of more than 1,400 hours (two months). During this time, it has operated under an SFP (Special Flight Permit) to maintenance bases three times and has accomplished six Functional Check Flights (FCFs). It remains out of service and is restricted to AA maintenance stations only. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On August 7, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Gregory Allen, Micholas Charnas, Justin Chase, William Cordoba Arenas, Andreas Demiris, Jose Garza Jr., William Green, Robert Habisreitinger, William Hewlett, Mitchell Lucas, Brian Martin, Andenet Mekonnen, James Nunley, David Schmarr, Andres Serrano, Michael Tsegai, Derek Turner, and Robert Tyson. Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate the following pilots who upgraded to captain in August. They are listed by their post-upgrade base and equipment. CLT 737: Scott Adams, John Gorman III, David Huddler, Christopher Oerter, Konstantin Shevnin, Michael Valdes DCA 737: Craig Maternowski DCA 320: Timothy Buchanan DFW 777: William Green DFW 787: Mark Anderson, Mark Branstrom, Todd Fieser DFW 737: Alexander Averhart, Christopher Davidson, Gregory DeBourge, Joseph Elredy, Justin Fishman, David Grojean, Mahmood Enawe, Rochell Roache-Lanza, David Leedom, Jesse McGough, Julien Riegel, David Schmarr, Michael Stock, Luis Zelaya DFW 320: Matthew Cliver, Bradley Zimmerman LAX 737: Patrick McBride LGA 737: Anthony Bevilacqua LGA 320: Derek Turner MIA 777: Jeffrey Wegner MIA 787: Christopher Archibald MIA 737: Ernesto Cintado, Michael Ghannoum, Todd Holbrook, Stanley Kendra, Joshua Kratz, Fabrice Malary, Andenet Mekonnen, Maci Minor, Bo Praestegaard, Andres Serrano, Ryan Skubik, Armia Yacoub MIA 320: Terry Armstrong Jr. ORD 737: Jonathan Hudik, Brandon Turner, Andrew Yergler Spencer PHL 737: Christopher Humphries PHX 320: Todd Murphey, Erik Whitt Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Boston Red Sox game on Aug. 23 CLT: Carowinds Family Day on Aug. 17 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Retirement Party on Nov. 9 ; Holiday Party on Dec. 6 LAX: San Diego Lunch on Aug. 13 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Aug. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Aug. 21 ; San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: IMAX Training on Aug. 29 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 PHX: Arizona Diamondbacks game on Sept. 13 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. These candidates’ resumes were emailed (and posted on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org) on Aug. 6: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger CLT Vice Chair CA Casey Granger FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Jeff Kerr CA Mark Lokey LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Michael Phelan CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair CA Scott Craig FO Jamie Funderburk FO Steven Mann CA Ken Wells CA Anne Witcher When there are four or more candidates for a domicile position, the APA Constitution and Bylaws calls for a Nomination Round that winnows the field to three. The Nomination Round voting period opened from 0000 Central on Aug. 7 and remains open until 0001 Central on Aug. 29. The deadline for receipt of mailed paper ballots is 1000 Central on Aug. 29. For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Government Affairs Committee: Aeromedical Reforms in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024  Safety Committee: FOM: Aircraft Acceptance is the Captain's Call Secretary Treasurer: Electronic Balloting in CLT, LGA, and MIA Elections  Hotel Committee: If Wait Times are Excessive, Help Yourself Negotiating Committee: Contract Implementation and Interpretation, Post-Ratification Discussions, and Polling  Secretary Treasurer: CLT, LGA, and MIA Elections Scheduling Committee: PBS Bidding Now Open Communications Committee: Congratulations to Captain Moore and Captain Johnson Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Will Professional Standards handle issues with Crew Schedule/Crew tracking? Absolutely! As you should be well aware, every call to Crew Schedule/Crew Tracking (CS/CT) is recorded from the time you are connected until you hang up – even when you are on hold. While cases with CS/CT are rare, they do occur. There is a protocol for handling issues that arise with our colleagues in CT/CS: conversations are reviewed jointly by Professional Standards and the CS/CT manager for resolution. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Aug. 2, 2024

APA News Digest Aug. 2, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Thank You to Everyone at Oshkosh APA Medical Minute – Prostate Health Contract Compliance Committee: APA Contract Minute – Reassignments Governance and Reform Ad Hoc Committee: Final Report on Governance and Reform Hotel Committee: If Wait Times are Excessive, Help Yourself Compass Project Committee: Join Us for YOUnion 401 on Aug. 14 Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Membership Committee: Gone West Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Thank You to Everyone at Oshkosh We thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of the pilots and their families who stopped by our hospitality area during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, and we appreciate the efforts of the APA Family Awareness Committee, who made six evenings’ worth of dinners and happy hours possible. APA Medical Minute – Prostate Health In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Kathy Parr discusses prostate health, noting that it’s one of the most common topics members inquire about. APA Contract Minute – Reassignments This is a new message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. CA Jason Saxer is back with a new APA Contract Minute . In this edition, he discusses Section 15.N, which provides for a pay, no credit removal from future flying for pilots reassigned over their Individual Monthly Maximum or the Company Limit on Voluntary Flying. Final Report on Governance and Reform This is a new message from the Governance and Reform Ad Hoc Committee. Last week, APA Vice President CA Chris Torres gave the Governance and Reform Ad Hoc Committee’s final brief to the Board of Directors. The committee, created last year in recognition of the APA membership’s desire for reforms, conducted extensive membership polling and interviewed former National Officers and Domicile Officers. Based on that feedback, the committee crafted a total of 57 proposals for Board consideration, with the Board approving 41 of them for action. The Board subsequently considered 24 related resolutions and voted to approve 22 of them. All members are welcome to read the committee’s final report . If Wait Times are Excessive, Help Yourself This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. Last week, we discussed “Booking in Progress.” What about when you arrive at a layover destination and realize you don’t have a room for the night, perhaps because you timed out? As many of you have experienced, wait times for Crew Tracking and the Hotel/Limo Desk have been lengthy lately. We do not recommend excessively delaying your rest because of these waits. If the wait time is excessive, and you know you will be laying over in the current city (Crew Tracking has repaired your sequence or you have timed out), you can book your own hotel room and ground transportation and expense them to the company. As a reminder, APA does not recommend using BizHero for company travel. To file an expense report for hotel and/or transportation reimbursement, you will need to use the SAP Concur app on your company iPad or use the link in AAPilots: Personal box-sizing: border-box;">You will need to submit a photo of your receipt(s). All receipts for a particular trip may be included in the same Pilot Expense Report and must be submitted within 60 days of the incurred expense. Please contact your base flight office if you need help submitting a report. For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Join Us for YOUnion 401 on Aug. 14 This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project will host a “YOUnion 401” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Aug. 14. This retirement preparation seminar is intended for pilots who are at least 50 years old. In collaboration with the company, we will preview the AA and APA benefits and programs that will be available to you as a retired pilot. There will be time for questions. Click here to register for the Aug. 14 meeting . Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since July 13, the satellite communications on B787 aircraft 8LB has been written up eight times and been out of service three times. It was most recently written up on July 31 and remained out of service at the time of this writing. Since May 12, B777 aircraft 7AE has had center fuel tank issues that have been written up 18 times, been on MEL four times, and been out of service eight times. It was most recently signed off on August 1 and has been restricted to Class 1 and 2 maintenance stations since July 17. UPDATE: Since July 7, the digital flight data recorder on A321 aircraft 799 has been written up 13 times, been on MEL four times, and been out of service nine times. It was most recently signed off on July 29. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On July 31, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Gregory Allen, William Cordoba Arenas, Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Geoffrey Haw, Christopher Hey, Joseph Lanera, Scott Lundgren, Michael Redmon Jr., Janelle Setta, Bradley Snead, Andrea Themely, and Miriam Williams. Gone West This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of these pilots, whose deaths we learned of in June and July: Don Schramski, 72, on May 14, 2019; Larry Kavouras, 74, on March 24, 2024; Jimmie Amos, 72, on April 10; Jim Freeman, 85, on May 13; Tom Goode, 67, on May 14; Larry Bernard, 81, on May 15; Jim Groves, 89, on May 17; Pete Gist, 85, on May 30; Gene Lanman, 84, on June 1; Bill Hoffman, 90, on June 2; Bob Lance, 76, on June 3; Bob Teasley, 77, on June 4; Dave Hooper, 77, on June 5; Jack Mason, 91, on June 5; Paul Engel, 85, on June 13; Jim Magee, 94, on June 13; Dave McGuire, 73, on June 13; Stanly Widau, 77, on June 13; David Becker, 68, on June 19; Travis Acheson, 55, on June 21; Dick Deville, 81, on June 21; Grant Simmons, 88, on July 4; and Frank Schneider, 90, on July 8. Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Boston Red Sox game on Aug. 23 CLT: Carowinds Family Day on Aug. 9 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Texas Rangers game on Aug. 6 ; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: Dana Point Lunch on Aug. 8 ; San Diego Lunch on Aug. 13 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Aug. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Aug. 21 ; San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: IMAX Training on Aug. 29 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 PHX: Arizona Diamondbacks game on Sept. 14 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. These candidates’ resumes will be emailed (and posted on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org) on Aug. 6: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger CLT Vice Chair CA Casey Granger FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Lawrence Cutler CA Jeff Kerr CA Mark Lokey LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Michael Phelan CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan CA Robert D. White MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair CA Scott Craig FO Jamie Funderburk FO Steven Mann CA Ken Wells CA Anne Witcher When there are four or more candidates for a domicile position, the APA Constitution and Bylaws calls for a Nomination Round that winnows the field to three. The Nomination Round voting period will be open from 0000 Central on Aug. 7 until 0001 Central on Aug. 29. The deadline for receipt of mailed paper ballots is 1000 Central on Aug. 29. For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Benefits Department: Special Open Enrollment Begins Aug. 1 Benefits Department: Special Open Enrollment Has Begun Communications Committee: Positive Rate Episode 28: Air to Heart Foundation Grey Eagles Liaison Committee: The Grey Eagles Annual Reunion/Convention Information Technology Steering Committee: Update to APA Calendar Sync Information Technology Steering Committee: Website and App Access Issues Joint Implementation Action Committee: Interim Self-Repair Delayed Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (2) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Is Professional Standards suitable for conduct issues or performance issues? It may be suited for both. The program is designed to promote and maintain professionalism. It is well-suited for any case, conduct, or performance when professionalism may be an issue. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: 0.2s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Website and App Access Issues

Website and App Access Issues An update to our membership database is the root cause of the issues some members are experiencing when trying to access AlliedPilots.org or the APA Pilot app. This update should be completed by 1930 Central. Should you continue to experience issues after 1930 Central, please log out and log back in. Please reach out to helpdesk@alliedpilots.org if access issues remain.
Public News IT Steering

APA News Digest: July 26, 2024

APA News Digest July 26, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Food, Fun, and Fellowship at Oshkosh Special Open Enrollment Begins Aug. 1 Scheduling Committee: Summer Statistics and Updates AAL Reports “Bronze Medal” Earnings Airline Analysts on AAL: “Disappointing,” “Discouraging,” and “Uninspiring” IT Steering Committee: Look for an Updated Logbook in the Coming Months Military Affairs Subcommittee: Check Out Our New Military Guidebook Hotel Committee: “Booking in Progress” Guidance Has Not Changed National Communications Network: Concourse Conversations at DFW on July 31 Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class APA Medical Minute – Cataract Surgery Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Food, Fun, and Fellowship at Oshkosh The fellowship our pilots are enjoying at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this week extends between unions. CA Anne Worster, the United MEC Chair at ALPA, invited APA’s contingent to dinner on Wednesday. She’s pictured with APA Family Awareness Committee Chair CA Jerry Gemma, APA Professional Standards Committee Chair CA Pat McGinn, and FO Melissa Monahan, Deputy Chair of the APA Family Awareness and Communications committees. We look forward to continuing to work together to benefit all airline pilots. APA will host two more events before the world’s largest aviation gathering wraps up on Sunday. There will be a pizza party from 1700 to 1900 today and a Tex-Mex dinner from 1700 to 1900 on Saturday. If you will be in Oshkosh, here’s where to find our hospitality area. Special Open Enrollment Begins Aug. 1 Aug. 1-15 will be a special open enrollment period for two of APA’s benefits plans, Pilot Mutual Aid (PMA) and the Supplemental Medical Plan (SMP). For more information, please review the FAQs for each plan: Pilot Mutual Aid FAQs Supplemental Medical Plan FAQs Where to enroll: Click here to access the Benefit Elect enrollment portal . Your Benefit Elect username is your employee ID number. If you do not remember your Benefit Elect password, click the portal’s “Log In Instructions” link. With custom-tailored benefit plans that fit your specific needs throughout your career and into retirement, APA is designed with you in mind. Only APA provides members with custom-tailored benefit plans that fit your specific needs, flexibility to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done, and an unmatched level of independence and care. For more details, watch this video featuring Director of Benefits Marcy Scott. Any questions? Contact the APA Benefits Department at benefits.sec@alliedpilots.org . Summer Statistics and Updates This is a new message from the APA Scheduling Committee. TTS enhancement continues to be a priority for the Scheduling Committee. Progress has been made even with the company’s commitment to Contract 2023 implementation. We continue to engage with our company counterparts on improvements and functionality. Notable stats from June: Highest number of TTS transactions ever. Highest number of PVDs used (facilitated by trading). Record low sick usage. (If pilots are trading, no need to use sick time.) July trading is following on the same trajectory. Our first three TTS runs for the August bid month have seen 2,900 awarded trades, with an average participation rate of 36% across all bid statuses. Please reach out to the Scheduling Committee with any questions on ballot building or run history. The Scheduling Committee is available to our pilots for help with anything that they can bid for: vacancy, vacation, TTS, DOTC, CQT, TDY, MBE, and PBS. The Scheduling Administrators are available from 0800 to 1700 Central on weekdays, and the committee’s pilot volunteers are available around the clock: CMTE-Scheduling@alliedpilots.org or 817-302-2321. AAL Reports “Bronze Medal” Earnings This week, AAL management reported second quarter earnings that lived up – or lived down, rather – to this forecast from JP Morgan airlines analyst Jamie Baker: “The company (AAL) likely remains on the bronze medal podium when it comes to Big 3 margins.” During the earnings call, CEO Robert Isom disclosed that the failed sales and distribution strategy reduced revenue by $750M for the first half of the year, and management expects another $750M in lost revenue for the second half of the year, for a total 2024 impact of $1.5B. Here are some excerpts from the AAL filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission: “The company’s previous sales and distribution strategy will continue to impact its revenue performance and earnings through the remainder of the year.” “The company expects its third-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per diluted share to be approximately breakeven.” “The company now expects its full-year 2024 adjusted earnings per diluted share to be between $0.70 and $1.30.” (~$460-$854M) “The company reduced total debt by approximately $680 million and is now more than $13 billion, or approximately 87%, toward its goal of reducing total debt by $15 billion by the end of 2025. The company ended the quarter with approximately $11.7 billion of total available liquidity.” Pre-Tax Profit (excluding special items)  DAL: $2 billion UAL: $1.7 billion AAL: $1.04 billion Free Cash Flow (FCF)  DAL: $1.3 billion UAL: $1.9 billion AAL: $850 million Margins  2Q24 Pre-Tax Op. Margin EBITDAR DAL 13.0% 14.7% 18.2% UAL 12.1% 13.1% 17.9% AAL 7.3% 9.7% 15.7% As for the $1.5B worth of lost revenue this year, Forbes reported that Delta and United have been coy in discussing whether American’s loss benefitted them. But APA spokesman CA Dennis Tajer said it clearly went to the rival carriers’ coffers. “We don’t need Nancy Drew to determine where the $1.5 billion went,” he said. Airline Analysts on AAL: “Disappointing,” “Discouraging,” and “Uninspiring” You can click here for an in-depth account of Wall Street analysts’ reactions to the AAL earnings call, but here are a few excerpts: Jamie Baker of J.P. Morgan: “We’d have to go back to the Arpey era (pre-dating both its merger and its bankruptcy filing) to identify an American earnings call as discouraging as Thursday’s. ... To paraphrase one investor, American’s call sounded disappointingly like ‘the old America West script but with meaningfully elevated costs,’ sentiment we can’t really push back on.” Thomas Fitzgerald of TD Cowen: “We expect the airline’s commercial challenges (overexposure to domestic and LatAm, challenges with corporate travel, underexposure to long-haul international) to weigh on margins. Driving significant changes in strategy will require years of elevated CAPEX investments and diminish the company’s prospects for generating consistent free cash flow.” Conor Cunningham of Melius: “American has been crystal clear that adjustments to the distribution strategy that cost them $750 mm in 1H are underway. But a further review of the business is needed as they lag Delta and United on margins. Investor patience is very thin at this point and additional adjustments are needed for a credible margin recovery story to return.” Look for an Updated Logbook in the Coming Months This is a new message from the APA IT Steering Committee. Thanks to the hard work of FO Ken Lambert, along with many others, an updated Logbook will be launched this fall with a revamped user interface and design, along with new features, integration, and attention to detail. New features will include: Convenient access to your flying Table and calendar view Sequence grouping of flying Running convenient totals Sequence- and flight-level detail of flying with integrated map overview Handy filters to search and display data Multiple export options Integrated statistics visualizations We are also diligently working to update and improve our previously released products and features and are excited to showcase them in the coming weeks. Here are just a few to look forward to: Trips Marketplace: Will include drops, shared sequences, last live leg. APA Calendar Sync: Supporting other calendars and an increase in the number of data items that can be synced. Sequence History: No more taking a snapshot of your HSS! EVERY update and change will be available to browse and access. Open Time Detected Log: A history of all open time to allow for further analysis of your MyOT alerts using the reasons report functions. Again, thank you to FO Lambert, CA Vince Trevarton, the other pilots on the IT Steering and Operational Analysis committees, and the staff in our APA IT Department for the hard work put in by all. As always, please keep your valuable feedback coming! It only helps to improve the services provided to our pilots. Check Out Our New Military Guidebook This is a new message from the Military Affairs Subcommittee. On Monday, the Military Affairs Subcommittee conducted a town hall via Zoom and briefed the Board of Directors in person. During the Board briefing, the subcommittee hosted FBI and Homeland Security agents to give a brief update on international travel concerns and the best paths to stay safe once you leave American soil. Most of the tips and pointers can be found on the DHS or FBI websites or the Security Committee’s page on AlliedPilots.org. Bottom line: Once you leave American soil, be prepared for anything, stay conservative in your actions, and be alert to your surroundings. The Zoom town hall began with FO Christine Simpson providing an overview of the new APA Military Guidebook . We believe the document is a one-stop shop for all military-related questions a pilot might have while serving our country and flying for AAL. The Guidebook can now be found on the Military Affairs page on AlliedPilots.org (Documents > General). The town hall also covered the high points we have seen over the past year in a PowerPoint presentation that will be posted on our webpage. Due to a technical issue with Zoom, we were unable to record the session. We will host another town hall next spring to highlight ongoing issues our pilots face. Stay safe flying, and reach out to us with any concerns at militaryaffairs@alliedpilots.org . “Booking in Progress” Guidance Has Not Changed This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. The last week has been rough! No doubt, many of you have felt the weight of putting our operation back together on your shoulders. Many crews have had difficulty getting hotels assigned due to lengthy waits getting their sequences repaired by Crew Tracking and lengthy waits on hold with the Hotel/Limo Desk. APA’s position has not changed. We recommend that you DO NOT DEPART on your last leg to a layover when “Booking in Progress” shows in your CCI Hotel/Limo information, unless you receive confirmation that you have lodging, or you are directed to depart by a Chief Pilot. “Booking in Progress” is a placeholder when no reservation exists. It does not necessarily indicate someone is actively working on booking you a room. Multiple crews have not followed this guidance lately and written to us to tell us it was a mistake. Crews who have waited to secure lodging have experienced lengthy waits after their last leg of the day. Some crews had the misfortune of arriving at a sold-out market only to learn that they were stuck with no hotel options. Had they insisted a room be booked prior to departure, this would not have happened. Although it’s not required, you may want to advise the Company of the reason why you aren’t departing and advise that you will be prepared to depart as soon as lodging is confirmed. If you can’t get through to the Hotel/Limo Desk, try the Duty Pilot, or consider sending an ACARS or HISEND message. Do not let the issue distract you from your preflight duties. Take care of yourself; take care of your crew. For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Concourse Conversations at DFW on July 31 This is a new message from the National Communications Network. Along with the DFW Domicile Officers, we will host Concourse Conversations from 0900 to 1500 on July 31 outside the new Terminal A Operations. These events provide an opportunity for members at large to deliver feedback directly to union volunteers. We will be collecting feedback to send to the Board of Directors and National Officers. If your schedule allows, please stop by to chat. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since July 7, the Digital Flight Data Recorder on A321 aircraft 799 has been written up 11 times, been on MEL three times, and been out of service seven times. It was most recently signed off on July 25. Since June 13, the Flight Control ELAC (Elevator and Aileron Computer) 2 faults on A321 aircraft 553 have been written up 15 times and been out of service seven times. It was most recently signed off on July 23. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On July 24, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Robert Banks, Erik Breault, Brett Cavitt, Matthew Costa, Matthew Creed, Alex Durr, Todd Eysenbach, David Hegedus Jr., Mohammad Khattab, Scott Lee, Brian Lietzke, Cole Linburg, Clayton Malphrus, Joseph Mcbrearty Jr., Brandon McIntire, Joseph Miklasz, Kyle Morris, Michael O’Dea, Kareem Omar, Nicholas Osburn, Juan Carlos Pallares, Christine Rupert, Janelle Setta, and Ronald Sheppard. APA Medical Minute – Cataract Surgery In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Tina Smith provides guidance regarding cataract surgery. Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Boston Red Sox game on Aug. 23 CLT: Carowinds Family Day on Aug. 9 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Concourse Conversations on July 31; Texas Rangers game on Aug. 6 ; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: Dana Point Lunch on Aug. 8 ; San Diego Lunch on Aug. 13 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Aug. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Aug. 21 ; San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: IMAX Training on Aug. 29 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. These candidates’ resumes will be emailed (and posted on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org) on Aug. 6: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger CLT Vice Chair CA Casey Granger FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Lawrence Cutler CA David Hines CA Mark Lokey CA Jeff Kerr LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Michael Phelan CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan CA Robert D. White MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair CA Scott Craig FO Jamie Funderburk FO Steven Mann CA Ken Wells CA Anne Witcher When there are four or more candidates for a domicile position, the APA Constitution and Bylaws calls for a Nomination Round that winnows the field to three. The Nomination Round voting period will be open from 0100 Eastern on Aug. 7 until 0101 Eastern on Aug. 29. The deadline for receipt of mailed paper ballots is 1100 Eastern on Aug. 29. For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Captain’s Authority Committee: Attention: Augmented Crews Check Pilot Committee: Update for CKPs and IPs Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes Summer Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Reconvenes Summer Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Continues Summer Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Concludes Summer Meeting Information Technology Steering Committee: Overnight Service Interruption Planned Press Release: Allied Pilots Association Congratulates Aer Lingus Pilots on Pay Increases Scheduling Committee: Interim Self-Repair for Recovery Obligation Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (3) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (7) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (4) Training Committee (5) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Why isn’t management part of the Professional Standards Committee? This is a peer-to-peer program. Correcting behavior through peer engagement and awareness offers a potentially permanent solution. Management fully supports the work of the Professional Standards Committee by providing vast resources and thoughtful input toward improving the process. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Allied Pilots Association Congratulates Aer Lingus Pilots on Pay Increases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-312-3901 Allied Pilots Association Congratulates Aer Lingus Pilots on Pay Increases FORT WORTH, Texas (July 25, 2024) – The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, lauded the pilots of Aer Lingus for securing significant pay increases, resolving a protracted dispute between the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) and Aer Lingus management. “We wholeheartedly agree with IALPA President Capt. Mark Tighe – this is a prime example of what workers can achieve when they stand together,” APA President Capt. Ed Sicher said. “With 96% of IALPA members casting a vote and 85% of those voting in favor, there is clearly strong support among the pilots for the new agreement. “It is my distinct pleasure to congratulate IALPA leadership and the rank-and-file membership,” Capt. Sicher said. “You stood up for your interests, you ultimately prevailed, and you can take pride in a job well done.” Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association – the largest independent pilots union in the United States – has its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s website is AlliedPilots.org.
Press Releases

APA News Digest: July 19, 2024

APA News Digest July 19, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... You’re Cleared for Departure to Oshkosh Positive Rate Episode 27: Training Committee APA Medical Minute – Kidney Stones Hotel Committee: Good News for CDG Layovers Aeromedical Committee: Preparing for Space Weather Storms Aeromedical Committee: CIRP Volunteer of the Quarter Aeromedical Committee: Our Recommended Reading List Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class Membership Committee: Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains Flight Attendants Announce Tentative Agreement Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars You’re Cleared for Departure to Oshkosh In last week’s edition, we asked our members (current and retired) to send us pictures of the planes they will be flying to Oshkosh. These photos were submitted by (clockwise from top left) FO Loren Marburg, FO Mike Schreiner, CA Larry Bradshaw (retired), and CA Chris Sims. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh , the world’s largest aviation gathering, kicks off on Monday. APA’s Family Awareness Committee will host gatherings each evening, July 22-27. If you plan to attend any of these dinners or happy hours, please let us know via the RSVP links at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar . (To see the Family Awareness events, you may need to adjust your preferences by clicking the gear icon at the top of the calendar. However, we have included direct links to each event below.) July 22: Happy Hour July 23: Pizza Party July 24: Military ">July 25: Happy Hour July 26: Pizza Party July 27: Tex-Mex Dinner Positive Rate Episode 27: Training Committee In the latest episode of our “ Positive Rate ” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Tim Martin, Training Committee Deputy Chair, about the various ways the committee serves the membership. He notes the committee has an expert for each fleet American Airlines operates, and also discusses the recently revamped Training Debrief, emphasizing how the data pilots provide with their debriefs enables the committee to effect change as needed. (All debriefs are deidentified before the committee shares them with the company.) Each episode of “Positive Rate” features various APA leaders and the subject-matter experts working on the membership’s behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify – you can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts . We welcome your feedback on this format. If you have a question or a comment, please send it to Communications Director Gregg Overman via goverman@alliedpilots.org . APA Medical Minute – Kidney Stones In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Christopher Ryan provides guidance regarding kidney stones. Good News for CDG Layovers This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. CDG layovers will continue at three airport properties through Sept. 8 due to the excessive drive times because of the Olympic-only lanes into the city. As a result of these relocations, the company has offered to reimburse pilots and flight attendants for one round-trip coach train ticket to downtown Paris. You can submit your receipt via Concur for reimbursement. Please note that this offer, which is good through Sept. 8, applies to only one round-trip coach ticket per layover. Each of our CDG airport properties have crafted an informative welcome letter for AA crews that includes this information. Please exercise heightened situational awareness if you choose to go into the city, as there is increased risk of crime during the Olympics. For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. Preparing for Space Weather Storms This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee. Dispatcher notes in your flight release may have remarks regarding space weather. Another great planning tool is located in the WSI weather app. The Space Weather storm scale legend in the top left of the application (after a route is loaded) shows “RSG,” which corresponds to R (HF radio impacts), S (solar radiation), and G (navigational impacts-GPS). There is a legend that explains RSG when clicked. Additionally, your Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee has an alerting system for R3 /S3 . The FOM also provides guidance on space weather. For more information, please refer to the Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee’s webpage . If you have questions, please send to cmte-occupationalhealth@alliedpilots.org . CIRP Volunteer of the Quarter This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee. FO Greg Keller has been a part of the Critical Incident Response Program since 2002. He has also volunteered his time to his fellow pilots as a member of the Project Wingman Subcommittee and the ORD Safety Committee. Greg flies the 787 out of DFW these days, but he has also flown the 727, the MD-80, the 737, and the 767 during his 25 years with American. Before AA, he flew the C-5 at Dover AFB and the C-137 (B707) at Andrews AFB. He is also the Chair of the Green River Community College Advisory Council and assists with their Aeronautical Science Department. He has three grown daughters and lives in Tacoma, Wash. Our Recommended Reading List This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee. In an effort to improve our members’ health, we have created a recommended reading list. Each month, we will highlight a book that has helped in the prevention of, treatment of, or recovery from an injury or illness, or has elevated a member’s education. Feel free to send your book recommendations to aeromed-committee@alliedpilots.org . Curable The United States is fast becoming the sickest nation in the Western world. Cancer rates continue to rise. There is an epidemic of chronic disease in children. Even with all the money and modern innovations in science, the country’s health care system is beyond broken. Clearly there is a glitch in the system. But what if the solution has been here all along, and we’ve just been too blind to see it? In Curable , journalist and health care advocate Travis Christofferson looks at medicine through a magnifying glass and asks an important question: What if the roots of the crisis are psychological and systemic, perpetuated not just by corporate influence and the powers that be, but by you and me? It is now known that human perception is based on deeply entrenched patterns of irrational thought, which we attach ourselves to religiously. So how does this implicate the very scientific research and data that doctors rely on to successfully treat their patients? Disclaimer: This recommendation is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services. Always consult with your medical provider when making health care decisions. Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. Since June 16, the flight deck door on A320 aircraft 647 has been written up 14 times and been out of service seven times. It most recently returned to service on July 16. APA Welcomes Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On July 17, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Chad Coontz, Charles Coppa, Skyler Davenport, Michael Doyle, John Hagerty Jr., Korry Hamman, Colin Hendershot, Vincent Jordan, Mark Kish, Ryan Larosh, Brian Lietzke, Kareem Omar, Nathaniel Terry, Natalia Tiunova, Miriam Williams, and Riccardo Zappa. Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate these pilots who upgraded last month. They are listed by their post-upgrade base and equipment. CLT 737: Erik Breault, Matthew Costa, David Hegedus Jr., Jacob Muraski, and Nathaniel Terry CLT 320: Rudy Foskuhl and Robert Martin DCA 737: Nicholas Osburn and Andrea Themely DFW 777: Alex Durr, Michael Galante, and Arno Knapen DFW 787: Jennifer Palmer DFW 737: Kenneth Bach, Richard Blagg Jr., Christopher DeLong, Michael Doyle, Colin Hendershot, Denver Hill, Kareem Omar, Casey Ronayne, Adam Shepherd, James Spencer, and Elisha Walker IV DFW 320: Steven Cates, Korry Hamman, Emmanuel Lindsay, Robert Marsh, Joseph McBrearty, Chad Nedved, Thomas Pappas, Christopher Tredemeyer, Miriam Williams, and Brandon Witzel LAX 737: Jeffrey Caouette, Taylor De Ley, Edmund Guerrero Jr., Brian Horeczko, Vincent Jordan, and Victor Stoeckmann LGA 737: Zachary Balas, Robert Banks, Matthew Creed, Eric Darwin, Geoffrey Haw, Brian Lietzke, Antoine Morrison, Paul Murdock, Michael Redmon Jr., Janelle Setta, and Natalia Tiunova MIA 777: Kim Grummitt and Christine Rupert MIA 737: Ciro Capasso, Charles Coppa, Todd Eysenbach, Richard Goodlett, Samuel Heda, Edward Kelley, Andre Leyakatalie, Brandon McIntire, Juan Melendez, Michael O'Dea, Mircea Pamfil, and Tim Wadsworth ORD 787: Robert Stack ORD 737: Keith Allison, Wayne Bushmaker, Stephen Farlow, Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Joseph Lanera, Joseph Miklasz, Kyle Morris, and Shad Vinson PHX 320: Brett Cavitt Flight Attendants Announce Tentative Agreement Today, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) announced that it had reached a tentative agreement with American Airlines management. “Our latest contract negotiations have resulted in significant benefits for our Flight Attendants,” APFA National President Julie Hedrick said in a press release . “After years of bargaining and with the assistance of the National Mediation Board, we have reached a long overdue agreement with American Airlines, which addresses our concerns in compensation, work rules, and retroactive pay. If approved, this agreement will put billions of additional dollars into compensation and work rules for our Flight Attendant workgroup.” Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Town Hall Meeting with LGA and PHL on July 23 ; Boston Red Sox game on Aug. 23 CLT: Carowinds Family Day on Aug. 9 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Texas Rangers game on Aug. 6 ; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: Dana Point Lunch on Aug. 8 ; San Diego Lunch on Aug. 13 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on Aug. 14 ; Temecula Lunch on Aug. 21 ; San Diego Padres game on Sept. 16 LGA: Town Hall Meeting with BOS and PHL on July 23 ; New York Mets game on Sept. 2 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: IMAX Training on Aug. 29 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Town Hall Meeting with BOS and LGA on July 23 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. The list of candidates has been updated since last week’s News Digest was published: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger CLT Vice Chair CA Casey Granger FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Lawrence Cutler CA David Hines CA Mark Lokey CA Jeff Kerr LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Michael Phelan CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan CA Robert D. White MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair CA Scott Craig FO Jamie Funderburk FO Steven Mann CA Ken Wells CA Anne Witcher The candidates’ resumes will be emailed (and posted on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org) on Aug. 6. When there are four or more candidates for a domicile position, the APA Constitution and Bylaws calls for a Nomination Round that winnows the field to three. The Nomination Round voting period will be open from 0100 Eastern on Aug. 7 until 0101 Eastern on Aug. 29. The deadline for receipt of mailed paper ballots is 1100 Eastern on Aug. 29. For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Communications Committee: Summer Board Meeting to Begin Monday  Communications Committee: We are Safety Chain’s Last Link Communications Committee: We Remember TWA Flight 800 Family Awareness Committee: We Can’t Wait to See You at Oshkosh Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (3) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (7) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (4) Training Committee (5) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What records are kept for Professional Standards? None. There are no individual case files kept, nor are there any records in an employee’s Permanent Employment History (PEH). Only non-specific, de-identified logs are kept to maintain generic trends and reliability of the program. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: July 12, 2024

APA News Digest July 12, 2024 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... We Can’t Wait to See You at Oshkosh APA Board of Directors’ Summer Meeting to Begin on July 22 Reinstatement of The Line Forums Positive Rate Episode 26: Strategic Planning Committee APA Medical Minute — More About Calcium Score Cardiac Testing “That’s a Cornfield or the Hudson River” Compass Project Committee: Join Us for YOUnion 301 on July 17 Family Awareness Committee: Retiring Pilots Honored Via Fini Flight Hotel Committee: Incidentals Charges Aeromedical Committee: What Are Geomagnetic Storms? Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Classes Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars We Can’t Wait to See You at Oshkosh Photo by Nate Burrows EAA AirVenture Oshkosh , the world’s largest aviation gathering, will commence in less than two weeks. APA’s Family Awareness Committee will host gatherings each evening, July 22-27. If you plan to attend any of these dinners or happy hours, please let us know via the RSVP links at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar . Are you an APA member (current or retired) flying into Oshkosh this year? We’d love to showcase your plane on our social media. Please send pictures to socialmedia@alliedpilots.org . The 1940 Super Stearman “Big Red” pictured above is owned and flown by CA Susan Dacy (retired). This highly modified Stearman will be featured in the airshow throughout the week. The 1956 CallAir A-2 pictured below, piloted by FO Shay Marchetti, was featured in the January/February 2024 issue of EAA’s Vintage Airplane . During Oshkosh, it will be parked in the Vintage area. Photo by Connor Madison Anybody who has frequented our hospitality areas at Oshkosh or Sun ’n Fun for the past several years will recognize Claire Knutson, daughter of CA Tim Knutson. Last year, she flew the family N3N into Oshkosh and was subsequently featured as part of the Warbirds in Review program. You can watch that interview here . APA Board of Directors’ Summer Meeting to Begin on July 22 The APA Board of Directors will convene at union headquarters in Fort Worth for its regularly scheduled summer meeting on July 22. You may review the agenda here . The agenda includes a Membership and Guest Hour on the first day. Policy stipulates that “Any APA member(s) in good standing or, with the consent of the Board, a guest of a member shall be allowed to address the Board. Allocation of time will be 60 minutes divided by the number of members/guests desiring to speak; however, no individual will be afforded more than 10 minutes, including any questions/ answers by the Board. Members and guests must advise the meeting Chair of their desire to address the Board.” Please email asmith@alliedpilots.org if you wish to address the Board. The following resolutions have been submitted for consideration at this meeting: R2024-05 Rev 2 , “Negotiating Committee Communications” R2024-07 , “National Officer Elections” R2024-20 , “Election Withdrawals” R2024-28 , “Board Packets” R2024-29 , “Amendments via Resolution” R2024-30 , “Resolution of Expectation” R2024-31 , “Contract Compliance Database” R2024-32 , “CAPA Standing Committee” R2024-33 , “Board Meeting Recordings” R2024-34 , “Amendment to Merger/Affiliation Vote” R2024-35 Rev 1 , “ALPA Merger Referendum Vote” R2024-36 , “The Line Forums (2024) PM and AUP” Reinstatement of The Line Forums This an updated version of a message that the APA Communications Committee sent to all members on Tuesday. This morning, APA President CA Ed Sicher directed the reinstatement of a limited version of The Line forums on a trial basis. At this time, members can access the following subforums: The Help Desk (Contract/CBA Q box-sizing: border-box;">Participation on The Line remains subject to the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) as adopted by the APA Board of Directors. In accordance with the AUP, posts that do not pertain to the aforementioned subforums or otherwise violate the AUP will be removed. These select subforums are available for educational and training purposes for active pilots. Participants do not have “First Amendment” protections in their use of The Line, and all participants are subject to the reasonable rules for use as set forth in the AUP. Participants who violate the terms of the AUP remain subject to suspension or permanent ban from The Line. As noted, reinstatement of these limited subforums is on a trial basis. During its upcoming regularly scheduled summer meeting, the Board of Directors will likely deliberate on The Line’s future and potential changes to related policy. Positive Rate Episode 26: Strategic Planning Committee In the latest episode of our “ Positive Rate ” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Strategic Planning Committee Chair FO Scott Yancy, who details how the committee’s planning efforts have centered around eliminating silos and encouraging greater collaboration among the elected leadership, committees, and staff. He encourages all members to engage with APA and notes that engagement can be as simple as voting in all elections and membership referendums. He also cites volunteering for the National Communications Network as a simple path to union service. NCN volunteers meet face to face with pilots in airports around the system to collect member feedback. Each episode of “Positive Rate” features various APA leaders and the subject-matter experts working on the membership’s behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify – you can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts . We welcome your feedback on this format. If you have a question or a comment, please send it to Communications Director Gregg Overman via goverman@alliedpilots.org. APA Medical Minute — More About Calcium Score Cardiac Testing In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute , APA Medical Advisor Kathy Parr addresses what happens after you complete the cardiac calcium score testing procedure and have been provided with a number. “That’s a Cornfield or the Hudson River” CA Dennis Tajer showed his pack of Post-it notes to CBS News’ Kris Van Cleave Hours before its deal with the Justice Department was announced , Boeing was the topic of the lead story on this week’s edition of CBS Sunday Morning . APA spokesman CA Dennis Tajer told senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave that he’s “more ready than I’ve ever been” to fly the company’s planes. “I have absolutely no hesitation in flying the aircraft based on what I know about it,” he said. “The unnerving part – particularly on the MAX – is that I don’t know what you put on it that you decided not to tell me.” Last month, CA Tajer was also featured in a 60 Minutes Australia report on the issues surrounding Boeing. In both interviews, he highlighted an FAA airworthiness directive that references “off-airport” landings. “What the heck does that mean? That’s a cornfield or the Hudson River.” Join Us for YOUnion 301 on July 17 This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres will host a “YOUnion 301” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on July 17. This “Captains’ Development Seminar” is intended to help new captains and soon-to-be captains understand their authorities, APA support, and safety trends within our airline. Click here to register for the July 17 meeting . Retiring Pilots Honored Via Fini Flight This is an updated message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. CA Tom Force was honored on June 5 at DFW. Fini Flight is an APA program designed to honor our retiring members. If a pilot chooses to participate, we meet them at the gate after (or sometimes before) their final flight as an American Airlines pilot. We include friends and family, play some music, bring a cake (or donuts), and make their last flight memorable! You can see more photos from our June celebrations on Facebook . For more information on how to get involved, as an honoree or as a volunteer, email finiflight@alliedpilots.org . Incidentals Charges This is an updated message from the APA Hotel Committee. This is a reminder to please remember to pay all incidentals you have charged to your room before you depart the hotel. Every month, the AA Hotel Contracts team has to contact crew members through their base Flight Offices to remind them to pay their incidentals. Additionally, these oversights can sour a relationship between a good hotel and the company. A good practice is to never charge to your room unless you already have a credit card on file, and make sure you have no unpaid charges at checkout. We have also seen an uptick in pilots being charged for their room at non-contracted hotels when they put their credit card on file for incidentals. We recommend that you ask for a zeroed-out bill before you depart any hotel if you choose to put a card on file. As a reminder, you should never be required to place a credit card on file by a hotel. If a hotel says they require you to do so, and you do not plan to put incidental charges on the room, please reach out to the Hotel-Limo Desk for resolution. For more information, check out the recently updated QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future. What Are Geomagnetic Storms? This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee. Illustration courtesy of NASA A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance in the Earth’s magnetosphere. These are typically due to solar winds, solar flare, or coronal mass ejections. Some impacts to aviation include reduced GPS fidelty (RNP and well as en route GNSS signal), HF radio loss, and/or increased radiation dosage. For more information, please refer to the Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee’s webpage . If you have questions, please send to cmte-occupationalhealth@alliedpilots.org . Pigs of the Week APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations. In the last month, the weather radar on B737 aircraft 3GJ has been written up 16 times and out of service 11 times. On July 12, with the radar on MEL, it operated an in-service reposition ferry to a main maintenance base, where it remains out of service and restricted to Class 1 and 2 maintenance stations. APA Welcomes Leadership Classes This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. On July 3, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Keith Allison, Kenneth Bach, Wayne Benson, Tibor Farkas, Stephen Farlow, Kendall Grimmonpre, Christopher Henshall, Brian Horeczko, Edward Kelley, Arno Knapen, Jesse Lea, Matthew Morehouse, Som Chai Odom, Jennifer Palmer, Francisco Razo, Victor Stoeckmann, Marc Werner, and Ian Whitcomb. On July 10, the committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for the PLM class: Zachary Balas, Richard Blagg Jr., Frank Botti, Brad Carstens, Ahmed Fakih, Rudy Foskuhl, Louis Lagro, Robert Mcnamara, Juan Melendez Millan, Michael Redmon Jr., Casey Ronayne, Adam Shepherd, Shad Vinson, and Elisha Walker. Domicile Events Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events: BOS: Town Hall Meeting with LGA and PHL on July 23 ; Boston Red Sox game on Aug. 23 CLT: Carowinds Family Day on Aug. 9 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 21 DFW: Texas Rangers game on Aug. 6 ; Retirement Party on Nov. 9 LAX: San Diego Lunch on July 9 ; Thousand Oaks Lunch on July 10 ; Dana Point Lunch on July 11 ; Temecula Lunch on July 17 LGA: Town Hall Meeting with BOS and PHL on July 23 ; New York Mets game on Sept. 2 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 26 MIA: Contract Compliance Training on July 11 ; IMAX Training on Aug. 29 ; Retirement Party on Sept. 14 PHL: Town Hall Meeting with BOS and LGA on July 23 ; Retirement Party on Oct. 19 Domicile Elections Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent each domicile for three-year terms that will begin on Nov. 1. The following pilots have been submitted for nomination and have indicated a willingness to serve if elected: CLT Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Erik DeWinne CA Casey Granger FO Hickory Ham CLT Vice Chair CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger CA Casey Granger FO Hickory Ham CA Michael Pfeifer FO Tammy Smart LGA Chair CA Lawrence Cutler CA David Hines CA Mark Lokey CA Jeff Kerr LGA Vice Chair CA David Hines CA Jeff Kerr CA Michael Phelan CA Sam Pool CA James Scanlan CA Robert D. White MIA Chair CA Thomas Copeland CA Andrew Weingram CA Jay Wilhelm MIA Vice Chair CA Scott Craig FO James Funderburk FO Steven Mann CA Ken Wells CA Anne Witcher The candidates’ resumes will be emailed (and posted on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org) on Aug. 6. When there are four or more candidates for a domicile position, the APA Constitution and Bylaws calls for a Nomination Round that winnows the field to three. The Nomination Round voting period will be open from 0100 Eastern on Aug. 7 until 0101 Eastern on Aug. 29. The deadline for receipt of mailed paper ballots is 1100 Eastern on Aug. 29. For more information, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org. Week in Review Here are some recent messages you may have missed. Benefits Department: PMA and SMP Special Open Enrollment  Communications Committee: Pencil Whipping Pilots is Not Leadership Military Affairs Committee: Military Affairs Town Hall  President: The Value of Independence and Self-Government Press Release: “A Course Change is Past Due” Secretary-Treasurer: Four-Month Dues Holiday Scheduling Committee: Changes to December Vacancy Award Scheduling Committee: TTS Heat Map Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (0) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (3) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (7) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Scheduling Committee (4) Training Committee (5) Checkmate (1 on 777) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Do committee volunteers receive any kind of training? New committee volunteers receive an extensive two-day training course that includes more than 16 hours of classroom instruction. The training includes modules such as Conflict Resolution, Mediation, Mentoring, Pilot Personality, Generational Issues Affecting Cockpit Performance, Resources, and Communication Skills. Committee members also receive instruction on the Professional Standards process, the APA Policy Manual, and the importance of confidentiality. These concepts are reinforced through multiple role-play scenarios. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Are you a pilot for American Airlines, at least age 50, active or retired? Please join The Grey Eagles for food, fun, and fellowship. We offer cruises, conventions, monthly luncheons, retirement dinners, professional mentoring, and assistance to surviving spouses – all for a one-time lifetime fee. Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

PMA and SMP Special Open Enrollment

PMA and SMP Special Open Enrollment for Active Pilots and Eligible Dependents Aug. 1-15 will be a special open enrollment period for two of APA’s benefits plans, Pilot Mutual Aid (PMA) and the Supplemental Medical Plan (SMP). For more information, please review the FAQs for each plan: Pilot Mutual Aid FAQs Supplemental Medical Plan FAQs Register for a Zoom meeting: If you want more information beyond what’s in the FAQs, consider attending a Zoom meeting. You are welcome to register for multiple meetings, but each one will include the same information. 1000 Central on July 10 – Click here to register . 1400 Central on July 10 – Click here to register . 1200 Central on July 16 – Click here to register . 1100 Central on July 18 – Click here to register . 1500 Central on July 18 – Click here to register . 1400 Central on July 24 – Click here to register . Where to enroll: Click here to access the Benefit Elect enrollment portal . Your Benefit Elect username is your employee ID number. If you do not remember your Benefit Elect password, click the portal’s “Log In Instructions” link. Any questions? Contact the APA Benefits Department at benefits.sec@alliedpilots.org .
Public News Benefits

“A Course Change is Past Due”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-312-3901 Allied Pilots Association: “A Course Change is Past Due” FORT WORTH, Texas (July 1, 2024) — In a June 30 negotiations update, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) indicated that talks were continuing between the union and American Airlines management at the offices of the National Mediation Board (NMB) in Washington, D.C. The APFA represents the 27,000 flight attendants of American Airlines. “On behalf of the 16,000 American Airlines pilots the Allied Pilots Association represents, I want our fellow union members at the APFA to know that APA wholeheartedly supports their efforts to secure a fair contract,” said APA President CA Ed Sicher. “We know from firsthand experience in our own protracted Section 6 negotiations that management intransigence is the culprit for the predicament American Airlines now finds itself in during the peak summer travel period. “We urge management to consider carefully how they choose to respond. Unfortunately, we are not especially optimistic they will choose the correct course. Management’s handling — or more precisely, mishandling — of negotiations with the APFA is yet another example of what we view as a concerning trend at American Airlines,” CA Sicher said. “From management’s myopic focus on short-haul domestic travel at the expense of lucrative long-haul international travel, to alienating key corporate clients, to turmoil in the senior management ranks, it is clear to us that a course change is past due. “If the NMB declares a 30-day cooling-off period and starts the clock on a potential flight attendant strike, it would have an adverse impact on the airline’s bottom line as passengers take their business elsewhere to avoid the risk of disruption in their travel plans — and a strike would be tremendously costly,” he said. “A negotiated solution is always the preferred outcome in Section 6, and we urge management to rethink its approach to bargaining with the APFA before it’s too late.” Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association — the largest independent pilots union in the United States — has its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s website is AlliedPilots.org.
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