APA News Digest

Feb. 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 ...

Make Plans to Join Us at Sun ’n Fun

This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee.

CA Tim Dick, FO Natalie Anagnostou, FO Tim Jackson, CA Jerry Gemma, and FO Melissa Monahan

The Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo, the biggest and best airshow in the southeastern United States, is coming up in April. We plan to serve two lunches and two dinners in our air-conditioned flightline chalet with private restrooms. Please bring your family!

Besides the food and fellowship, there will be significant information passed along. You can expect to break bread with APA’s elected officials as well as volunteers from national committees.

As you make plans to join us in Lakeland, Fla., please RSVP for each meal separately so we can be sure to order enough food.

Meanwhile, don’t forget about the Swamp Cabbage Fly-In, which will be held from 0900 to 1600 Eastern on Feb. 24 at X14, the airport in LaBelle, Fla., in conjunction with the annual LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival. The fly-in, which was organized by APA pilots, will feature static displays of warbird and vintage aircraft, food/beverages, and guests from Miami Air Traffic Control. This is a great event for the whole family! If you have questions, send them to swampcabbageflyin@gmail.com.

YOUnion 101 on Feb. 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 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

YOUnion 101 is intended to be a “top off” for new hires, to explain the many services APA offers as well as opportunities to become involved in the union.

  • 1100 Central on Tuesday, Feb. 13
  • These Zoom meetings are intended for new pilots, but they include information that benefits all members.
  • The information is presented by subject matter experts from several national committees.

Click here to register for the Feb. 13 meeting.

Next Contract Training Set for March 6-7

This is a repeated message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee.

The Contract Compliance Committee wants to do everything we can to ensure that all APA members are well acquainted with the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Join us on March 7 in PHL for a full day of training on the new CBA. This training will be conducted in hybrid fashion, with members welcome to participate in person or virtually via Zoom. It will be preceded by a four-hour IMAX session on March 6 with no Zoom component.

Please take a few moments before the training to familiarize yourself with the Electronic Document Index. You must be logged in to AlliedPilots.org for the links to be accessible. This Index connects you to a vast array of APA documents that we will reference. It is equally useful in the daily operation as a line pilot, so we recommend you retain the Index for future reference. During the training, it may be helpful to have two screens; one to run Zoom and one to reference these documents.

Help us help you! The Contract Compliance Committee’s goal is for you – the membership – to be informed, educated, and knowledgeable. Every single pilot should strive to be a contract expert or, at the very least, strive for continued learning and engagement. Knowledge is power, and it will assist you in employing and being a watchdog of your negotiated work rules.

Don’t Forget to File KCM Random Screening Reports

This is a new message from the APA Security Committee.

The Security Committee would like to remind you of the KCM Random Screening Report. This valuable tool for gathering data is available via the APA Pilot app and our committee’s page on AlliedPilots.org.

We have received a high volume of emails about KCM. Some things to remember: Pilots strongly advocated for the KCM program. Before KCM, crewmembers were subject to 100% screening. Also, the random rate is determined by TSA headquarters, not the checkpoint or the airport. You are not personally being “targeted.”

When at the KCM checkpoint, it is important that the bar code on the KCM card is scanned, as that it the only proper way the random rate is implemented and documented by TSA. If you are directed to secondary screening by a TSO without having scanned the barcode, please indicate such in the comments section of the KCM Random Screening Report.

When you scan the barcode, try to see what color is displayed on the TSO’s laptop. You may politely ask what color it is as well. If it is green, but the TSO directs you to screening, please note that in the comments section of the KCM Random Screening Report. Despite what is displayed on the TSA computer, the TSO does have discretion to direct you to secondary screening.

The KCM program will soon be taken over by TSA completely and renamed the Expedited Crew Access (ECA) program. The TSA has engaged the APA Security Committee – along with representatives from CAPA, SWAPA, IPA, ALPA, and other labor groups – in its development.

Weight Restrictions Flowchart

This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee.

The APA/AA Learning and Improvement Team (LIT) has published a flowchart that can be used as a tool for navigating weight-restricted flights. This chart incorporates suggestions and strategies shared by line pilots who routinely face weight restrictions. It is intended to help transfer that knowledge and experience to those who encounter weight-restriction scenarios less frequently. Use of this chart can aid in accommodating as many non-revenue passengers and jumpseaters as possible, as well as revenue passengers and cargo.

The chart is located in Comply365 > Publications > Fleet Type > Flight Safety Folder. It can also be found by searching for “weight restrictions flowchart” in the search anywhere bar in Comply365, and it is discussed further in the APA Compass Project Captain Strategy Guide.

Flight Attendants Need Our Support on Feb. 13

This is a repeated message from the APA Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee.

APA President CA Ed Sicher, APFA National President Julie Hedrick, and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants will conduct informational picketing at more than 30 airports on Feb. 13. This event has been billed as the Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action. If your schedule allows, please make plans to stand with them that day.

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, A321 aircraft 850 has been written up and out of service six times for the right engine number 4 bearing having high oil pressure. At the time of this writing, it was out of service at a non-AA maintenance station.
  • Since October, B737 aircraft 3HA has been written up 17 times and has been out of service 13 times for an L2 door air leak. It was recently operated under a special flight permit to a maintenance station for repairs. At the time of this writing, it remained out of service.

APA Welcomes New Pilots

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

The APA Membership Committee welcomed the following pilots during a casual dinner on Feb. 6: Kathleen Andrews, Robert Barlow, Benjamin Batey, Ramdhane Belhabchia, Craig Blitzer, Richard Bowers, Terrence Braddock, Christopher Branning, Jacqueline Cantrell, Brian Courchesne, Adam Crain, Stephen Davenport, Benjamin Denis, William Deveson, Jeremy Downs, Shane Dunn, Adam Endres, Vladimir Garcia, Jason Garner, Nicole Grenier, Paul Hale, Keith Hernandez, Zachary Huff, John Jaques III, Peter Kassing, David King, Ravi Kooma, Michael Landrum, Steven LeBlanc, Loren Marburg, Timur Mashurov, Warren Mays II, Ryan Nibbe, Edmond Niemann III, Miguel Perez Albarran, Sean Reagin, Blake Riggins, Lucas Riggins, David Schlener, Fumiya Shigematsu, Yuweng Shipek, Ryan Stack, Caleb Voss, Jason White, and Francisco Zurlo Redi.

APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

On Feb. 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: Walter Adams, Ricademus Breitwieser, Ayoub El Khoudiri, Stephanie Ericksen, Evan Gall, Justie Golay, Jeffrey Gordon, James Govin, Frederick Hill, Terry Hoeppner, Jeffrey Johnson, Adam Jolly, Franchesca Kiel, Conn McCarthy, Dorothy Norkus, Kenneth Orr II, Kristopher Prince, James Rathke, Nicklaus Richley, Paul Rutledge, Christopher Wachter, Jonathan Walker, and Thomas Wilson.

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 December and January: Bruce “Dutch” Schmidt, 75, on Feb. 2, 2022; Ken Dooley, 89, on Oct. 31, 2022; Dick Larsen, 88, on Sept. 23; Bob Smith, 96, on Oct. 3; Curt Powell, 84, on Oct. 20; Pete Dodd, 73, on Oct. 29; Lorus McElyea, 102, on Nov. 6; Ken McKibban, 77, on Nov. 7; Frank Wnek, 74, on Nov. 11; Chuck Van Cleve, 92, on Nov. 18; Harry Cousins, 89, on Nov. 20; Larry Shaw, 76, on Nov. 23; Jesse Roseberry, 73, on Nov. 25; Jack Myles, 84, on Nov. 27; Bob Mahala, 90, on Dec. 2; Ron Mayhew, 86, on Dec. 5; Gerald Raymer, 87, on Dec. 6; Larry Vihtelic, 81, on Dec. 6; Paul Heinrich, 76, on Dec. 9; Bob Newfield, 86, on Dec. 11; Earl Polenz, 75, on Dec. 12; Mike Bode, 88, on Dec. 19; Andis Luters, 62, on Dec. 22; Barry Landers, 81, on Dec. 23; Billy Branom, 91, on Dec. 24; Bob Hoch, 86, on Dec. 25; Ralph Van Kerkhove, 99, on Jan. 1; Jerry McDonald, 87, on Jan. 10.

Domicile Events

Visit AlliedPilots.org/Calendar to RSVP for any of these upcoming domicile events:

  • DFW: IMAX Training on Feb. 15; Domicile Meeting on Feb. 27
  • LAX: SAN Family Awareness Lunch on Feb. 13; Family Awareness event at Camas Airport on April 23; Family Awareness event at Boeing Museum of Flight on April 24; Family Awareness event at Rowland Freedom Center on April 25; Retirement Party on April 27
  • ORD: Concourse Conversations on March 1; Chicago Blackhawks game on March 2; Retirement Party on May 4
  • PHL: Domicile Meeting on March 6; IMAX Training on March 6; Contact Compliance Training on March 7

Week in Review

Here are several recent messages you may have missed.

Executive Director Details Changes at Headquarters

APA Executive Director Andrea Duff recently announced some changes to the staff at union headquarters:

• Administration Manager Natti Hogan will retire in May after 10 years at the helm of the Administration Department, and Benefits Manager of Group Health and Life Plans Penny Belew has been promoted to Acting Administration Manager. Ms. Belew will train with Ms. Hogan during the next few months.

• Labor Attorney Wes Meyer has been promoted to STSAP General Manager. In this newly created role, he will work closely with STSAP Director Ray Duke on issues related to Safety, Training, Security, Aeromedical, and Professional Standards.

• Amie Aronhalt has rejoined the Legal Department as a Senior Paralegal. Ms. Aronhalt was hired by APA as a Paralegal in 2011. She was subsequently the Senior Executive Assistant to the National Officers and, more recently, Document Information Administrator in the Information Technology Department.

• Senior LTD Administrator Tamara Elery has transferred from the STSAP Department to the Benefits Department. This move will consolidate pilot benefits and disability within one department and allow for close coordination and cross-training.

Are You Willing to Serve?

Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies:

  • Aeromedical Committee (2)
    • 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 (7)
  • Flight Time/Duty Time Committee (1)
  • Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1)
  • Jumpseat/Non-Rev 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.

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 & Active Pilot Advisors’ next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for March 15 at SAN followed by April 26 at ATL. 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.

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