APA News Digest

May 24, 2024

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In This Edition ...

APA Responds to Management’s Violation of 19.C.1

On Wednesday, American Airlines management issued new guidance for weight-restricted flights allowing a Captain to coordinate with dispatch to consider taxi fuel burn in order to accommodate cabin jumpseat occupants as well as flight deck jumpseat occupants.

In a membership update issued shortly thereafter, your APA leadership emphasized that this guidance is not compliant with Section 19.C.1 of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, advising Captains to continue to follow the language in Section 19.C.1 to accommodate a flight deck jumnpseat occupant on a weight-restricted flight. In its follow-up message, the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee providing this new checklist for Captains with a weight-restricted TPS:

  1. Upon initial check-in, advise gate agent to ensure all jumpseat eligible pilots are listed and checked in for the flight.
  2. Advise dispatch, “I am able to accommodate Flight Deck Jumpseat occupant(s).”
  3. Advise gate agent, either in person or using jetbridge phone, how many jumpseaters may be accommodated as soon as possible during the boarding process, and to board them at 15 minutes prior to departure. Inform gate agents that you cannot arrange to burn taxi fuel to accommodate any cabin jumpseat occupants. In no case should a cabin jumpseat occupant be accommodated by 19.C.1 provisions or procedures.
  4. If the adjustment to the weight restriction is used to issue “X” (cabin jumpseat) instead of all “W” (flight deck jumpseat, including FDJ AA, FDJ AE and D6UJ) occupants, APA directs Captains to advise dispatch and gate agent, “I am not able to accommodate cabin jumpseaters using the applicable taxi fuel provisions. These contractual provisions only apply to accommodation of flight deck jumpseaters. I am able to accommodate the flight deck jumpseater(s).”
  5. As with all flights, whenever possible at D-20, “take the walk” to ensure any jumpseaters will be accommodated. Priority for flight deck jumpseat occupants will be per FOM table 3s.5, and D1W/D2W, in JRS list order, will be accommodated before FDJ AA D1/D2, FDJ AE (after all FDJ AA) and OAL CASS approved D6, who will be accommodated in priority list order.

APA President CA Ed Sicher promptly filed a Presidential Grievance and in a subsequent message to the membership, he advised Captains to “remember you are in control of your jets. Wheels don’t turn until you say so, and jumpseaters don’t board unless you permit them. Don’t mission-hack or let your desire to keep the operation moving allow management to chip away at our hard-fought gains. We have a contract. We can only demand that management honor that contract if we stand firm in honoring it as well. Showing unity and resolve towards this blatant disregard for our contract will ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

Positive Rate Episode 24: Professional Standards Committee

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Pat McGinn, who chairs the Professional Standards Committee. CA McGinn details how his committee promotes the highest levels of professionalism, undertakes conflict resolution with every organized work group our pilots interact with while performing their duties, and what to expect when you contact Professional Standards.

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 – VA Disability Benefits

In the first edition of our new APA Medical Minute video series, APA Medical Advisor Tina Smith discusses VA disability benefits. If you have any awards that raise concerns, Ms. Smith encourages you to contact the Medical Advisors so they can guide you appropriately based on your individual situation.

Meet Dr. Ed Miles, APA Pilot Assistance Manager

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so it’s a good opportunity to remind APA members that we provide direct, 24/7 access to our very own on-staff mental health professional, Dr. Ed Miles.

Wolfe Research Hosts APA President at Conference

APA President CA Ed Sicher had another opportunity to speak to investors this week during Wolfe Research’s annual Global Transportation & Industrials Conference in New York. He appeared on a panel along with SWAPA President CA Casey Murray and CA Brian Noyes, Vice Chair of the United MEC at ALPA. As he did during a similar Bank of America conference last week, CA Sicher addressed issues regarding pilot efficiency and the impact of scheduling flexibility/trip trading, reserve staffing, trip length proportionality, and safety.

In response to analysts’ questions regarding American’s industry-trailing margins, along with management’s latest network plan to bolster domestic and short-haul international flying while leaving long-haul international growth to Delta and United, CA Sicher had this to say: “Like investors, we’re not impressed.”

Project Wingman – Here For You

This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee’s Project Wingman Subcommittee.

Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportune time to showcase Project Wingman and its support team of more than 50 volunteers. Click here to learn about the inner workings of Project Wingman and review answers to some of the commonly asked questions about what they do.

Jumpseat/Deadhead/Non-Revenue Travel Debrief: One Form, Three Purposes

This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee.

In an ongoing effort to increase efficiency, we’re consolidating the jumpseat and deadhead debriefs into a single form and incorporating a non-revenue travel option. To submit a debrief, simply select “Debrief” in the APA Pilot app or “File a Report/Debrief” on AlliedPilots.org and follow the usual procedure. With our updated format, you can now attach files such as screenshots and photos to aid in issue diagnosis and resolution.

Your debriefs are invaluable in our mission to enhance the jumpseat, deadhead, and non-revenue travel experience. Thank you for your continued support and feedback.

APA Contract Minute – Sit Time

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

CA Jason Saxer is back with a new edition of the APA Contract Minute. This time around, CA Saxer details the sit time provision in our contract.

Relocations for CDG Olympic Games

This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee.

Last year, American Airlines began to work on relocation plans in Paris due to this year’s Summer Olympics. The CDG station and transportation company estimated that drive times in and out of the city will be around three hours due to the sheer number of visitors, the associated traffic, and the fact that the city will reserve a lane for Olympic support vehicles. Due to the excessive drive times, the decision was made to keep crews at airport properties for much of the summer.

To secure rooms, management and unions conducted site reviews in March of 2023 to determine suitable options. American contracted with three airport properties for the relocation: Marriot, Hilton, and Sheraton.

Originally, the relocation time was set at two and a half months due to both the Olympic Games and the ensuing Paralympic Games. After discussion, management agreed to reduce the relocation dates to July 7 through Sept. 8. Please take this into consideration as you bid for July, August, and September.

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 April 25, B737 aircraft 3PT has been written up and out of service seven times and has been on MEL three times for cabin pressurization fluctuations. 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 May 21: Jonathan Amundsen, Michael Campbell, Adam Chamberlin, Lucas Chowning, Justin Clement, Christopher Corbeille, Kyle DeFeo, Alberto Dias De Oliveira, Blake Dorcey, Robert Dunnavant, Ryan Foley, Diego Galan Giraldo, Michael Gilmore, David Goodhue, Ryan Hagen, Austin Hartz, Christopher Hobson, Terry Hoffman, Faisal Husein, Jeremy Kim, Christopher Kiraly, Joel Kraus, Loren LeGrand, Scott Loid, Nolan Lynn, Justin Allen Macedo, Zachary Massey, Judy Maxwell, Ryan McAvinue, James McClung, John McGarry, Matthew McKinlay, William Murphy, Zachary Niederer, Joshua Park, Andrew Quiel, Thomas Rose Jr., Corey Smith, Blake Tutewohl, Nicholas Valdiri, Steven Wilson, and Chaldon Wooge.

APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

On May 22, 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: Willie Carter, Todd Christensen, Kristopher D’Erasmo, Todd Ellis, Alexis Erochenko Rey, Ryan Falconer, Derek Felton, Kevin Griffin Jr., William Hoagland, John Kehlenbeck, Benjamin Kumpf, Kevin Laster, Daniel Lovelace, Jason Lower, Aaron Martinelli, John McHugh, Zachary Moore, Jason Osgood, Shaun Permann, Casie Ross, Robert Slatton, David Srnka, James Wasef, and Matthew Wise.

APA Holiday Schedule

APA headquarters, including Contract Administration, will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Contract Administration will be open from 0700 to 1900 Central on Saturday and Sunday.

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

LGA pilots and their guests gathered at Refinery Rooftop in Manhattan on Saturday.

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

  • DCA: Retirement Party on June 29
  • DFW: Domicile Meeting on June 18; Texas Rangers game on Aug. 6; Retirement Party on Nov. 9
  • LAX: San Diego lunch on June 11; Thousand Oaks lunch on June 12; Dana Point lunch on June 13
  • LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2; Retirement Party on Oct. 26
  • MIA: Domicile Meeting on June 18; Retirement Party on Sept. 14
  • ORD: Galt Airport Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast on May 25
  • PHL: Philadelphia Phillies game on June 18; Retirement Party on Oct. 19

Also, save the date for these upcoming commuter events, details to follow soon:

Week in Review

Here are some recent messages you may have missed.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 (2)
    • Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2)
    • Project Wingman Subcommittee (3)
  • Captain’s Authority Committee (3)
  • Communications Committee (0)
    • National Communications Network (7)
  • Flight Time/Duty Time Committee (1)
  • Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1)
  • Professional Standards Committee (1)
  • Scheduling Committee (6)
  • 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 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 & Active Pilot Advisors’ next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for June 14 at JFK followed by July 12 at CLT. 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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