APA News Digest

Aug. 16, 2024

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In This Edition ...

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:

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.

National Aviation Week at the 9/11 Memorial

During National Aviation Week (Aug. 19-25), the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York is inviting active and retired flight crewmembers, passenger service members, and their guests to visit for free during regular operating hours. You may reserve tickets using this link: 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 & Active Pilot Advisors’ next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for Aug. 23 at IAD followed by Sept. 20 at TPA. 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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