APA News Digest

Nov. 8, 2024

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In This Edition ...

“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 & Scholarship Fund

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 & Scholarship Fund. The SDF Trust was created in 2014 prior to the National Mediation Board’s determination naming APA as the single bargaining representative for the combined pilot group following the merger between American Airlines and US Airways. The SDF Trust was created to support the interests of pre-merger legacy American Airlines pilots in the event of a seniority list integration; 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 & Scholarship Fund, bringing its total balance to more than $4.2 million.

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.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. The maximum number of JRS listings between a city pair (including co-terminals) on a given calendar day is two.
  4. 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.

a chart of figures

Source: Estimated by Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth

a chart of figures

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.

a group of pilots in a lobby

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.

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 & Active Pilot Advisors’ next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for Nov. 22 at PHX. 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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