APA News Digest

Nov. 22, 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 Holiday Schedule: Support Remains Available 24/7

APA headquarters, including Contract Administration, will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29, in observance of Thanksgiving. Contract Administration will be open as normal from 0700 to 1900 Central on Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1. The next edition of the APA News Digest will be published on Dec. 6.

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.

APA President on Domicile Meeting Agendas

a group of pilots in a lobby

APA President FO Nick Silva spoke at the CLT Domicile’s meeting on Oct. 30.

APA President FO Nick Silva will participate in these in-person domicile meetings scheduled for December:

  • DFW: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1000-1400, Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main St., Grapevine, TX 76051
  • ORD: Thursday, Dec. 5, 1000-1400, Carlucci Rosemont, 611 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018
  • PHX: Friday, Dec. 6, 1300-1700, Social Hall, 715 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281
  • DCA: Friday, Dec. 13, 1500-1630, Marriott Tysons Corner, 8028 Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner, VA 22182

If you’re planning to attend one of these meetings, RSVP by clicking the corresponding link above.

Domicile Events

a group of pilots in a lobby

The 2023 edition of the ORD Holiday Party drew quite a festive crowd.

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

Overage and Pop-Up Market Hotels for December

This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee.

We are happy to report that the number of overage hotels and pop-up markets is down for the month of December. Here are the hotels that will be utilized for such situations next month:

  • DGO: Hampton Inn by Hilton Durango
  • FLL: Courtyard Marriott FLL Airport
  • LBB: Overton
  • MLM: Fiesta Inn
  • OAX: Grand Fiesta Americana Oaxaca
  • ONT: Double Tree by Hilton Ontario Airport
  • SDF: Brown Hotel
  • SVD: Blue Lagoon Hotel and Marina
  • UVF: Marigot Bay

If you are scheduled to stay at one of these properties, we recommend you review our article about non-contracted hotels.

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.

LIT Leader Recognized at FAA Conference

This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee.

FO Nick Peterson, the Safety Committee Deputy Chair who oversees our Learning and Improvement Team (LIT), received the Leading Edge award during the FAA’s Aviation Safety InfoShare conference last week. He is pictured with Kimberly Pyle, Executive Director of the FAA’s Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention, and Jake Zelman, a Southwest Airlines dispatch operations manager who chaired the InfoShare conference.

FO Peterson helped form LIT in 2019. It has since grown to be not only an industry-leading safety program but one with international recognition. LIT has served as a critical component to our safety management system through data collection via flight deck observations, one-on-one pilot interviews, and base learning teams.

Congratulations to FO Peterson and APA’s LIT for such a great accomplishment!

Positive Rate Episode 36: Scope Committee

In the latest episode of APA’s “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Scope Committee Chair CA Val Jester about that committee’s role in ensuring compliance with Section 1 of our collective bargaining agreement.

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.

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.

How Doctors Think

How Doctors Think is a window into the mind of the physician and an insightful examination of the all-important relationship between doctors and their patients. In this myth-shattering work, Jerome Groopman explores the forces and thought processes behind the decisions doctors make. He pinpoints why doctors succeed and why they err. Most importantly, Groopman shows when and how doctors can – with our help – avoid snap judgments, embrace uncertainty, communicate effectively, and deploy other skills that can profoundly impact our health.

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.

Retirees in September and October

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

We would like to recognize and congratulate these pilots who retired in September and October.

BOS: CA James Dubela, CA Karen Fontaine, CA Robert Macentee, CA Michael McLaughlin, and CA Glenn Peterson

CLT: CA Michael Downs, CA Billy Erwin, FO David Ferrell, CA Samuel Kademenos, CA Timothy Kelley, CA James Kiedrowski, CA Timothy Kirby, CA Demetrios Kleoudis, CA Stefan Kristen, CA Michael Martin, CA David Patrick, FO James Rinaldi, CA Lance Skeim, and CA Ronald Wilson

DCA: CA Kelly Brown, CA John Ewing, and CA Randall Hall

DFW: FO Theodore Bale, CA Daniel Ball, FO Donald Beiler, CA Joseph Belsher, CA David Broeder, CA Robert Brown, FO Ronald Brown, FO John Bury, CA Michael Clark, CA Brian Copeland, CA Randy DeOreo, FO Craig Donahue, CA Dennis Dudley, CA Mark Ebert, CA David Ehrenberg, FO Gregory Ferguson, CA John Fossett, FO Michael Fyfe, CA Douglas Geddes, FO Kenneth Groth, CA Rand Harris, CA James Hay, FO Mark Hearne, CA Craig Hedgecock, CA John Holmes, FO Richard Holt, CA Neil Huddle, CA Curtis Joens, CA Eric Johnson, CA Mike Jones, CA Philip Jones, CA Robert Kuegemann, FO Michael Leonard, CA Perry Lindsay, CA William McAfee, CA Thomas Mitchell, CA Michael Morrenzin, CA George Oakes, CA William Peterson, FO Robert Popp, CA Jeffrey Roberson, CA Philip Rothwell, CA Richard Sanders, CA Len Shorethose, CA Wesley Shults, CA John Stevenson, CA Phillip Stromer, and CA Charles Young

LAX: FO Brian Bowman, FO Michael Busse, FO Daniel Darroch, FO Richard Grimsley, FO Larry Lorenz, CA Antonio Lozano, CA Steven Maksymowski, CA Brian Niemi, CA Tom Page, CA Richard Perkins, CA Scott Schwartz, CA John Shetron, CA Slobodan Sipovac, CA Michael Spasiano, CA Bob Tobin, CA Jon Vasenden, and FO Bradley Young

LGA: CA Robert Bolton, CA Todd Boyle, CA Peter Gamble, FO Phil Guzinski, CA Ronald Jamison, FO Donald Kitchen, Ray Kozlowski, CA Barry Martin, CA Douglas McCain, CA James Strausser, FO Charles Suffridge, and CA Irwin Wenzel

MIA: FO Paul Bates, CA Frank Concepcion, CA Edgardo Cruz, CA Terrence Deitz, CA Victoria Doyle, CA John Eastman, CA Sergio Fernandez, CA Robert Frear, FO Thomas Golly, CA James Hall, CA Lawrence Hurd, CA Kirk Lyon, CA Nicholas Savona, CA Luis Siero, CA R.J. Spencer, CA James Stever, CA Sean Thompson, CA Alex True, and CA John Whitten

ORD: FO Richard Bennett, CA Guy Blessing, CA Curtis Brake, FO Jamie Gambrell, CA Eric Hawker, FO Roger Jett, CA Stephen Kammerer, CA Julia Kohler, CA Jerry O'Brien, CA Bruce Stocco, CA Jeffrey Tompkins, CA Jeanne Trigo, CA Kevin Wagner, CA Robert Woodard, and FO James Woodke

PHL: FO Charles Ackley, CA David Evans, CA Raymond Fitzsimons, CA Robert Hayhurst, CA Randy Hoffman, FO Constantine Kleissas, FO Bradley Larsen, CA Christopher Mager, CA Daniel Miller, FO Stephen Robinson, and CA Frederick Swingle

PHX: CA Steven Bogoshian, CA Spencer Kaskel, and CA Jean LeBlanc

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. 20, 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: John Baker, Sven Bertelsen, Bryan Brearley, Brian Brown, Christopher Buckler, Fernando Contreras, Ian Cutting, Ramon Del Valle Collazo, James Frissell, Eleodoro Garza Jr., Cory Havens, Jonathan Hope, Kevin Hoppin, Jason Isreal, Alberto Jimenez, Zac Johnson, Arash Khezri, Norton Kripka, Sinclair Lagergren, John Lawson, Michael McClay Jr., Douglas McEnerney, Austen Mersereau, Gabriel Molina, Benjamin Pendergrass, Manuel Perales, Rachel Rea, Robert Riggs, Daniela Ruiz Miranda, John Shanaberg, Christopher Smoak, Bradford Soones, Andrew Steele, Brian Storck, Boma Tamuno, and Anand Vaswani.

APA Contract Minute – Clearing Sick Via ECS

In the latest APA Contract Minute, Contract Compliance Committee Chair CA Jason Saxer answers a frequently asked question from Reserve pilots regarding clearing sick via ECS.

APA Medical Minute – Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute, APA Medical Advisor Cassie Bien discusses insulin-dependent diabetes, which involves close monitoring by the FAA and requires pilots to hold a Special Issuance.

You can watch previous Medical Minute videos on APA’s YouTube channel.

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 long are terms for committee members?
There is no set term. Due to the length of time it takes to train and release a volunteer to handle cases individually, we encourage a minimum one-year commitment. The current volunteer longevity average is seven years; some have been volunteering for more than 25 years.

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, plus BNA and STL. 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

The Future & Active Pilot Alliance’s next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for Dec. 13 at FLL. 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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