APA News Digest

Feb. 14, 2025

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In This Edition ...

Positive Rate Episode 43: Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Battalion Chief James Bailey of the DFW Airport Fire Department about firefighters’ priorities when responding to medical emergencies and how pilots can make first responders’ difficult jobs easier. They also discuss why all requests for water-cannon salutes cannot be accommodated.

Each episode of “Positive Rate” features APA 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.

APA Medical Minute – Injury on Duty

In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute, APA Medical Advisors Manager Marsha Reekie explains what you need to know if you sustain an injury on duty.

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

We’ve Compiled Frequently Used Forms

This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee.

Our volunteers at the Compass Project frequently answer questions regarding how to find information on jury duty, passport renewals, and meal reimbursement, among others. To help answer some of these questions, and point our pilots in the right direction, we have created a new guide titled “Frequently Used Forms.”

This new guide is a summary of some of the most frequently used and asked about forms that pilots use. There is a description of the form, where to find it, and additional information with links to other resources to help the pilot fill out and submit the form as well as get most questions answered. Visit the Compass Project webpage and navigate to the “Pilot and Personal” section to find this new document.

You could also use our search feature, Papyrus. It is easily accessible through the APA Pilot app in your mobile device. To find this or any other guide, type a few keywords of the subject you are searching for in the search box; documents containing those keywords will soon be at your fingertips. With the integrated auto-synchronization, Papyrus ensures that you always have the most up-to-date documents. And all Papyrus content is available offline! We encourage you to take advantage of this great resource.

If you would like to learn more about the different resources available to you, visit the Compass Project webpage. Please contact our volunteers via email compassproject@alliedpilots.org or call 817-302-2401 with any questions you may have.

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.

Use ECS for Hotel/Limo Needs

This is an updated message from the APA Hotel Committee.

With the potential for IROPs over the next week, please remember the Electronic Communication System (ECS) provides a tool for pilots to reach the Hotel/Limo Desk without waiting on hold. By pressing the blue “Contact AA” button and selecting the “Hotel/Limo” option at the bottom of the menu, you can send the Hotel/Limo Desk notification of a problem such as no assigned hotel and/or limo. You also can inform them that your transportation is late or request a day room.

If you would like to speak with a Hotel/Limo agent about a more complicated issue, there is a feature that puts you in the queue for a call back, versus having to wait on hold. Most options will ask for flight number, station, and how many people on your crew require assistance. Only one member from the crew needs to complete the request. We do not recommend you or members of your crew make an ECS request and call the desk simultaneously. You will receive an acknowledgement message and a message that the action is complete in the “All Messages” function of the ECS app. If you have requested a call back, it will come from the AA VIP Crew Line, which is the same phone number that Crew Scheduling and Crew Tracking use when they call pilots.

If you have any issues related to ECS and the Hotel/Limo Desk, please submit a Hotel Debrief so we can address with the company.

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.

APA Holiday Schedule

APA headquarters, including Contract Administration, will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17, in observance of Presidents 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.

Delta Profit Sharing 2024

Today, Delta paid out its 2024 profit sharing to employees. The Delta press release provided the following details:

  • “Delta employees will receive $1.4 billion as their share of the airline’s 2024 profits, a timely reminder that our people are fundamental to our culture as Delta celebrates its centennial anniversary.” 
  • “On the company’s Profit Sharing Day – aptly falling on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day – eligible employees across Delta will receive an estimated payout of 10% of their eligible earnings, representing an average five weeks in additional pay.” 

In his Jan. 23 message to the membership, APA President FO Nick Silva highlighted the disparity between Delta’s profit-sharing program and American’s.

The following is a comparison of disclosed 2024 pilot profit-sharing percentages:

APA Welcomes New Pilots

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 Feb. 11, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following new-hire pilots: Daniel Atkins, Jennifer Barber, Ismail Benhyaddouch, Harold Black Jr., Nathan Burt, Ernesto Camaraza Alfaro, Anthony Cassino, Jeffrey Chang, Kevin Cheng, Marcus Cooper, Joel Furr, Pablo Garcia Mangino, Joseph Gemma III, Ryan Handwerk, Julie Harding, Joseph Hazlett, Sean Hoang, Gareth Huffington May, Mark Huntoon, Coy Incaprera, Ethan Jarrell, Gregory Kigar, Trevin King, Brenden Kung, Alejandro Mendoza, Bradley Miles, Will Morgan, Shawn Niessner, Steven Nieto, Raj Patel, Derek Price, Danie Saaiman, Solar Schultze, Matthew Stafford, Scott Sulich, Clyde Vickery Jr., Robert Walker, Brett Walter, Dalton Wilson, and Seth Wilson.

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 Feb. 12, 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: James Achord, Dean Avary, Paul Barrett, Peter Bendzlowicz III, Calvin Fought III, Ryan Frost, Timothy Grote, Jahn King, Steven Lipstraw, Jessica Montiel, Joao Pereira, Jenna Pitcher, Katja Selchow, Ameer Siddiqui, Harkeerat Singh, Michael Spytkowski, Shawn Towne, and Andrew Volk.

Concourse Conversations at LAX and ORD

FO Tom Mann, CA Erik DeWinne, FO Alice Novatnak, CLT Chair CA Heather Boulanger, and CLT Vice Chair FO Hickory Ham were among the volunteers participating in Concourse Conversations at CLT on Jan. 15. These events hosted by APA’s National Communications Network (NCN) allow union leadership to hear directly from line pilots and vice versa.

NCN will host Concourse Conversations at LAX from 0800 to 1100 and from 1500 to 1700 on Feb. 17; they will also be at ORD from 0700 to 1200 on Feb. 21. If you will be at either airport in those timeframes, please stop by to chat.

LAX Domicile Election

When there are four or more candidates for a domicile position, the APA Constitution and Bylaws call for a Nomination Round that narrows the field to three. The following pilots are seeking nomination:

LAX Vice Chair
CA Timothy Dick
FO Cort Keithley
FO Tom Price Jr.
FO Gaston Valdovinos

Nomination Round voting opened at 0000 Central on Feb. 6, and it will close at 0001 Central on Feb. 28.

For more information, see the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org.

Domicile Events

Attention, MSY commuters: Mark your calendars for this event.

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

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 Motivational Study Subcommittee (1)
    • Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2)
  • Captain’s Authority Committee (2)
  • Communications Committee (0)
    • National Communications Network (2)
  • Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1)
  • International Alliance Committee (1)
  • Professional Standards Committee (1)
  • Retirement and Benefits Committee (1)*
  • Scheduling Committee (1)
  • Training Committee (1)
    • Checkmate (1 on 777)

* Seeking volunteer with financial services experience and possible AIF®, CFP®, or related designations.

If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal.

Week in Review

Here are some recent messages you may have missed.

Professional Standards FAQs

Will the other person know it’s me who made the call?
Our cornerstones are: confidentiality, neutrality, and transparency. We make every effort to protect the identity of the reporting party and, in most cases, anonymity is preserved. In a direct conflict between two parties there is little need for remaining anonymous. In a case involving observed behavior, maintaining anonymity is easier.

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

The Future & Active Pilot Alliance’s next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for Feb. 21 and 22 at DFW. 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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