APA News Digest

Feb. 21, 2025

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In This Edition ...

• APA President and Negotiating Committee Chair: The Bargaining Process
• Contract Training Video: Finding the Information
• Positive Rate Episode 44: Wing 2 Wing
• Compass Project Committee: Join Us For YOUnion 201 on March 12
• Compass Project Committee: Family Navigation Team Seeks Volunteer Parents
• Hotel Committee: Overage and Pop-Up Market Hotels for March
• Security Committee: New Liquids Restriction at LHR
• Professional Standards Committee: National and MIA Volunteers Compare Notes
• Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots
• Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class
• APA Medical Minute – Breast Cancer
• LAX Domicile Election
• Domicile Events
• Are You Willing to Serve?
• Week in Review
• Professional Standards FAQ
• If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles
• Pilot Job Fairs

APA President and Negotiating Committee Chair: The Bargaining Process

In this new video update, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan interviews APA President FO Nick Silva and Negotiating Committee Chair FO Adam Rutherford about various aspects of negotiations, including pattern bargaining, the value of membership engagement, and how mutual problem-solving often facilitates agreement between APA and the company. FO Silva and FO Rutherford also address ongoing preparations for the next round of Section 6 bargaining and the role that the National Communications Network will play throughout the bargaining process.

Contract Training Video: Finding the Information

This new training video, narrated by Contract Compliance Committee Chair CA Jaxon Saxer, shows where to locate various contract-related resources, including the Collective Bargaining Agreement itself, along with User Guides, Flow Charts, Electronic Document Index, Compass, Contract QRH, Reports and Debriefs, Papyrus, and the APA Pilot app. This video represents the first in a series that the committee will be providing in the coming weeks.

Positive Rate Episode 44: Wing 2 Wing

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Lori Copeland, the widow of American Airlines FO Aaron “Kyle” Copeland and founder of Wing 2 Wing. As a safety net and support group for pilots on long-term disability, Wing 2 Wing works hand in hand with APA and American Airlines.

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.

Join Us For YOUnion 201 on March 12

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

The Compass Project hosts a series of YOUnion webinars to educate pilots about various stages of their careers. YOUnion 201 is designed as a “top-off” for newer pilots (6 to 18 months), but the material covered is applicable to ALL members:

• How APA is governed by the elected officers and organized into committees.
• What you and your family should expect from the APA.
• How you can engage and volunteer with the APA.

The next session of YOUnion 201 is scheduled for 1100 Central on March 12 via Zoom.

Register in advance for this webinar.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar from Exec_Assistant@Zoom.com.

Send your feedback to YOUnion@alliedpilots.org.

Family Navigation Team Seeks Volunteer Parents

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

FO Kailey Gonzalez and CA Marc Needham are members of our Family Navigation Team.

With so many new pilots joining American Airlines, our Family Navigation Team is busier than ever. Volunteers are needed to help pilots navigate all that comes with preparing for going out on leave for the birth or placement of a child.

If you are a parent who is passionate about helping others, the Family Navigation Team needs you! There is an extra need for those who have experience with adoption, surrogacy, fertility treatments, pumping during travel, bidding strategy, how to handle postpartum depression, and those who have taken Paid Family Leave in California, Massachusetts, or New York. Anyone interested in volunteering will be given all the necessary tools and resources needed to ensure our pilots are given the support they deserve.

Volunteers can take on as much or as little as they like – any help provided is profoundly appreciated. If you are interested in joining our Family Navigation Team, please contact us via familynav@alliedpilots.org.

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.

Overage and Pop-Up Market Hotels for March

This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee.

Below is the list of overage hotels and pop-up market hotels that will be utilized in March. If you are scheduled to stay at one of these properties, we recommend you review this article.

• BGI: Courtyard Bridgetown Marriott
• CLE: Crowne Plaza Playhouse
• FLL: Courtyard Marriott FLL Airport
• LBB: Overton
• LIR: Planet Hollywood and Secrets
• MDT: Crowne Plaza
• MIA: Hilton Airport Blue Lagoon
• PLS: Alexandria Resort
• SFO: Hilton Union Square
• SLC: Residence Inn SLC Airport
• UVF: Marigot Bay
• RSW: Embassy Suites

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.

New Liquids Restriction at LHR

This is a new message from the APA Security Committee.

Security at Heathrow Airport in London has notified all airlines that crew members, ground staff, and passengers are not permitted to bring specific containers into the SIDA and sterile area if they contain any liquids. These containers include:

• Refillable metallic single-walled containers
• Double-walled or insulated containers of any material

This policy went into effect on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

Please ensure that any such containers are emptied before being searched by staff or at a control post.

National and MIA Volunteers Compare Notes

This is a new message from the APA Professional Standards Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

On Feb. 5, MIA Professional Standards Chair CA Dave Ritchie and his wife, Brooke, hosted several Professional Standards volunteers and spouses at their home in Cape Coral, Fla. Not only was this an opportunity to thank the MIA volunteers for their tireless work, it also allowed us an opportunity to meet new members, share experiences, and discuss ways to further improve the Professional Standards program for all American Airlines pilots.

Attendees included:

• APA Professional Standards Committee: Chair CA Linda Wackerman, Deputy Chair FO Zach Harris, and CA Andy Jones.
• MIA Professional Standards Committee: Chair CA Dave Ritchie, CA Brandon Blank, CA Clarence Coicou, CA James Hogg, CA Denise Kohlman, CA Ian Laughrey, FO Oscar Minaya and retired FO Rick McFall (previous MIA Professional Standards Committee Chair).

Professional Standards is a unique union resource that handles conflict resolution amongst pilots and other work groups at the lowest level. As always, we ask our pilots to contact us FIRST if you have any issues or concerns.  We have volunteers trained to handle any matter that arises at anytime, anywhere, via our hotline:  817-402-2171.

APA Welcomes New Pilots

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

On Feb. 18, the APA Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following new-hire pilots: Seth Anderson, Kyle Burke, Chen Chen, Gage Ciervo, Pierre De Bond, Zachary Gallant, Tyler Gaston, Grant Givens, Thomas Griffith, Gregory Hermack, Bradley Jordan, Marshall Kay, Sean Kuehn, Russell Leslie, Lucas Luithardt de Freitas, Jacob Morris, Michael Novak, Nolan O’Donnell, Ryan O’Donnell, Carlos Otero, Norman Padgett III, Dimmitt Perkins, Travis Powell, Gregory Preston, Wesley Purcell, Bob Roberts, James Rood, Kevin Rowe, Michael Rutolo, Lynus Ryan, John Sax, Michael Sweeney, Scott Trester, David Uybungco, Ryan Walker, Ethan Wallenberg, and Trevor Warren.

APA Welcomes Leadership Class

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

On Feb. 19, 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: Benjamin Beeman, James Dodson, Todd Duesler, Alejandro Febles-Olivero, Michael Glass, Dominique Leonard-Curry, James Metzger, Eric Sakae, John Scordato, and Gregory Weber.

APA Medical Minute – Breast Cancer

In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute, APA Medical Advisor Cassie Bien discusses breast cancer, including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and related FAA requirements.

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

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:

• BOS: Retirement Party on March 21
• CLT: Domicile Meeting on March 4
• LAX: San Diego Lunch on March 11; Dana Point Lunch on March 13; Temecula Lunch on March 19
• MIA: Domicile Meeting on March 5
• ORD: Chicago Blackhawks game on March 30

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.s

• Captain’s Authority Committee: Safety is the Top Priority
• Membership Committee: Potential APA Members

Professional Standards FAQs

Is Professional Standards a step in the traditional discipline process (Section 21)?
No. The Professional Standards program is an APA volunteer committee that does not involve discipline. A call to domicile Professional Standards volunteers should be considered as the first step: First call? Union first! Resolved issues submitted to the Professional Standards Committee cannot be used by management to support other disciplinary actions at any time in the future. The objective is to facilitate a change at the lowest possible level to prevent the need for a traditional discipline approach.

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

The Future & Active Pilot Alliance’s next Pilot Job Fairs are scheduled for March 14 at SAN followed by April 25 at ATL. 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.