Allied Pilots Association

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the Allied Pilots Association (APA) serves as the certified collective bargaining agent for the 16,000 professional pilots who fly for American Airlines. APA was founded in 1963 and is the largest independent pilots’ union in the world. APA provides a broad range of representation services for its members and devotes more than 20 percent of its dues income to support aviation safety.

HEADLINES

APA in the News

Reuters, Aug. 27


Global airlines group proposes raising international pilot retirement age to 67

APA spokesperson Capt. Dennis Tajer told Reuters there is not enough data available to adequately understand the risk of increasing the mandatory retirement age for pilots. “We don’t gamble with safety that way,” he said. Read the article ...

Forbes, Aug. 15


American Airlines battles pilots over Alaska’s new Boeing 787s

In an article about American’s plans to codeshare on Alaska Airlines’ new long-haul international routes, APA spokesperson Capt. Dennis Tajer discussed the significance of the Scope clause in our contract. “Scope is a religious issue to pilots,” he said. “It’s about our current and future jobs that our families count on.” Read the article ...

The Dallas Morning News, Aug. 3


High anxiety: The aviation industry is on a wild ride, especially in North Texas

With two major airlines, two major airports, and various aerospace manufacturers, Dallas-Fort Worth is among the world’s most important aviation hubs, with the industry at the center of North Texas’ economic growth story. “Every dollar that an airline makes in profit goes to the employees, feeds the community,” APA spokesperson Capt. Dennis Tajer told The Dallas Morning News. “It’s symbiotic … and it’s a factory for success. Or a factory for mediocrity, if you’re underperforming.” Read the article …

WHAT'S HAPPENING

APA Public Statements

Joint Union Summit on Company Performance and Strategic Collaboration

Joint Union Summit on Company Performance and Strategic Collaboration Dear Union Members, We are writing to inform you that leadership representatives from the unions representing American Airlines employees – APA, APFA, the CWA-IBT Association, PAFCA, and the TWU/IAM Association – convened this week to discuss concerns regarding the company’s trailing financial performance relative to our competitors. The summit participants also explored ways to strengthen our collective position. This landmark union leadership summit reflects our unified commitment to protecting our members, improving working conditions, and securing a more prosperous future for us and for American Airlines while demanding increased management accountability. We are committed to maintaining a cohesive, coordinated labor coalition to address the opportunities and challenges ahead. Topics discussed include: The impact of management’s peer-trailing financial performance on employees and other stakeholders and on American Airlines’ operational performance. Cross-union solidarity and coordinated advocacy. Increased labor inclusion and increased management transparency and accountability. Joint proposals for operational and service improvements that include greater employee empowerment and enhanced employee protections. This collaboration marks a significant step toward a more unified, impactful labor movement at American Airlines.  CALL TO ACTION: We urge all members to stay engaged, informed, and united. Attend upcoming union meetings, and share your experiences, concerns, and ideas with your elected representatives. Your voice is essential in shaping the future of our workplace and our airline. The unions will reconvene on Oct. 23 at APA headquarters in Fort Worth to continue this critical dialogue. In Solidarity, First Officer Nick Silva President Allied Pilots Association Julie Hedrick National President Association of Professional Flight Attendants Kimberly Barboro Co-Chair Communications Workers of America-International Brotherhood of Teamsters Association Jar’la Evans D3 Staff Representative Communications Workers of America Alex Hart President Professional Airline Flight Control Association – American Greg Cosey International Representative / AA Fleet Transport Workers Union Air Division Rollie Reaves International Representative / M "> Michael G. Klemm President and Directing General Chair International Association of Machinists "> John M. Coveny Jr. President and Directing General Chair International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers District 142

APA: Raising Pilot Retirement Age “Would Mean Flying Blind”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250 Allied Pilots Association: Raising Pilot Retirement Age “Would Mean Flying Blind” FORT WORTH, Texas (Aug. 29, 2025) – The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, voiced concerns about the International Air Transport Association’s request that the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization raise the international age limit for commercial pilots from 65 to 67. “There is insufficient data regarding what risks would be associated with increasing pilot retirement age,” said First Officer Nick Silva, APA President. “Existing regulations governing pilot duty and rest are based on safety studies for a workforce capped at age 65 and reflect lessons learned from past accidents. Without new research, raising the retirement age would mean flying blind.” Silva pointed out that IATA’s rationale for raising the retirement age – to meet demand for pilots – no longer exists in the United States. Spirit Airlines has pilots on furlough, and American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines have all slowed or halted pilot hiring. “Raising the pilot retirement age now would constitute a solution in search of a problem and run counter to longstanding safety practices by U.S. airline operators and regulators,” he said. Silva also cited data showing higher long-term disability rates among older pilots. At American Airlines, 71% of pilots on long-term disability are older than age 55, reflecting reduced productivity and higher costs as pilots age. Moreover, cognitive performance declines with age, affecting reaction time, situational awareness, and problem-solving, along with an increased risk of sudden incapacitation from heart attacks and strokes. Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association – the largest independent pilots union in the United States – is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s website is AlliedPilots.org.

Defending Our Scope Protections

Defending Our Scope Protections In late 2023, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines announced their intent to merge. Alaska Airlines also announced plans to take delivery of new Boeing 787 aircraft ordered by Hawaiian Airlines to introduce long-haul international routes. Our Scope Committee and counsel kept a close eye on how those plans would unfold, and fragments of information began coming from Alaska Airlines’ headquarters in Seattle. These included growth in the OneWorld alliance, more real estate for Alaska Airlines in Terminal 8 at JFK , and news in March that American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Japan Airlines intended to enter into a trilateral codeshare agreement for flying in the Pacific . Alaska Airlines recently announced even more new European routes, which prompted my request to meet with senior management. In those discussions, management revealed plans to ignore our contract by codesharing on Alaska Airlines’ new long-haul international routes. The Alaska Airlines codeshare permissions granted by Section 1.G of our contract never contemplated codesharing with a domestic airline to destinations across East Asia and Europe. Moreover, the widebody aircraft Alaska Airlines plans to operate on these routes all belong to Hawaiian Airlines and are thus subject to the limits on codesharing with Hawaiian Airlines or its successor.  So, why is this so harmful to the pilots of American Airlines? The introduction of American Airlines’ code onto Alaska Airlines’ international network will provide another way for American Airlines to farm out widebody flying to other airlines — flying that pilots on our seniority list could and should be performing. Earlier this summer, I filed an Expedited Scope Grievance — which automatically expedites the arbitration — against this unilateral action by the Company. The Grievance is set to be heard in late October and I will update you further as we get closer to the hearing date. In addition, I filed a separate Expedited Scope Grievance challenging the Company’s wrongful placement of the American Airlines code on Hawaiian Airlines flying outside the Hawaiian islands. Our Scope Committee, Legal Department, outside counsel, subject-matter experts, and I will continue preparing for the arbitration and defending our contract’s Scope protections. It’s the first section for a reason. In Unity, FO Nick Silva APA President

APA Urges Approval of “Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025” and “Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-312-3901 Allied Pilots Association Urges Approval of “Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025” and “Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025” FORT WORTH, Texas (June 16, 2025) – The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, is proud to endorse the bipartisan “Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025” and the “Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025.” APA would like to thank Ranking Member Rick Larsen (WA-02), Rep. Pete Stauber (MN-08), Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06), and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) for their leadership on these critical issues. We urge timely Congressional approval of both bills. “The ‘Mental Health in Aviation Act’ is a significant breakthrough in getting pilots and air traffic controllers the mental health care that they deserve,” said APA President First Officer Nick Silva. “Our industry has long perpetuated a culture of silence when it comes to mental health. Thanks to Ranking Member Larsen, Congressman Stauber, Congressman Casten, and Congresswoman McDonald Rivet, this bill will significantly improve mental health care access for pilots and air traffic controllers by requiring the FAA to eliminate barriers to care, improve the special issuance process, and ensure that we have access to help should we need it. “Additionally,” First Officer Silva said, “the ‘Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025’ also provides pilots and their medical providers with much-needed transparency by requiring the FAA to publish a comprehensive list of medications that can and cannot be prescribed to airmen with first-class medical certificates. This takes the guesswork out of the equation and empowers airmen and their providers to seek treatment and care of ailments with full knowledge up front of how their medications will affect their FAA medical certificate.” Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association – the largest independent pilots union in the United States – is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s website is AlliedPilots.org.

APA’s Legislative Priorities

The APA Government Affairs Committee maintains relationships with the legislative and executive branches of government, regulatory agencies, and other organizations that impact the safety of the airline industry and the careers of American Airlines pilots.

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