APA News Digest

May 13, 2022

Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them.

In This Edition ...

Join Us on June 2 to Send Management a Message

Attention, all APA pilots: Make Thursday, June 2, a top priority!

We need you to join us as we send management a message: It’s Time to fix American Airlines — It’s Time for American Airlines to listen to its pilots.

We will be picketing in New York’s financial district and conducting simultaneous meetings at all domiciles, where we plan to live stream the picketing event for pilots who can’t be in New York. If you’re not scheduled to work that day, we need you to either be with us in New York or with your fellow pilots at your domicile meeting. APA will provide hotel rooms and meals for pilots who travel to New York to participate in the picketing or need a room for their respective domicile meeting. Your APA leadership will be in New York, along with representatives of other labor unions, and we look forward to seeing you there or at a domicile meeting on June 2. RSVP here for the New York picketing.

Or, if you’re unable to join us in New York, click one of the following links to RSVP for your domicile’s event that day.

Your APA leadership urges each of you to make it your priority to participate on June 2. With strong membership participation, we can, and will, achieve our goal.

National Telephone Town Hall Meeting

APA hosted a national Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Thursday afternoon, connecting with nearly 5,000 members. Thanks to all who took the time to participate.

APA President CA Eric Ferguson began the call with what he termed “a call to action,” emphasizing the importance of bidding so you can participate on June 2, either in New York or at your domicile. STOP Committee Chair CA Dave Evans then provided details of what is planned for that day, followed by a Section 6 update by Negotiating Committee member CA Greg Shayman and Director of Pilot Negotiations and Contract Administration Mark Myers. The remainder of the call was devoted to a wide-ranging question and answer session with the members in attendance.

If you were unable to participate in the Thursday town hall, you may listen to an audio recording of the call in its entirety here.

National Officers Election

This is an updated message from APA Elections Administrator Jonathan Elifson.

Runoff Round ballots listing the following candidates were mailed on May 9, and they will be tallied on May 31:

President
CA Rob Baker
CA Edward Sicher

Secretary-Treasurer
FO Patrick Clark
FO Nick Silva

Please be sure to return your ballot in sufficient time so that it will be counted on May 31.

In addition, the Elections Administrator has determined that candidates in the Runoff Round will have the ability to send campaign literature at their own expense through APA’s email distribution system. Any self-paid campaign literature will be in addition to the two email blasts that candidates may choose to send pursuant to Section 2.07(E) of the APA Policy Manual.

For more information, visit AlliedPilots.org/Elections.

Seat Filler Litigation Update

Today, APA filed its Reply Brief in further support of its motion for a preliminary injunction in the seat filler litigation that we filed against American Airlines in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas on April 14, 2022. Our motion, along with the Company’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, is now fully briefed and submitted to the Court for its consideration. Further proceedings on the pending motions are at the discretion of the Court. APA will continue to keep the membership apprised of developments in the case. Copies of all case filings can be found on the APA website by following this link.

Pilot Retirement Age

With a couple of members of Congress seeking support for raising pilot retirement age to 67 or 68, it is an opportune time to remind members of APA’s position on the issue. At the spring 2016 APA Board of Directors meeting, the Board unanimously voted to approve the following motion: “The APA Board of Directors directs that the Allied Pilots Association will oppose any increase in the mandatory retirement age for FAA Part 121 pilots.”

Domiciles to Host “Top Gun: Maverick” Premier on May 26: Sign Up Now

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to sign up for one of the May 26 showings of “Top Gun: Maverick” near you. APA has reserved auditoriums at each theater for the exclusive use of APA members and their families. Each guest can enjoy complimentary drink and popcorn. The showings will be preceded by welcome remarks and a brief update by an APA representative.

Click one of the domicile links below to sign up for the showing most convenient to you.

Base

Theater

Location

CLT

Northlake 14

7325 Northlake Mall Dr, Charlotte, NC 28216

DCA

AMC Courthouse 8

2150 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

DFW

Grapevine Mills 30

3150 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Grapevine, TX 76051

LAX

Marina Marketplace 6

4335 Glencoe Ave, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

LGA

Palisades 21

4403 Palisades Center Dr, West Nyack, NY 10994

MIA

Hialeah 12

780 W 49th St, Hialeah, FL 33012

ORD

Streets of Woodfield 20

601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173

PHL

Neshaminy 24

660 Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem, PA 19020

What Does “Booking in Progress” Mean?

This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee.

“BOOKING IN PROGRESS”

Those are three words we all have come to dread over the last year. What exactly do they mean? Allow us to translate; what that phrase really means is “YOU DON’T HAVE A HOTEL ROOM.” That phrase sometimes fools pilots into believing they will have a room shortly; in reality, no one is working the problem. Why does Travelliance choose this verbiage? They hope you will depart and arrive at your destination on time, and when you do land, what is your reward? “BOOKING IN PROGRESS.”

If “BOOKING IN PROGRESS” shows in your CCI Hotel/Limo information before departure, DO NOT DEPART unless and until you have received confirmation that you have lodging, or you are directed to depart without such confirmation by a Chief Pilot.

If you choose to contact the company to advise of the reason why you aren’t departing, make one call and only one call and advise that you will be prepared to depart as soon as lodging is confirmed. Consider an ACARS or HISEND message. Do not wait on hold if you have preflight duties to perform.

Click here to view the QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This document should answer 99% of all hotel and transportation questions while providing helpful solutions.

Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future.

Compass Project Continues to Seek Sponsors

This is a new message from the APA Compass Project.

As American continues to hire at an unprecedented rate, the Compass Project has risen to the challenge of ensuring that each and every new hire pilot is provided with a mentor to help with 'navigating life at American'. Compass wishes to thank our sponsors for their efforts, and is encouraging any APA member who would like to become a sponsor to follow the link below. Your support in this mentor program is critical in ensuring that all of our new hires get off to a good start.

The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line pilot sponsors, as well as tutorial videos and an extensive library of stage-based documents covering a number of helpful topics that are beneficial to all pilots. Learn more at AlliedPilots.org/Compass.

American Airlines Scores Poorly in J.D. Power Survey

In its 2022 North American Airline Satisfaction Survey, J.D. Power ranked American Airlines in last place for first-class passengers, trailing JetBlue, Alaska, Delta, Air Canada, and United. In the premium economy category, American Airlines placed fourth behind JetBlue, Delta, and Alaska. Finally, in the economy category, American Airlines ranked number eight, behind Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, Allegiant, Alaska, Air Canada, United, and Spirit, and ahead of Frontier and WestJet.

UNSAT: Removing CKA Requirement for GUA

The APA Communications Committee sent the following message to all members on Monday.

As a couple of domiciles have already highlighted in membership updates, management issued a CCI message on Saturday night titled “GUA Qualification Change.” According to that CCI message, management has apparently determined that, as of May 16, the requirement for a CKA to accompany a line CA on their first flight into Guatemala City – American Airlines’ standard operating procedure for many years – will no longer be necessary to ensure the safe operation of those initial flights.

Rather than continue the longstanding practice of having an accompanying CKA, management has instead decided to use an “optional Latin Terrain focused video … to supplement the Airport FAM-Special Qual Airport briefing guides found in Comply365.”

This change is extremely ill-advised, and we urge management to reverse course now. With American Airlines poised to have the least-experienced crew pairings the airline has operated with in decades, the timing of this decision to substitute a CKA accompanying first-flight CAs into GUA with an "optional" video is, in a word, terrible.

Perhaps management needs reminding that La Aurora International Airport is designated by FAR 121.445 as a Special Airport due to its unique operational challenges. Among the reasons for that designation:

  • Mountainous terrain and complex procedures.
  • Complex engine out procedures.
  • Unstable glideslope signals.
  • A non-grooved sharply sloping runway.
  • Surface strobe lighting that may be mistaken as REIL.
  • High obstacles on short final.
  • Irregular terrain that will cause rapid radar altimeter movement.
  • Certain taxiways that are unsuitable for large commercial aircraft.

If this plan goes forward, management is flirting with disaster. While the motivation is clear enough – saving money – management's determination to cut costs cannot come at the expense of training and safety.

Keep in mind that Flight Operations Manual paragraph 18.4.4, Captain Request for a Check Airman, states:

Captains may request a check airman accompany them into special airports. Prior to making the request, speak with the assigned first officer to determine if the first officer has enough destination knowledge for safe operations into and out of the special airport. If, after the conversation, the captain still wants a check airman, submit a request form on Comply365.

Check Airman Not Available. If a check airman cannot be scheduled, the captain making the request should be removed from the flight and scheduled to deadhead in the flightdeck to observe the arrival and/or departure.

Also keep in mind 14 CFR § 91.3, Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command, clause (a):

The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.

As professional pilots, you have the statutory responsibility and final authority as to the operation of the aircraft. We trust you to continue keeping safety as your highest priority and to make the correct decision. We will support your decisions.

In the CCI message, CA Dudley suggest that pilots contact him with any questions about this change. We encourage you to avail yourself of this opportunity and feel free to ask whatever questions you may have about management's decision and to provide your constructive, professional feedback. Also, if you respond to CA Dudley's invitation, we recommend that you copy your base reps to ensure APA is kept apprised.

Thank you for ensuring that safety remains our highest priority as pilots for American Airlines.

Attention New-Hire Pilots

The APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee sent the following message to all members on Wednesday.

Your APA Jumpseat Committee has just been advised that there is an issue affecting new-hire pilots with six months or less not being able to make “pilot commuting” jumpseat listings on MyIDTravel. MyIDTravel is accessed through Jetnet and managed by the Company.  

The company is aware of this problem, and according to a manager familiar with the situation:

“I just heard back from the travel team. This is an issue that is affecting a number of people with less than six months of seniority. They are working to resolve it and stated it is their highest priority; however, they do not have an ETA for the fix. My apologies for the inconvenience.“

Additionally, Managing Director - Flight Line Operations, CA Russ Moore suggests: “IT team is working the issue but haven’t isolated the problem as of yet. Should they encounter issues on their commute, have them reach out to their Chief Pilot or the Duty Pilot.”

We recommend that all new-hire pilots with less than six months follow CA Moore’s guidance if you encounter problems creating a jumpseat listing on MyIDTravel. The duty pilot phone number is 682-315-4340 or 817-808-9867.

COVID Requirements for DOH Trips

The APA Scheduling Committee sent the following message to LGA/777 pilots on Tuesday.

In December 2021, the company announced new service from JFK to DOH beginning in June 2022. Doha has specific COVID vaccine requirements for entry. Even though Doha’s requirements came into effect in March 2022, the company failed to make the proper programming adjustments in PBS for June bidding, which will likely result in some pilots who do not meet the Doha-specific vaccination requirements being awarded/assigned these sequences.

The bullet points below summarize Doha’s COVID vaccine entry requirements as of March 16, 2022, and the current situation. 

  • Doha’s vaccine requirements can be satisfied by either:
    • Full COVID vaccination within the previous 9 months, or
    • Booster within the previous 12 months.
  • Doha also has an “Immune-Recovered” option for entry. “Anyone who had a medically confirmed COVID-19 infection acquired either locally or overseas is considered to have immune status valid for twelve (12) months from the date of the infection. There should be an official and verifiable laboratory test result as evidence of the past infection.”
  • Management has not programmed Doha’s specific requirements in PBS.
  • In order to fly to DOH, you must register your vaccination and/or booster with the company.
  • After PBS base expansion on May 18, management will check to ensure pilots meet the vaccine recency requirements. Currently, management intends to remove the DOH sequences, no pay/no credit, for pilots who do not meet the vaccine recency requirements.
  • DOH sequence removals will occur on the 28th to allow pilots the opportunity to trade the trips via TT, TTS, and TTOT.
  • Management’s decision to remove DOH sequences without pay is inconsistent with past practice regarding removal of sequences for which a pilot does not meet a foreign government’s vaccination requirements.

We will keep you updated as events unfold, so that you can make the best decisions on how to proceed. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Scheduling Committee via email at CMTE-SCHEDULING@alliedpilots.org or via phone at 817-302-2321.

The E&FA Journal – A Big Step Up in Demand

The APA Economic and Financial Analysis Committee sent the following message to all members on Monday.

First-quarter financial results for the Big 4 airlines were a study in contrasts.

The first half of the quarter was heavily impacted by the omicron variant, which hurt both travel demand and the airlines’ ability to adequately staff their operations. By mid-March, the passenger volume gap with 2019 had been cut in half, load factors only a percentage point below 2019, and business travel bookings were trending above 60%.

In the latest edition of The E&FA Journal, the APA Economic and Financial Analysis Committee – with assistance from Jalmer Johnson Consulting, LLC – takes a closer look at 1Q22 financial results for American, Delta, Southwest, and United, while also analyzing their guidance for 2Q22.

The Face of Melanoma

This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee.

Because May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to bring you the personal story of Elise May, who lost her husband, American Airlines FO Thomas Christiansen, a mere 10 months after he was diagnosed with melanoma. She urges all pilots to wear sunscreen regularly and to have their skin checked periodically by a dermatologist. Click here to read her story.

Pilot Occupational Health Q&A

This is an updated message from the APA Aeromedical Committee.

FO Rondeau Flynn, who leads the APA Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee, and Nina Teicholz, author of The Big Fat Surprise and founder of the Nutrition Coalition, recently got together to discuss nutritional science and what to avoid for optimum health.

APA Welcomes New Pilots

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

The APA Membership Committee welcomed the following pilots during a barbecue dinner on May 10: Jeffrey Andrews, Jeffrey Batterman, Jacob Boeschling, Joshua Bossert, Daniel Bowes, Francisco Navas Brito, Casey Brouhard, William Browne, Jason Bryant, Alexandre Campbell, Luke Campbell, Norman Reyes Celis, Eric Christensen, Ahmed ElKassabany, Moses Feliz, Richard Freeman, Michael Ghannoum, James Glackin, Jay Graham, Gianluca Grilli, Jose Guerra, Gustavo Gutierrez, Trevor Hitt, Patrick Holyfield, Alexander Houmann, Shaikh Islam, Jesse Judd, Joshua Kratz, Joseph Meade, Emily Monckton, Jacob Moore, Jonathan Norman, Bradley Parsons, Luke Peterson, Brian Radford, Brandy Register, Eric Renn, Clayton Reynolds, Nathan Shaffer, Nathaniel Spurr, Tyler Stanis, David Sternberg, Juan Vallejo, Ryan Werneke, David Williams, Kevin Wilt, and Andenet Mekonnen Wondimagegnehu.

APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

On May 11, the APA Membership Committee hosted a barbecue dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Samuel Ayala, Jason Barry, Daniel Betka, Christopher Boksanske, Scott Coates, Roberto Colon, Chadwick Cowger, Michael Doherty, Scott Donohue, Charles Glasel, Jonathan Govednik, William Hilliard, Manuel Lopez, John Love, Robert Mcpeak, Kashif Mehdi, Martin Mercier, Nandana Perera, Richard Rayermann, Jamil Saliba, Raymond Sievers, Justin Smith, John Stankiewicz, Andrew Wahl, Alan Yeung, and Francis Young.

Pilot Retirements in March and April

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

We would like to recognize and congratulate the pilots who retired in March and April.

BOS: CA Daniel Conway, CA Leon Frawley, CA Cheryl Guidoboni, CA William Panarello, CA Charles Picardy, and FO Brent Stewart

CLT: CA Mark Accomazzo, CA Tom Ayers, CA Don Boyd, CA Fred Brown, FO John Burns, FO George Calhoun, CA Michael Cetin, CA Philip Chatterton, CA Timothy Cocrane, CA Amy Correll, CA Thomas Durliat, CA Martin Ferkin, CA Edward Frizzell III, CA Barry Goodwin, FO Denis Greenland, CA Douglas Grissom, CA Malcolm Harper, CA Albert Harris, CA Rocky Hawkins, CA Robin Hefka, CA Jon Hyvonen, CA Thomas Jurewicz, CA Peter Larson, CA Phillip Lowney, CA Ronald Skudlarek, CA Robert Swain, CA Toeng Tang, CA Mark Teel, CA Steven Van Norman, CA Kenneth Ward, CA Perry Weston, CA William Whitley, and CA David Windom

DCA: CA Halsey Langdon, CA Vincent Madden III, CA Richard McGough, FO Jay Milkey, CA Gregory Pfeil, CA Frank Reeb, and CA Kevin Wiedel

DFW: FO Paul Bimmerman, CA Bjorn Borud, FO Brian Braman, CA John Brooks, CA Grant Brownhill, CA Delbert Brummett, CA Lauran Canatella, CA Glenn Carlson, CA Douglas Crumrine, CA Leo Daub, CA James Dellas, CA Steven Dora, FO Joseph Ehlen, FO Patrick Enloe, CA Paul Evans, CA John Geiss, CA Charles “Trey” Greene, CA Dennis Grogan, CA Gene Hattaway, CA Max Hendrix, CA Charles Hepp, CA Jeffrey Horn, CA Gregory Howard, FO Kevin Hull, FO John Kent, CA Edward Kilburn, FO Charles Kimmel, CA Robert Knapp, CA R. Kucel, CA Martha Lang, FO James Lee, CA Gregg Mackenzie, CA Alan Massengale, FO Randall McDonald, CA David McSwain, CA William Monroe, CA David Nelson, CA James Nichols, FO Thomas Nopper, FO Ronald Olson, CA Michael Painter, FO Wayne Paulson, FO Mark Phillips, CA Michael Pilkington, FO Mary Pope, CA John Raimondi, CA John Richter, CA James Shanks, CA Eric Shull, CA Brian Sizelove, CA Mark Stephens, FO Steven Stricklin, CA Ole Sunde, FO Kenneth Terry, FO Lance Terry, FO Richard Terzian, CA Edwin Thompson, CA Charles Tinkle, CA Fred Toleman, CA David Twardosky, CA Debra Valtman, CA Richard Van Lehn, FO Andrew Weaver, CA Danny Weaver, CA Steven Williams, and CA Martin Zuppan

LAX: CA Michael Berg, CA Gordon Bindert, CA David Clark, CA John Clark, CA Per Corbeil, FO Mark Crump, CA Laura Davidson, CA Dan De Camp, FO David Degennaro, FO Michael Hagberg, FO Mark Hass, CA Donald Kinghorn, FO John Larson, CA Michael Lewis, CA Gregory Low, CA Kam Majd, FO Kelvin Mamuzich, CA Steven Mandich, CA Laughlin McKinnon, CA Kenneth Melton, CA Greg Metz, CA David Milton, FO Branton Obenaus, CA Merlin Petrovich, FO Stephen Smolen, CA Gregory Stevenson, and CA Harold Tadema

LGA: CA Jerry Brunz, CA James Callaway, CA John Ehrenreich, CA Steven Greco, FO Laura Hof, FO David Jensen, CA Darrell Martin, CA Dean Miskovich, CA Richard Racsko, FO Carlo Stacchini, and CA James Yates

MIA: CA Mark Alviso, FO Michael Arsenault, CA Michael Barkdull, CA Robert Bligh, CA Daniel Boucher, CA Douglas Clough, CA Bryan Deoreo, CA Edmund Flores, CA David Fuccillo, CA Patrick Harrington, CA Robert Hogg, CA Thomas Hynes, CA Bernadette Kish, FO Lee Lewis, CA Jeffrey Macuga, FO John Marino, CA Charles Mooneyhan, CA Patrick Murray, CA Charlotte O’Connell, CA Jeffrey Power, FO Edward Powers, CA Robert Pratt, CA George Preas Jr., FO Michael Rader, CA Andre Rasto, CA Mark Sawicki, CA John Schultz, CA Brian Smith, CA Paul Steinberg, CA Gary Stovall, CA Francis Valone II, and CA Joseph Widmayer

ORD: CA Jack Arnold, CA Russell Bona, FO Richard Carstens, CA Mark Charboneau, CA Warren Clobes, CA Robert Crettol, CA Jeffrey Fell, CA Jesse Fodero, CA Michael Hahn, CA John Hitchens, FO Kevin Ketterman, CA Glen Klendworth, FO Jeffrey Lacroix, CA Korey Lemke, CA Michael McCarthy, CA Peter Monaco, CA Marc Olson, CA Robert Parthenais, CA Michael Quinn, CA Steven Sitter, CA Cort Tangeman, CA William Wallace, and CA Roger Yoder

PHL: CA David Acciani, CA Charles Buttion, CA Mark Christopher, CA Jim Collins, CA Mark Cronin, CA John Engberg, CA John Havens, CA Kenneth Keating, CA Steven Kline, CA Jeffrey Leather, CA David Magill, and CA David Mylet

PHX: CA Dean Horvath, FO Daryl Morris, and CA David Tittle

APA commends American Airlines’ hardworking aircraft maintenance technicians for their outstanding work. We believe they are the best in the business. When repetitive problems do arise, they’re often due to managerial decisions that fail to properly prioritize tasks and to management’s decision to outsource a significant portion of the airline’s maintenance to offshore, third-party repair stations.

  • Since June 27, B737 aircraft 3GG right engine bleed air has been written up 10 times and been out of service nine times. This was last signed off on May 12.
  • Update: A321 aircraft 993 cabin pressurization was written up again for a total to date of nine times and has been out of service four times. This was last signed off on May 11.

Domicile Events

More details about these upcoming events are available at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar:

  • BOS: Domicile meeting on May 19
  • DFW: Pilots for Kids Golf Tournament on May 16; Family Awareness event at the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 22
  • MIA: Crawfish boil for MSY commuters on May 14
  • ORD: Galt Fly-in and Pancake Breakfast on May 28
  • PHL: Domicile meeting on May 17; Family Awareness event at Phillies game on June 14

That calendar also has details on these upcoming Grey Eagles luncheons:

  • DFW: May 25
  • PHL: May 18

Are You Willing to Serve?

Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies:

  • Aeromedical Committee (0)
    • Bereavement Subcommittee (3)
    • Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1)
    • Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3)
    • Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2)
    • Project Wingman Subcommittee (4)
  • Captain’s Authority Committee (8)
  • Committee for the Armed Defense of the Cockpit (2)
  • Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1)
  • Family Awareness Committee (1)
  • Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1)
  • IT Steering Committee (1)
  • Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (1)
  • Professional Standards Committee (1)
  • Retirement and Benefits Committee (9)
  • Safety Committee (6)
  • Scheduling Committee (9)
  • Scope Committee (1)
  • Training Committee (1)
  • TUL/Tech Liaison Committee (1)

If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the National Committee Volunteer Portal.

Professional Standards FAQs

Why isn’t management part of the Professional Standards Committee?
This is a peer-to-peer program. Correcting behavior through peer engagement and awareness offers a potentially permanent solution. Management fully supports the work of the Professional Standards committee by providing vast resources and thoughtful input toward improving the process.

To read all of the FAQs, click here.

Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181

Equity Distributions from the 2011 Bankruptcy

This is a new message from the APA Stock Distribution Ad Hoc Committee.

Eligible pilots should have received an equity distribution this week. The equity distribution is a result of the ongoing settlement of third-party claims with American Airlines from the 2011 bankruptcy Disputed Claims Reserve (DCR). Distributed shares were deposited into each recipient’s respective Computershare account.

DCR shares were “held back” while the bankruptcy process continued to play out and disputed unsecured claims were resolved. As disputed unsecured claims became allowed (resolved) in the bankruptcy court, the DCR shares were used to pay those claims. When those claims are paid, a separate number of shares are allocated to the AA pilot group approximating 13.5% of the total DCR shares that were distributed to resolve the unsecured claims (i.e., when AA settled unsecured claims, the eligible pilot group received shares equaling approximately 13.5% of the settled claims). Even though the bankruptcy occurred in 2011 and the plan of reorganization was approved in 2013, unsecured creditors’ claims continued to be resolved and DCR distributions continued to occur through November 2021. Because the distributions were often relatively small, the shares paid to the pilot group often went into the APA Stock Distribution Trust (“Trust”) until enough shares were in the Trust to be further distributed to the eligible pilots.

In December 2021, the Company made a distribution of 103,885 shares into the Trust. These shares were added to 490 residual shares that remained in the Trust following the March 2021 distribution to the pilots. The trust also contained approximately $1,000,000 in cash. The APA Stock Distribution Ad Hoc Committee directed that the cash in the trust be used to purchase additional shares, resulting in an additional 72,043 shares being added to the Trust.

This week, the 176,418 pilot allocation shares in the Trust were distributed to eligible pilots. The committee expects this may be the last DCR pilot allocation equity distribution, given that the bankruptcy was closed in November 2021.

For reference, the last distribution to the eligible pilot group occurred in March 2021 and consisted of 418,757 shares, which was an accumulation of multiple small DCR distributions in 2017, 2018, and 2020.

The dynamics of this distribution are effectively identical to those of the last distribution:

  • Shares were distributed to existing pilot accounts at Computershare.
  • Pilots should access Computershare via:
    • Jetnet / Team Member Services / Money & Attendance / Equity Hub / Computershare;
    • Accessing Computershare via Jetnet will take you directly to the AA Employee Portal;
    • Log in as an Existing User;
    • A chat feature is available if you need assistance.
  • A portion of this distribution will be withheld and sold to cover required tax withholding. There is no way to avoid this – and the sale of withheld shares is a taxable event that must be reported to the IRS on your individual tax return. You should receive a 2022 IRS Form 1099-B from Computershare early next year reporting this sale.

If you have any questions, please email us at cmte-retire-ben@alliedpilots.org.