Allied Pilots Association

APA News




Sorry, something went wrong. There is no content defined for this Header

CATEGORY

Latest Articles from APA Headquarters

APA News Digest: Sept. 29, 2023

APA News Digest Sept. 29, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... United Pilots Ratify New Contract Safety Committee: GPS Spoofing and Spurious EGPWS Warnings Safety Committee: FAA Issues Warning Over Uncertified Parts Hotel Committee: Hotel Survey Data Effects Change in PDX Information Technology Steering Committee: APA Pilot Mobile App Set to Launch Information Technology Steering Committee: Calendar of Events on AlliedPilots.org – How It Works Uniform Committee: Coming Soon – Sharkskin Fabric in “Gunsmoke” Shade Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Benton Named Distinguished Alum by Alma Mater APA Represented at Latino Pilots Conference Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars United Pilots Ratify New Contract Today, the ALPA United Master Executive Council announced the ratification of a new four-year contract with United Airlines. Approximately 82 percent of voting pilots were in favor of the deal, with 97 percent of eligible pilots participating. The APA Negotiating Committee will soon communicate how the snap-up clauses in our contract, the newly ratified United contract, and the Delta contract approved in March will affect our new pay rates and 401(k) contributions. GPS Spoofing and Spurious EGPWS Warnings This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee. APA has been aware of anomalies concerning GPS spoofing and other interference – especially around Pakistan – for several months. APA Safety has been closely involved in communication with the widebody fleet team regarding these issues, which include GPWS interference. Several crews took action because of incorrect inputs into the GPWS system.  We are aware of recent news articles on this topic, and the FAA is concerned, as they should be. The American Airlines fleet team and APA Safety have been involved in ongoing industry communications regarding these issues, and we are taking measures to react to and mitigate these threats. The AA fleet team published a 17-page guide regarding this phenomenon and also issued at least two CCI messages. We issue this message because some pilots have said they have not seen those, so we want to make sure that we can direct you to the information that’s available. We will keep you updated as developments occur. B777 Fleet Bulletin: Comply365 > Collections > B777 > Fleet Specific Ops B777 > Fleet Bulletins > GPS Jamming/Spoofing - Off the Deep End, Vol. 2 FAA Issues Warning Over Uncertified Parts This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee. APA Safety and APA Security have been aware of fraudulent uncertified aircraft parts within the industry since late July. APA shared this information with American as reports came in, and they are working with the FAA and other authorities to identify suspect parts and remove them from any impacted aircraft and parts inventories. We have been in contact with the Flight Department and Maintenance regarding these issues and will continue to monitor the situation. As always, our first line of defense against any of this is the professionalism and dedication of our line pilots to the safety equation. Please write up anything that you see that is of concern and put it in the logbook. Make the call to APA Safety and ASAP if you think it’s warranted. Above all, keep abreast of any announcements or information that’s coming across regarding issues that affect the safety of our airline. Thank you for your professionalism. Hotel Survey Data Effects Change in PDX This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. Your engagement matters. Thank you to all pilots who participate in the hotel/transportation survey via APA Mobile! Over the last several months, pilots have made it clear they do not feel safe staying in downtown Portland. We have received phone calls, debriefs, and a plethora of valuable survey data indicating this area was not acceptable. We appreciate all your feedback and are happy to announce that layovers will be going back to Vancouver, Wash., in October, specifically to a new property – the Hotel Indigo on the Columbia River. The survey data for the PDX Embassy Suites clearly indicated a problem very early on. To date, the data indicates a rate of safety/security complaints 25 times higher than the average AA layover hotel. We received 186 such reports in the past three months, and 42 percent of participating pilots indicated safety/security concerns. Your surveys were crucial to APA convincing the company it was time to leave downtown Portland. Surveys, more than debriefs, are key to showing trends and highlighting our large problems in the system. Again, thank you for your engagement and taking the time to fill out the survey after each layover. We hope you enjoy the move back to Vancouver, Wash., for your long PDX layovers. Please let us know how you feel about this new property via the survey. For more information, see the QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. APA Pilot Mobile App Set to Launch This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. As part of our ongoing commitment to provide the best tools and resources to our members, we are thrilled to introduce our latest innovation: APA Pilot Mobile! We plan to release this new app next week. Have no fear – if you are not ready to leverage the APA Pilot Mobile app, the current APA Mobile will continue to operate for the time being. If you are a beta tester associated with APA Mobile 2.0, please be on the lookout for more detailed communication in the coming days about the beta channel and steps to migrate to APA Pilot Mobile. Calendar of Events on AlliedPilots.org – How It Works This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. Since the rollout of Web 2.0, we have fielded questions from members regarding the calendar of events on AlliedPilots.org. With Web 2.0, members are now able to adjust the calendar to their individual preferences by clicking on the “Preferences” icon near the calendar’s upper right-hand corner, which opens a “User Calendar Preferences” menu. Once members complete their menu selections, the calendar will display according to those selections. Coming Soon – Sharkskin Fabric in “Gunsmoke” Shade This is a new message from the APA Uniform Committee.  We have been advised that M box-sizing: border-box;">More than 70 percent of our pilot group have moved to the Tropical option. As the original Sharkskin is nearly 7 years old, matching any new product with old can be a challenge (especially after years of dry-cleaning and laundering cycles). Based on these considerations, it made sense for M box-sizing: border-box;">The Tropical uniform was developed due to pilot feedback and was heavily advocated for by the APA Uniform Committee. Pants were approved in 2019 for optional purchase and quickly became best-sellers. The Tropical blazer option was added at the end of 2020. In late 2021, the full Tropical uniform became an option for new hires.   The APA Uniform Committee remains dedicated to advocating for improved and additional pilot uniform options. Per the 2023 CBA, we will participate in a Uniform Working Group with representatives from AA.  Pigs of the Week 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. In the last three weeks, A319 aircraft 746 has been written up eight times for left engine bleed airand has been out of service three times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 25. In the last 10 days, B737 aircraft 3CM has been written up six times for cabin pressurization and has been out of service four times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 29. 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 casual dinner on Sept. 26: Matthew Amidon, Christopher Baker, Justin Beique, Shane Brown, Benjamin Browne, Brian Cheshire, Matthew Combs, Raul Dardon, Sean Delago, Matthew Dinsdale, Ernest Files, Juan Franco Olaya, Monique Gagnon, Emmanuel Gavalas Jr., Mark Goosen, Logan Grzymala, Jordan Hack, Marissa Haynes, James Hicks, David Hinz, Spencer Hutka, Julia Jacobs, Jarrett Kempen, Mark Kennedy, Kevin Kennelly, Christopher Knutson, Shafiq Ladha, Bruno Libio da Silva, Alexander Musgrove, Joseph Oberman, Christopher O’Neill, Matthew Ortiz, Bailey Paddock, Eric Paik, Tanmay Patel, Cory Reardon, Casey Riggs, Bradford Smith, Craig Stern, David Taylor, David Thies, Kevin Tyson, Ryan Warner, and David Wyche. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Sept. 27, 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: George Arbuckle, Joseph Benscoter, Bradley Bonenberger, Timothy Bowden, Bryan Bryson, Richard Burrus, Reuben Chapman VII, Michael Conrad, Edel Cruz, John Currie, Tyler Dunn, Jeffrey Frankenfield, Onofre Gutierrez III, Jason Harris, James Hartman, Brian Jackson, David Loveday, Scott McCoy, Sean Murphy, David Ritz, Neil Roghair, Justin Rubino, Harry Sahoy, Jeffrey Smith, and Kyle Thompson. Benton Named Distinguished Alum by Alma Mater CA Johnathan Benton was one of eight Southeastern Oklahoma State University graduates recognized as Distinguished Alumni during the school’s homecoming festivities last week. APA’s longtime Government Affairs Committee Chair, CA Benton lost his life in a light aircraft accident in January. For three straight years, he was named one of the top lobbyists in Washington, D.C., by The Hill . The influential publication said the honorees on its 2022 list “all demonstrated a track record of success in the halls of Congress and the administration during a critical year for policy.” APA’s base of operations in Washington is now known as the Benton House. The other Southeastern Oklahoma State University honorees included Chickasaw Nation Lt. Governor Chris Anoatubby, West Virginia University Director of Athletics Wren Baker, and former Major League Baseball player Jeff Frye. APA Represented at Latino Pilots Conference CA Steve Pacheco, CA Andy Fierro, FO Josh Daneault, CA Andrea Hoover, and CA Clint Early represented APA at the Latino Pilots Association’s inaugural Latin Aerospace Industry Expo, which was held Sept. 14-16 in Kissimmee, Fla. This effort was similar to APA’s presence at the February conferences hosted by the National Gay Pilots Association and Women in Aviation International. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : CLT: Second Harvest service project on Oct. 2; Domicile Meeting on Oct. 13; Runway 5K on Oct. 21 DFW: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 3; Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 17; Contract Compliance training on Oct. 25; Family Awareness event at Chicken N Pickle on Oct. 25; Retirement Party on Nov. 11 LAX: Fleet Week lunch aboard the San Francisco Belle Sun on Oct. 8; San Diego Yacht Club party on Nov. 2; Dave "> LGA: Retirement Party on Oct. 28 ORD: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 17 PHL: Family Awareness event for PIT commuters on Oct. 5; Domicile Meeting on Oct. 10 PHX: IMAX training via Zoom on Oct. 24 Domicile Elections The following results of the PHL and PHX Domicile Elections were certified by the American Arbitration Association on Thursday. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Wendel Heid 170 127 PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep 134 156 PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino 46 142 PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden 119 61 FO Drost, CA Sweep, CA Saracino, and FO Ryder will begin their two-year terms on Nov. 1. Because CA Doug Hancock stepped down as CLT Chair with more than six months left in his term, an election will be held to select an interim chair who will serve through Oct. 31, 2024. Submissions for nomination will accepted on the APA Elections webpage from 0001 Central on Oct. 9 until 0001 Central on Oct. 30. If you have any questions, contact the APA Elections Department via 817-302-2175 or elections@alliedpilots.org . Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. President: The Kitchen Table and the Board Table  Communications Committee: What a Government Shutdown Means for Our Industry Communications Committee: Meet Your APA Government Affairs Committee Benefits Review and Appeals Board: APA Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment (VADD) Enhancement: An Industry First  Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (2) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (7) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety (0) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation (2) Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Does Professional Standards only handle pilot-to-pilot issues? No! We support our pilots in the performance of their duties and interaction with many other entities. Almost every person with whom a pilot engages during day-to-day operations enjoys union representation. We have established relationships for working through issues with gate agents (CWA/IBT), flight attendants (APFA), dispatchers (PAFCA), and maintenance (TWU/IAM). In addition, we also work closely with ALPA, NATCA (air traffic controllers), SWAPA, USAOA (Cathay Pacific), and all of our regional carriers. In collaboration with the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev committee, we also handle cases that arise between pilots of other carriers. In a nutshell: if you face a challenge with another employee, let us be your first call. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

What a Government Shutdown Means for Our Industry

What a Government Shutdown Means for Our Industry If a government shutdown occurs, our nation’s 13,000 air traffic controllers represented by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, and 50,000 Transportation Security Officers represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, will be working without pay beginning at midnight on Saturday. Please be mindful of the significant stress this situation will create for these workers and their families. If we find ourselves in the midst of a government shutdown and you have an opportunity to share a kind word of encouragement and support with them, we encourage you to do so. We must also stand firm in our commitment to maintaining a safe operation in the event of a shutdown. Our national aviation system is already under pressure due to overly aggressive airline scheduling, inadequate air traffic control staffing levels, and an influx of less-experienced employees. Never allow yourself to be rushed in the performance of your duties. As professional pilots, we are the guardians of safety. Thank you for your diligent efforts and for your consideration of our union brothers and sisters.
Communications Public News

APA News Digest: Sept. 22, 2023

APA News Digest Sept. 22, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... A Commitment to Continuous Improvement Did You Miss This Week’s National Town Hall Meeting? Training Committee: OE Planned Hours Update Legal Department: Presidential Grievance Regarding DEB Training Resolved Legal Department: Updates on Other Grievances Contract Compliance Committee: Get Educated About Our New Contract Contract Compliance Committee: Overrides for Flying to Hawaii Government Affairs Committee: Do You Back the PAC? Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Domicile Events Domicile Elections Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars A Commitment to Continuous Improvement This is a new message from APA President CA Ed Sicher. Did You Miss This Week’s National Town Hall Meeting? If you missed this week’s National Town Hall Meeting, you have options to watch or listen to it. There is a video recording here , and the audio is also available as a podcast here . That second link also includes the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, which features APA President CA Ed Sicher and Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Tami McBride reviewing key contractual areas in which APA achieved gains in our newly ratified agreement, along with APA’s integral role in the pattern bargaining that has benefited multiple pilot groups in recent months. CA Sicher and FO McBride also address the union’s plans to highlight the many ways in which APA serves its membership in upcoming editions of “Positive Rate” and other updates. Our goal is to ensure you are familiar with the full range of services and support that APA has to offer. One aspect of that support is the work of the Military Affairs Subcommittee, who hosted their own town hall meeting this week for military pilots. You can review a recording of that meeting here . OE Planned Hours Update This is a new message from the APA Training Committee. Last week, the APA Training Committee and the ASAP Event Review Committee received an interpretation from the FAA Policy Division in response to our request for guidance on American Airlines’ changes to the AQP regarding “planned” OE hours. It has been clarified that initial/upgrade captains and first officers must be properly “planned” with flights that add up to 25 hours of operating experience. If planned legs or sequences are removed or cancelled, they must be added back to reach at least 25 hours. As long as these planned flights are completed, the CKP confirms you have covered the required items, and you have passed a line check, your training is complete and you are legal for line operations. The only permissible reductions in flight time can be from under-fly events such as tail winds, shorter than planned taxi, ATC shortcuts, etc. A reduction in flight time cannot take place because flights have been removed.  Given the challenging environment the industry is in today, we are disappointed that the long-standing practice of providing a “minimum” of 25 hours of flight time has been altered. Moving forward, your APA Training Committee asks the pilot group to remain diligent in monitoring your OE progress. This ensures your training will remain compliant with the FAA ’ s interpretation of American Airlines’ AQP regarding planned OE hours.  The Training Committee would like to thank all pilots who submitted ASAPs regarding their operating experience flights being fewer than 25 hours. Your participation contributed greatly to ensuing discussions between APA, AA, and the FAA that were instrumental to the resulting clarification we received. Presidential Grievance Regarding DEB Training Resolved This is a new message from the APA Legal Department. Presidential Grievance 20-014 protested the manner in which the Company scheduled, credited, and compensated pilots for Disrupting Everyday Bias (DEB) Training. The Company had directed all pilots to attend mandatory DEB Training as part of Continuing Qualification Training (CQT). One argument APA made was that the Company should not have folded DEB Training into CQT, as it was not part of the FAA-approved CQT. The arbitration hearing was held in March 2021 before a five-member System Board of Adjustment. Soon after, APA made a motion to reopen the record to consider newly available evidence and arguments. The arbitrator granted APA’s motion, and additional evidence was submitted in September 2022. Recently, the System Board found that the Company did not violate the JCBA by scheduling DEB Training on the same day as CQT, but that the Company did violate the JCBA by failing to apply the bargained minimum compensation rate of 5:15 to pilots undergoing DEB Training outside the confines of the CQT schedule. The System Board found that the appropriate remedy is the difference between the four-hour pay already received and the 5:15 minimum calendar rate. Accordingly, each pilot who took the DEB class will receive an additional one hour and 15 minutes of pay. APA Legal is in the process of confirming AA properly compensated all the affected pilots. Most importantly, the Company is now complying and submitting this type of training to the FAA for approval for inclusion in its CQT. The additional compensation to our pilots is satisfying, but more importantly it shows APA’s dedication to our pilot group and our contract. APA’s willingness to object, litigate, and reopen a record to point out AA’s post-arbitration actions leveraged the Company into compliance. If you have any questions, please email klazenby@alliedpilot.org or call 817-302-2170. Updates on Other Grievances This is a new message from the APA Legal Department. Resolution of open grievances between APA and AA continues, and this week the parties completed one of several scheduled dockets. During this week’s mediation, six individual grievances and one presidential grievance ( 20-130 ) were resolved in favor of APA, one grievance ( MIA Domicile Grievance 21-001 ) was withdrawn by APA, and two other presidential grievances ( PG 21-040 and PG 22-055 ) were discussed but not resolved. APA and AA will continue to discuss 22-055 at the next scheduled docket, and APA is proffering arbitration dates for 21-040. If you have any questions, please email ccalvin@alliedpilots.org or call 817-302-2170. Get Educated About Our New Contract This is a new message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. Everything you wanted to know about your Collective Bargaining Agreement but were afraid to ask! Join us at 0900 Central on Oct. 25 – in person or via Zoom – for a full day of training on the new CBA. For those in DFW, we are offering an in-person option at APA headquarters that will include a light breakfast and lunch. Click here to register for the in-person training course . Pilots in other cities can participate in the same course via Zoom. Click here to register for the Zoom training course . Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the Electronic Document Index before attending training. You must be logged in to AlliedPilots.org for the links to be accessible. This index connects you to a vast array of APA documents that we will reference. It is equally useful in the daily operation as a line pilot, so we recommend you bookmark the index for future reference . During training, it may be helpful to have two screens – one to run Zoom, and one to reference these documents. A Zoom account (it’s free!) is required to remotely attend the training course. For those who are not familiar with Zoom, APA IT has created a Zoom Quick Reference Guide . Help us help you! The Contract Compliance Committee’s goal is for you – the membership – to be informed, educated, and knowledgeable. Every single pilot should strive to be a contract expert or, at the very least, strive for continued learning and engagement. Knowledge is power, and it will assist you in employing and being a watchdog of your negotiated work rules.   One more thing: Our Sequence Protection Flow Charts have been updated to reflect the implemented provisions of the new Section 4.C. Overrides for Flying to Hawaii This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q: In addition to the Narrowbody Pay Band rate, what overrides apply to a pilot flying a 321NEO to Hawaii? A: The pilot will also be paid the Long-Range Narrowbody Override, the Narrowbody Long Haul Override, and the International Override. Section 3.C.1.b – The Long-Range Narrowbody Pay Band will be paid as an override and paid only on block hours actually flown. The override amount will equal the difference in the 12th year rate of pay for the Narrowbody Pay Band and the 12th year rate of pay for the Long-Range Narrowbody Pay Band. Section 3.D.1 – International Override: A pilot who holds a Captain assignment shall receive international override pay at the rate of seven dollars ($7.00) per hour for each hour of International flying actually performed. A pilot who holds a First Officer assignment shall receive international override pay at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) per hour for each hour of International flying actually performed. Except as provided elsewhere in this Agreement, International override shall not apply to the contiguous forty-eight (48) states. Narrowbody Long Haul Override: A pilot shall receive a narrowbody long haul override of eight dollars ($8.00) per hour for Captains and six dollars ($6.00) per hour for First Officers for all narrowbody flying to Europe, South America (south of the equator), and Hawaii actually performed. Do You Back the PAC? This is an updated message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. Members of Congress have offered amendments to the FAA reauthorization bills that would raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots and lower the number of flight hours needed to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot transport certificate. Your Government Affairs Committee is working hard to convince lawmakers that these measures are unnecessary, unwise, and dangerous. Several of our other legislative priorities can be found here . We are able to have direct access to members of Congress thanks to your voluntary contributions to the APA Poltical Action Committee. Last month, 5,652 pilots contributed to the APA PAC . That number represented 36.6 percent of APA’s active members. Click the image below for a closer look at each domicile’s PAC contribution rates in June, July, and August. Our Political Action Committee would be extremely well-funded if every APA member contributed as if his or her career depended on it – because it does. Click here to back the PAC . Pigs of the Week 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. In the last two months, the left engine FADEC on A321 aircraft 858 has been written up nine times and has been out of service four times. At the time of this writing, it remained out of service. In the last two months, the flight deck door on A319 aircraft 753 has been written up 21 times and has been out of service six times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 20. 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 casual dinner on Sept. 19: Rabah Aburub, Austin Anderson, James Blackmon, Michael Bruns, Jill Cagle, Ryan Campbell, Casey Cannon, David Carlo, Adam Cramer, Ashley Cwiakala, Davis Dugger, Bradford Fishlock, Andrew Glowa, John Gonzales III, Gerardo Gorria, David Hall, Damian Harasiuk, Wiley Harris, Sean Henry, Jessica Hershner, Nicholas Holland, Matthew Holmes, Samuel Janasov, Riley Kennedy, Garrett Laging, Robert Lahr, Dustin Larson, Blake Leymeister, Kai Lopez, Tine Martinelli, David McLaughlin, Christopher Metz, Patrick Mooney, Evan Mulholland, Douglas Palagi, Ryan Paul, Jacob Pavelka, Meredith Randazzo, Ryan Richards, Shawn Rodgers, Patrick Roks, Bradley Ruttman, Jon Sablan, Henoke Sahlu, Jonathan Schiler, Charles Springer, Robert Tentler III, Thomas Thigpen, Richard Towers, Justin Turner, Andrew Verriotto, Sean Walsh, Christopher Watson, and Robert Wood. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Sept. 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: Nathan Bandy, Matthew Baroni, Jonathan Butkovic, Eric Butler, Francois Danieau, Casey Dillard, Christopher Hawley, Alexander King, Joel Marquez, John Miller, Eric Mitchell, Daniel Oldham, Randall Parsons, Richard Perkins, Charles Scharmann II, Gary Smith, James Wilkerson, Daniel Williams III, Gregory Wintill, and Juan Zelaya. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : CLT: Second Harvest service project on Oct. 2; Domicile Meeting on Oct. 13; Runway 5K on Oct. 21 DCA: Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 28 DFW: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 3; Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 17; Contract Compliance training on Oct. 25; Family Awareness event at Chicken N Pickle on Oct. 25; Retirement Party on Nov. 11 LAX: Fleet Week lunch aboard the San Francisco Belle Sun on Oct. 8; San Diego Yacht Club party on Nov. 2; Dave "> ORD: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 17 PHL: Family Awareness event for PIT commuters on Oct. 5; Domicile Meeting on Oct. 10 PHX: End of Summer BBQ on Sept. 27; IMAX training via Zoom on Oct. 24 Domicile Elections Election Round ballots listing the following candidates were mailed on Sept. 7, and they will be tallied on Sept. 28. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Candidates’ resumes were mailed to PHL and PHX pilots on Aug. 9, when they were also posted on the APA Elections webpage. If you have any questions, call 817-302-2175. Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (2) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (7) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Hotel Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety (0) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation (2) Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Will Professional Standards handle issues with Crew Scheduling/Crew Tracking? Absolutely! As you should be well aware, every call to Crew Scheduling/Crew Tracking (CS/CT) is recorded from the time you are connected until you hang up – even when you are on hold. While cases with CS/CT are rare, they do occur. There is a protocol for handling issues that arise with our colleagues in CS/CT: Conversations are reviewed jointly by Professional Standards and the CS/CT manager for resolution. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Sept. 15, 2023

APA News Digest Sept. 15, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... National Town Hall Meeting Set for Sept. 20 Too Many Close Calls – “Stop This Bad Momentum” Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks Marked Across System Compass Project Committee: Join Us for YOUnion 101 on Sept. 20 Contract Compliance Committee: Resources Related to New CBA Contract Compliance Committee: 10-Hour Layovers Government Affairs Committee: Fresh Polish on Historic Benton House Project Wingman: Good Mental Health Helps Win the Game National Communications Network: Concourse Conversations at LAX Retirement and Benefits Committee: American Airlines Voluntary Term Life Insurance Coverage: Special Election Window Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Membership Committee: Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains Membership Committee: Retirees in July and August Membership Committee: Gone West Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ Honoring and Supporting Veterans If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars National Town Hall Meeting Set for Sept. 20 Your National Officers will host a National Town Hall Meeting via Zoom at 1600 Central on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Click here to register for the Sept. 20 meeting . Email townhall@alliedpilots.org to submit your questions in advance – the deadline for submitting questions is 2359 Central on Sept. 19. Pre-submitted questions will be addressed during the call, with live questions taken as time permits. For those unable to participate live, we plan to upload a recording of the town hall to AlliedPilots.org/Videos after the meeting. Too Many Close Calls – “Stop This Bad Momentum” APA Communications Committee Chair CA Dennis Tajer talked to Fox News this week about the recent string of close calls that have been highlighted by other media outlets, including The New York Times and The Dallas Morning News . CA Tajer told Fox that the air travel system in the U.S. is under “immense pressure,” adding that individuals who are “less seasoned” and “less experienced” are entering the industry. CA Tajer also said airline management teams are trying to “fly as many airplanes, as much as possible.” Meanwhile, the FAA is understaffed, particularly when it comes to air traffic controllers. “It’s got all the ingredients for these incidents,” he said. “We have just got to ensure that we stop this bad momentum.” Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks Marked Across System APA leaders and members observed the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in multiple cities on Monday. Clockwise, from top: APA President CA Ed Sicher, LGA Domicile Chair CA Lawrence Cutler, and LGA Domicile Vice Chair CA Jim Scanlan were among the pilots who visited Ground Zero in New York, along with leaders from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. APA Vice President CA Chris Torres spoke during the ceremony at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial in Grapevine, Texas. And Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations President CA Larry Rooney marked the anniversary at the Garden of Reflection 9/11 Memorial in Yardley, Pa., along with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a constant proponent of secondary barriers on commercial aircraft. APA Communications Committee Chair CA Dennis Tajer touted the need for secondary barriers in an article published this week by the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago. In a worst-case scenario, he said, such barriers “buy us the most critical tool we have when someone wants to take over the airplane – and that is time. Time to resecure the door. Time to fight off the attack. Because the name of the game when it comes to the flight deck is to protect it at all costs so that someone doesn’t get up there and use the aircraft as a weapon.” Join Us for YOUnion 101 on Sept. 20 This is a repeated message from the APA Compass Project Committee. APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Wednesday, Sept. 20. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newer pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading pilot mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line-pilot sponsors for new hires, new captains, return-to-work pilots, as well as tutorial videos and an extensive database of stage-based documents covering a helpful topics that are of importance to all pilots. Click here for more information and click here to register . After registration you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Resources Related to New CBA This is a new message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. A variety of resources are available to help you during the implementation of our new CBA. The recommended first source of information should be the Implementation Timeline (LOA 23-004) and the most current version of Contract 2023 . The majority of questions regarding implementation can be found in the LOA, and it is also conveniently broken down in the Negotiating Committee’s Aug. 27 update . If you need further clarification, the Contract Administrators are ready to assist the membership. Contract Administrators are available from 0700 to 1900 Central, seven days a week, via 800-323-1470, Option 3. Questions can also be submitted to the Contract Administrators via the Contract Questions form. Numerous Compass Project user guides are available, and many have already been updated to reflect new CBA provisions. The six pilot volunteers of the Contract Compliance Committee are available to resolve issues and irregularities that occur because of newly implemented items, or other areas that require deeper contractual attention. Questions regarding pay, coding, and implementation should be directed toward Contract Administration as much as possible. The after-hours hotline (from 1900 to 0700 Central) should be reserved for issues that require immediate intervention with a Crew Scheduling or Tracking senior on duty. We thank you for your efforts in educating yourself on the new CBA! Thank you to the 400-plus pilots who joined our training event on Sept. 13 and for being engaged by submitting more than 300 questions. Please plan to join us at 0900 Central on Oct. 25 for our next training session . 10-Hour Layovers This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q: My sequence was originally scheduled for 11 hours of rest. We arrived late to our overnight, and we have now been scheduled for 10 hours. I thought the 2023 CBA required no less than an 11-hour layover?   A: The 2023 CBA requires that all regularly scheduled layovers – those originally published in the monthly PBS bid package – be constructed with at least 11 hours of rest. In the operation, computer-generated sequences (31XXX) can be created with the minimum FAR 117 requirement of 10 hours of rest. Additionally, operational issues may also result in an originally constructed, longer layover being reduced to the 10-hour minimum. CBA Section 15.C.5.a.(9): All regularly scheduled layovers (off-duty periods) must be no less than eleven (11) hours plus the applicable reporting and debriefing period in 15.C.5.d. and e. below. Fresh Polish on Historic Benton House This is a new message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. The Benton House serves as APA’s base of operations in Washington, D.C., for union leadership and the Government Affairs Committee. The Capitol Hill Historical Society has designated the 137-year-old house a historic building, so rather than replacing the original front doors – which were in disrepair – APA had them restored. They were reinstalled on Thursday. Good Mental Health Helps Win the Game This is a new message from Project Wingman. Click the image to watch a short video on Kicking the Stigma. Did you know that peer support programs like Project Wingman are not unique to the airline industry? They are also found in locker rooms across the NFL. Realizing that football players may be “tough on the outside” but in need of emotional support on the inside, the Indianapolis Colts were the first team to launch a peer support program. Their mental health awareness campaign, Kicking the Stigma, began two years ago. Like Project Wingman, this program has been successful in supporting players and their family members during times of emotional stress. In this short video , Peyton Manning shared his thoughts about the importance of preserving good mental health through peer support. “Talking about mental health is not a sign of weakness but really a sign of strength. It’s OK to admit that times are tough and everything is not OK.” Like NFL players, pilots are no exception to the stressors that life can present over the course of an airline career. If you are feeling an emotional load and need to talk about it, don’t hesitate to call a fellow pilot at Project Wingman. Our hotline is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 848-APA-CREW or 817-823-7965. Concourse Conversations at LAX This is a new message from the National Communications Network. The National Communications Network will host Concourse Conversations at LAX between 0830 and 1500 on Sept. 21. Look for us in Terminal 4, midway down the terminal around Sammy’s Pizza. These events provide an opportunity for members at large to deliver feedback directly to union volunteers. We will be collecting feedback to send to the Board of Directors and National Officers. Every pilot who stops by will receive a Starbucks gift card. American Airlines Voluntary Term Life Insurance Coverage: Special Election Window This is a new message from the APA Retirement and Benefits Committee. This week, the company announced a special election window for participants in its Voluntary Term Life Insurance plan. The special election window opens at 1200 Central on Oct. 1 and ends at 2359 Central on Oct. 10. During that time, you will be able to update your coverage amount. If you chose to decrease or terminate your coverage, you will receive a pro rata refund commensurate with your new election retroactive to Aug. 21, 2023. If you take no action, your coverage will continue as is, and you will only be able to make changes during a Qualified Life Event or Annual Enrollment for the following plan year. In its announcement, the company noted that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement automatically enrolls all pilots in Basic Life Insurance in the amount of $750,000, which may prompt some Voluntary Term Life plan participants to reduce or eliminate that coverage. Pigs of the Week 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. In the last three weeks, the left air-conditioning pack on B737 aircraft 3LA has been written up seven times and has been out of service five times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 14. Since June 27, the right engine thrust reverser on B737 aircraft 3PG has been written up 10 times, been on MEL six times, and been out of service four times. At the time of this writing, it remained on MEL. Since June, A319 aircraft 825 has been written up for air bleed Class II messages 22 times, been on MEL seven times, and been out of service six times. At the time of this writing, it remained on MEL. 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 casual dinner on Sept. 12: Jeremy Albright, Jared Allman, Tyler Bator, Donald Burand II, Gregory Burkett, Ryan Cheney, Joseph Cherry, Brandon Currier, Marie Davis, Antonio Del Pozo, Scot DeStefans, Phillip Draper, Michael Driscoll, Santiago Escobar, Guilherme Fagundes, Evan Fax, Vincent Gallo, Kevin Garcia, James Gidusko, Waylon Greer, Zachary Hamby, Daniel Hill, Marius Hoffman, Chad James, Gregory Kearney, Jesse Landry, Derek Lemke, Samantha Lindenberger, Andrew Loder, Todd Long, Joseph Lopez, Edey Luis, Harrison Martin, Sean McClune, Dennis McNeeley Jr., Fikreslasie Megersa, Zachary Mitchell, Brian Neal, Keith Novatnak Jr., Michael Nowakowski, Andres Oliveros, Jersson Parra Alvarez, Ezequiel Paz, Bryan Peterson, Alexander Pinkstaff, Michael Prokup, Skylar Rawson, Jonathan Reed, Andrew Robinson, Patrick Smith, Mason Tatum, Melia Tipper, William Wilcox, David Yocum, Shawn Zhang, and Alena Zikova. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Sept. 13, 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: Michael Amos, Timothy Chervenka, Kirk Fugate, Blake Gavin, James Hartman, Florian Heithier, Ryan Hollman, Heath Hyde, James Karafa, Felix Maldonado, Ricardo Mata, Stephan Ramos, Terry Rhew, Steven Richardson, Kevin Romero, Luis Siero, Stacy Smith, Tanner Summers, Benjamin Wilson II, Jason Wroten, and Corey Young. Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate these pilots who upgraded to captain last month. They are listed by their post-upgrade base and equipment. CLT 737: Brandon Murphy CLT 320: Anthony Baiardo, Jonathan Butkovic, Timothy Chervenka, Jason Henderson, Heath Hyde, David Kohls, Matthew McCune, Jeffrey Smith, Tanner Summers, and Jonathan Winstead DCA 320: Florian Heithier DFW 737: John Colquitt II, Michael Kirkpatrick, Bradley Locey, and Keith Malkani DFW 320: Scott Erickson, Timothy Lynch, Jonathan Marquart, Eric Mitchell, Kevin Romero, Andrew Rozell, Joseph Settles, David Valenziano, John Vincent, Benjamin Wilson II, and Dennis Woodlief LAX 320: Clifton Bonner and Austin Norton LGA 737: Eric Butler, Bret Kozura, Clifford Lanyi, David Loveday, Joel Marquez, Lucas Myers, Randall Parsons, Terry Rhew, Steven Richardson, and Andrew Salmon MIA 737: Fernando Brawn, John Currie, Francois Danieau, Rex Hopkins, Felix Maldonado, Scott McCoy, Sean Murphy, David Ritz, Harry Sahoy, Derek Williams, and Juan Zelaya MIA 320: Joseph Bennington, Bryan Bryson, Edel Cruz, Alexander King, Justin Rubino, Gary Smith, and Kyle Thompson ORD 787: Timothy Bowden and James Karafa ORD 737: Jorge De La Vega, Adam Elwell, Christopher Hawley, Charalambos Rommo, and Corey Young PHL 320: Joseph Benscoter, Reuben Chapman VII, Jeffrey Frankenfield, Ryan Hollman, Brian Jackson, Maurice MacEwen, John Miller, Stephan Ramos, Dudley Vaughn, and Daniel Williams III PHX 320: Nathan Bandy and Kenneth Pierce Retirees in July and August This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate these pilots who retired in July and August. BOS: CA Steven Johnson CLT: CA Robert Byrd, CA Kenneth Byrns, FO Bill Cheng, CA Garry Chesnutt, CA Ted Cromie, CA Creighton Currin, CA Clifford Frost, FO Steven Kiefer, CA Herbert McKinley, CA Alex Mello, CA Steven Novak, CA Michael O'Connell, CA Deane Pennington, CA John Rodgers, CA Tom Ronai, CA Richard Shoaf, CA Robert Simmons, CA Ian Turner, CA Daniel Warren, and CA Douglas White DCA: CA Frank Corley, CA Michael Mudd, and CA William Reddel DFW: CA Douglas Brutlag, CA Timothy Burke, CA Mark Burnett, CA Scott Christensen, CA Charles Clary, CA Charles Crews, CA Matthew Daugherty, FO Marc Drewis, CA Joe Dulaney, CA Steven Farrah, FO John Floyd, CA Timothy Gilbert, CA Gregory Hargis, FO Joseph Hasbrouck, CA John Hope, CA Tim Hulme, CA Richard Jacobson, CA George Katsahnias, CA Steven Kauneckas, FO Stephen Kelley, CA Eric Kothny, CA Richard Kynaston, CA Mark Leaman, CA John MacHolz, CA Richard Mays, CA Mark McCord, CA Robert McGhee, CA David McKinney, CA Joe Newnham, CA Charles Patterson, FO Edgardo Ramos, CA Donald Seavey, CA David Simmons, CA Clay Strieter, CA Mark Tomasik, FO Timothy Verboski, CA Mark Warnick, CA Samuel Whiting, and CA Rick Womick LAX: CA Ali Al-Katat, CA Brien Bluhm, CA Glenn Blumenstein, FO James Danhakl, CA George Farmer, FO James Fosness, CA Joel Foster, FO Walter Galland, CA Fred Hazlett, FO Jerry Honeycutt, CA Raymond Hower, CA Leonard Jankowski, CA Gary Keene, CA Christopher Naumchik, CA Eric Watt, CA Keith Wolzinger, and FO Gregory Zimmerman LGA: CA David Butler, FO Dean Hall, CA Larry Harmacinski, CA Joseph Pizzi, CA Gregory Symonds, FO Terry Weisenfeld, and CA David Wigley MIA: CA William Bevins, FO Douglas Cligrow, CA John Dantzler, CA Brian Fields, FO Gregg Goodpaster, CA Richard Gosselin, CA Frank Kovacs, CA David Lindley, CA Robert Marcellari, CA Matthew Mitchell, CA Isidore Savona, CA Paul Taylor, CA Dale Teetor, FO Jay Thorsland, and CA Dean Watson ORD: FO Gary Blied, CA Timothy Delaney, CA Douglas Fiorino, CA Mark Michel, CA Richard Mueller, FO Phillip Reifsteck, CA Samuel Rhodes, CA James Schroeder, CA Ken Schroepfer, CA Matthew Teare, and CA Stephen Zoerlein PHL: CA Erik Bell, CA Richard Bradley, FO Robert Brown, CA Steve Dannahower, CA Michael Getter, CA John Hyde, CA Charles Klein, CA Richard Koziel, CA Jeffrey Langer, CA Ron Masone, CA Paul Nix, CA John Sabel, and FO Deborah Utz PHX: CA Richard Kuspis, CA William Patzer, and FO Kevin Volpato Gone West This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of these pilots, whose deaths we learned of last month: Linwood “Art” Arthur, 87, on May 9; Clyde Herzog, 76, on June 22; Howard Henson, 86, on June 25; Jim Kiesel, 76, on July 4; Steve Winter, 84, on July 15; John Eaton, 79, on July 24; Jim Owen, 86, on July 24; Michael Hennessy, 67, on July 26; Dick Kelso, 92, on July 29; George Brunstad, 88, on July 31; Edward Simmons, 56, on Aug. 13; George Waddington, 90, on Aug. 13; Howard Taylor, 65, on Aug. 26; and Mike Polen, 81, on Aug. 10. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : CLT: Retirement Party on Sept. 17; Second Harvest service project on Oct. 2; Domicile Meeting on Oct. 13; Runway 5K on Oct. 21 DCA: Flying Circus Aerodrome on Sept. 17; Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 28 DFW: Domicile Meeting on Oct. 3; Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 17; Contract Compliance training on Oct. 25; Family Awareness event at Chicken N Pickle on Oct. 25; Retirement Party on Nov. 11 LAX: Concourse Conversations on Sept. 21; Fleet Week lunch aboard the San Francisco Belle Sun on Oct. 8; San Diego Yacht Club party on Nov. 2; Dave "> ORD: Telephone Town Hall Meeting on Oct. 17 PHL: Family Awareness event for PIT commuters on Oct. 5; Domicile Meeting on Oct. 10 PHX: Domicile Meeting on Sept. 21; End of Summer BBQ on Sept. 27; IMAX training via Zoom on Oct. 24 Domicile Elections Election Round ballots listing the following candidates were mailed on Sept. 7, and they will be tallied on Sept. 28. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Candidates’ resumes were mailed to PHL and PHX pilots on Aug. 9, when they were also posted on the APA Elections webpage. If you have any questions, call 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Governance and Reform Ad Hoc Committee: Governance and Reform Polling – We Need Your Input Professional Standards Committee: Professionalism is the Obligation of Professionals Scheduling Committee: March 2024 Vacancy Bid Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee: We Need to Hear from You Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: Jumpseat and Deadhead Provisions of New CBA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes Special Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Continues Special Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Concludes Special Meeting Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (1) Retirement ">Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Is Professional Standards suitable for conduct issues or performance issues? It may be suited for both. The program is designed to promote and maintain professionalism. It is well suited for any case, conduct, or performance when professionalism may be an issue. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 Honoring and Supporting Veterans 100 Vets Who Give A Damn DFW is a group of like-minded veterans who want to make an impact on military charities. Technically, the group does not exist; it has no directors, officers, or treasurers. Its core group of organizers are simply volunteers generously donating their time to try and make a difference. Three organizations are randomly chosen from a list of member-nominated charities. Representatives for those organizations are asked to make five-minute presentations about why they deserve the group’s support. After the presentations, the charity that receives the most votes from the vets in the room will be the suggested recipient. Each veteran then writes a check to the suggested charity and/or the ones that moved them the most. The next meeting at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth is scheduled for Sept. 21, when the vets will hear from Brother’s Keeper, Hero Lab, and Project Sanctuary. Click here for more information . 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Sept. 9, 2023

APA News Digest Sept. 9, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... We Will Never Forget Those Lost on 9/11 President Advocates for Safety Standards APA Board of Directors to Meet Next Week National Town Hall Meeting Set for Sept. 20 Compass Project Committee: Join Us for YOUnion 101 on Sept. 20 Contract Compliance Committee: Join Our *NEW* Contract Compliance Training Hotel Committee: Hard-Block Hotels STOP Committee: NJASAP Pilots Need Our Support Aeromedical Committee: Our Recommended Reading List Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class CLT Vehicle Burglaries Highlighted by Media Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ Honoring and Supporting Veterans If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars We Will Never Forget Those Lost on 9/11 CA Ed Sicher (center) was part of APA’s contingent at Ground Zero last year. On Monday morning, Americans nationwide will pause to mark the 22nd anniversary of the day that our industry and our country were forever changed. On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked two of our planes and two of United’s and unthinkably turned them into weapons of mass destruction. Among the thousands of people killed that day were these pilots, flight attendants, and other airline employees: American Airlines Flight 11 Pilots: Captain John Ogonowski and First Officer Thomas McGuinness Flight attendants: Barbara Arestegui, Jeffrey Collman, Sara Low, Karen Martin, Kathleen Nicosia, Betty Ong, Jean Roger, Dianne Snyder, and Madeline Sweeney United Airlines Flight 175 Pilots: Captain Victor Saracini and First Officer Michael Horrocks Flight attendants: Robert Fangman, Amy Jarret, Amy King, Kathryn LaBorie, Alfred Marchand, Jesus Sanchez, Michael Tarrou, and Alicia Titus Customer service representative: Marianne MacFarlane American Airlines Flight 77 Pilots: Captain Charles Burlingame and First Officer David Charlebois Retired pilot: Captain Bud Flagg Flight attendants: Michele Heidenberger, Jennifer Lewis, Kenneth Lewis, and Renee May Executive assistant: Mary Jane Booth United Airlines Flight 93 Pilots: Captain Jason Dahl and First Officer LeRoy Homer Flight attendants: Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, and Deborah Welsh We know all the souls we lost that day will be on your mind on Monday, whether you are flying, on a layover, or reflecting at home with family and friends. Here is how the anniversary will be marked in some of our domicile cities. BOS: A ceremony is scheduled for 0840 on the tarmac near gates B9 and B11. Registration through BOS Flight Service Ops is required. The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund will also host public ceremonies at the Massachusetts State House and the Boston Public Garden beginning at 0830. DFW: APA Vice President CA Chris Torres will speak during the ceremony at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial in Grapevine, which will be open to the public and will begin at 0730. LGA: APA President CA Ed Sicher, LGA Domicile Chair CA Lawrence Cutler, and LGA Domicile Vice Chair CA Jim Scanlan will be among the few mourners at the National September 11 Memorial "> PHL: The Garden of Reflection 9/11 Memorial in Yardley will host a public ceremony at 0830. PHX: Victims’ names will be read at the Tempe Healing Field in Tempe Beach Park beginning at 0545. President Advocates for Safety Standards On Friday, The Hill – an influential media outlet in Washington, D.C. – published a column by APA President CA Ed Sicher regarding the dangerous measures being debated in regards to the FAA reauthorization bill. Some members of Congress want to lower the number of flight hours required to obtain a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Other legislators want to raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots. Here is an excerpt from CA Sicher’s column: “We cannot forget that on Feb. 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed outside of Buffalo, N.Y., killing 50 people. In the ensuing reports, investigators blamed the tragedy, in part, on inadequate training standards for the cockpit crew. As a result, Congress directed regulators to raise the training requirements to 1,500 hours. “America has not had another multi-passenger airline accident since. “Let me speak on behalf of pilots: There is no defensible reason whatsoever to endanger that stellar safety record. No matter what challenges may face America’s airways, the answer is not to lower the bar of real-life flight training for airline pilots transporting our loved ones. Nor is the answer to lower the bar on pilot fitness — certainly not without research to back it up.” Click here to read the entire column . APA Board of Directors to Meet Next Week The APA Board of Directors will convene a special meeting at 0900 Central on Tuesday at union headquarters in Fort Worth. The meeting is scheduled to continue through Thursday. You may review the agenda here . National Town Hall Meeting Set for Sept. 20 Your National Officers will host a National Town Hall Meeting via Zoom at 1600 Central on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Click here to register for the Sept. 20 meeting . Email townhall@alliedpilots.org to submit your questions in advance – the deadline for submitting questions is 2359 Central on Sept. 19. Pre-submitted questions will be addressed during the call, with live questions taken as time permits. For those unable to participate live, we plan to upload a recording of the town hall to AlliedPilots.org/Videos after the meeting. These meetings are intended to provide updates to the membership from the National Officers, Board of Directors, and national committees, and there will also be opportunities to answer your questions. While registration is not required, doing so in advance will provide you with a link to the meeting and call-in numbers, as well as a reminder one hour prior to the meeting. ( A Zoom account is required to register .) For those who do not wish to create a Zoom account, we will provide a direct link and call-in numbers via the AlliedPilots.org member home page on the day of the meeting. You will be able to view audio/video through a chosen device, or you can attend as audio only via a phone call. We also plan to call all members shortly before the meeting begins as a reminder to participate. For those who are not familiar with Zoom, our IT Department has created a Zoom quick reference guide . Join Us for YOUnion 101 on Sept. 20 This is a repeated message from the APA Compass Project Committee. APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Wednesday, Sept. 20. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newer pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading pilot mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line-pilot sponsors for new hires, new captains, return-to-work pilots, as well as tutorial videos, and an extensive database of stage-based documents covering a helpful topics that are of importance to all pilots. Click here for more information and click here to register . After registration you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Join Our *NEW* Contract Compliance Training This is a updated message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. Everything you wanted to know about the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement but were too afraid to ask! Join us at 0900 Central on Sept. 13 for a full day of training on the new CBA. Please take a few moments before the training to familiarize yourself with the Electronic Document Index . You must be logged in to AlliedPilots.org for the links to be accessible. This Index connects you to a vast array of APA documents that we will reference. It is equally useful in the daily operation as a line pilot, so we recommend you retain the Index for future reference. During the training, it may be helpful to have two screens; one to run Zoom and one to reference these documents. A Zoom account (it’s free!) is required to attend the training course. For those who are not familiar with Zoom, APA IT has created a Zoom Quick Reference Guide . (We plan to offer in-person training sessions soon.) Click here to register for the Sept. 13 training course . Help us help you! The Contract Compliance Committee’s goal is for you – the membership – to be informed, educated, and knowledgeable. Every single pilot should strive to be a contract expert or, at the very least, strive for continued learning and engagement. Knowledge is power, and it will assist you in employing and being a watchdog of your negotiated work rules. Save the date: Our next training session is scheduled for Oct. 25. Hard-Block Hotels This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. In several markets, American Airlines hard-blocks rooms above what they have allocated to PBS-built sequences. Hard-blocking is the practice of reserving a block of extra rooms at a hotel that the company may or may not use in order to guarantee rooms are available when they inevitably do need additional rooms. Which cities AA choses to contract hard-block rooms in, the number of rooms AA hard-blocks, and whether this is done year-round or seasonally can vary. The company uses historical data to predict where and when there is a need for these rooms (typically at hubs). These rooms are typically assigned to 31XXX trips, and these hotels are sometimes labeled as “IROPS only,” which simply means AA isn’t allocating rooms at this hotel to PBS sequences. If you are on a 31XXX sequence and are assigned one of these “IROPS only” hotels, there is no reason for alarm. This is a normal process that AA uses to prevent the thrash of looking for last-minute rooms. Typically, we have less feedback/data on these hard-block hotels since the volume of rooms used is lower than most of our hotels. Please submit a Hotel Survey though the APA Mobile app so we can track issues and trends and identify a strong hotel that should be considered for regularly scheduled layovers as well. For more information, see the QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. NJASAP Pilots Need Our Support This is a new message from the APA Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee. The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots plans to conduct informational picketing outside the New York Stock Exchange between 1330 and 1730 Eastern on Sept. 14. If you can stand with your fellow pilots that day, click here to RSVP . 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 . Dirty Genes: A Breakthrough Program to Treat the Root Cause of Illness and Optimize Your Health After suffering for years with unexplainable health issues, Dr. Ben Lynch discovered the root cause – “dirty” genes. Genes can be “born dirty” or merely “act dirty” in response to your environment, diet, or lifestyle; this can cause lifelong, life-threatening problems. The author shows readers to identify and optimize both types of dirty genes by cleaning them up with targeted and personalized plans, including healthy eating, good sleep, stress relief, environmental detox, and other holistic and natural means. 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. Pigs of the Week 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. In the last three weeks, the landing gear control interface unit on A321 aircraft 185 has been written up six times and has been out of service five times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 4 after a functional check flight. Since Aug. 16, the flight data recorder on B737 aircraft 3KS has been written up seven times and has been out of service five times. It was most recently signed off on Sept. 5. In the last month, the left engine thrust reverser on A320 aircraft 601 has been written up six times, been on MEL four times, and been out of service five times. At the time of this writing, the thrust reverser was on MEL and the aircraft was restricted to Class 1 or 2 maintenance stations. 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 casual dinner on Sept. 5: Akiyos Abebe, Thamer Alsagheer, Tomohiro Arai, Sando Arapovic, Adam Betley, Colin Brown, Rodolfo Costa, Paul Dabrowski, Brandon Diaz, Kacper Dubaj, Thomas Durrett, Demetria Elosiebo, Benjamin Feuerbach, Brian Harris, Robert Hougher, Timothy Jeffers, Shir Karmon, Jordan Klunk, George Kontogiannis, Robert Landes, Elridge LeBlanc, James Mann, Konstantinos Margaronis, Coby McEntire, Daniel McGonagle, Ralph Mears II, Matthew Moran, Daniel Nodorft, Brian Nowogrodski, Paul Parsoneault, Matthew Pool, Bruno Resende Laranjeira Fernandes, Christopher Rossiter, Frank Rouse, Ryan Siebert, Jacob Sills, Enderson Rafael Teixeira dos Santos, Mark Tripiano, Dwayne Tulloch, Wolfgang Erik Weise, Tyler Wells, Troy Wikle, Tyler Wisbar, and Mark Wrench. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Sept. 6, 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: Bruce Anzalone II, Anthony Baiardo, Clifton Bonner, Fernando Brawn, Adam Cleveland, Thomas Culbreath, Alexander Czernecki III, Adam Elwell, Scott Erickson, Matthew Grieco, Jason Henderson, James Kareis II, Charles Kilchrist, David Kohls, Michael Lind, Mac McGilvray, John McGrath, Frederick Moore, Brandon Murphy, Ryan O’Neill, David Orwig, Rodrigo Ribeiro, James Richardson, David Roberts, John Vincent, and Nathan Wantland. CLT Vehicle Burglaries Highlighted by Media Click the image to watch the report. CLT Domicile Chair CA Shane Vaughn spoke to WCNC-TV this week about the recurring vehicle burglaries at Charlotte Douglas International Airport: “Right now, it’s just vehicle break-ins, but what happens if somebody is approaching the vehicle at night and there’s an active robbery and somebody gets shot or, heaven forbid, sexually assaulted or kidnapped?” Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: Implementation and Governance Town Hall Meeting on Sept. 12; Concourse Conversations on Sept. 21 CLT: Retirement Dinner on Sept. 17; Runway 5K on Oct. 21 DCA: Flying Circus Aerodrome on Sept. 17; Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 28 LAX: Reno Air Races on Sept. 13-17; Fleet Week lunch aboard the San Francisco Belle Sun on Oct. 8; San Diego Yacht Club party on Nov. 2; Dave "> LGA: Implementation and Governance Town Hall Meeting on Sept. 12 PHL: Implementation and Governance Town Hall Meeting on Sept. 12; Family Awareness event for PIT commuters on Oct. 5; Domicile Meeting on Oct. 10 Domicile Elections Election Round ballots listing the following candidates were mailed on Sept. 7, and they will be tallied on Sept. 28. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Candidates’ resumes were mailed to PHL and PHX pilots on Aug. 9, when they were also posted on the APA Elections webpage. If you have any questions, call 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Vice President: Governance and Reform – Provide Your Input  Training Committee: Check Your Operating Experience Records  Retirement and Benefits Committee: 401(k) Contributions on Ratification Bonus and One-Time Supplemental Payments  Communications Committee: We Remember USAir Flight 427 Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (2) Retirement ">Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement 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 Honoring and Supporting Veterans 100 Vets Who Give A Damn DFW is a group of like-minded veterans who want to make an impact on military charities. Technically, the group does not exist; it has no directors, officers, or treasurers. Its core group of organizers are simply volunteers generously donating their time to try and make a difference. Three organizations are randomly chosen from a list of member-nominated charities. Representatives for those organizations are asked to make five-minute presentations about why they deserve the group’s support. After the presentations, the charity that receives the most votes from the vets in the room will be the suggested recipient. Each veteran then writes a check to the suggested charity and/or the ones that moved them the most. The next meeting at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth is scheduled for Sept. 21, when the vets will hear from Brother’s Keeper, Hero Lab, and Project Sanctuary. Click here for more information . 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Aug. 31, 2023

APA News Digest Aug. 31, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... President: Labor Day 2023: A Notable Occasion Government Affairs Committee: False Mask Rumors Jumpseat Committee: Deadheading Pay; Jumpseat Etiquette Compass Project Committee: Compass TDY Guide Flight Time/Duty Time Committee: Fatigue in Short-Haul Operations Study Hotel Committee: Buckle Up! Safety Committee: LOSA Observer Applications Open Contract Compliance Committee: Join Our *NEW* Contract Compliance Training Compass Project Committee: Join Us for YOUnion 101 on Sept. 20 Military Affairs Committee: Join Our September Military Affairs Town Hall Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Government Affairs Committee: Support Airport Employees Impacted by the Maui Wildfire Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Domicile Events APA Supports the APFA Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ Honoring and Supporting Veterans If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars APA Holiday Schedule Labor Day 2023: A Notable Occasion This is a new message from APA President CA Ed Sicher. On Monday, we will honor the hard-working men and women who drive America’s economy, including each of you in your capacity as a pilot for American Airlines. You shoulder a unique level of responsibility and exercise a critical leadership role in the operation of the world’s largest airline. Your skill and dedication in safely delivering millions of passengers to their destinations each year enable American Airlines to generate tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue. Labor Day 2023 marks an opportunity for APA and its membership to commemorate a notable achievement — the first time in more than 20 years that APA has concluded a Section 6 negotiation without the overhang of financial distress. The results speak for themselves: In addition to enhancement to various benefits and work rules, our members are receiving approximately $1.1 billion in immediate, one-time payments and ratification bonuses; and annual pay rate increases for the contract’s duration; and enhancements to various benefits and work rules. In total, the new contract will provide American Airlines’ pilots with approximately $9.6 billion in additional value versus the prior agreement, with Wall Street analysts characterizing it as industry leading. To be clear, we made that happen and by “we,” I mean you, the APA membership, the elected and appointed union leadership, and our staff. When our United peers were facing a substandard tentative agreement last year, we bettered it with our own agreement in principle. Our board then voted that deal down, clearing the way for Delta’s pilots and that carrier’s management to set a new bar. United has since followed up with a new agreement in principle. That’s called pattern bargaining, and APA played a key role. In just one contract cycle, we have gone from industry laggard to industry matching — and in numerous respects, industry leading — thanks to your fortitude. Your overwhelming strike authorization vote, your participation in our union’s biggest-ever visual display of resolve, and your 95% participation in the ratification vote signaled your resolve and engagement. In further evidence of the power of pattern bargaining, the pilots of Alaska Airlines have received an 11.2% pay raise in response to our industry-leading narrowbody rates.  When we announced the results of the ratification vote on Aug. 21, I emphasized that we’re not finished. With your support, we will continue doing all we can to knock the rest of the tarnish off the pilot profession by building on our significant contractual gains. We look forward to having you join us in that effort. Thank you for everything that you do. False Mask Rumors This is a new message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. Rumors have been circulating recently that TSA agents would be required to wear masks beginning on Sept. 1, and that travelers would be required to wear masks beginning on Oct. 1. Your APA Government Affairs Committee, along with our counterparts with other pilot unions, have been in contact with the FAA and TSA regarding this issue. Both agencies have confirmed that there is no validity to the rumors — they are false. Deadheading Pay; Jumpseat Etiquette This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat Committee. Your APA Jumpseat Committee strives to support our pilots throughout the implementation of the new CBA and with everyday issues raised through our Deadhead and Jumpseat debrief system. Please review the following information and advise if you have questions. New CBA: Deadheading Pay (CBA Section 19.D.1.a.) “A pilot, who deadheads to or from any station, including for the purpose of covering any of the flights specified in paragraph A of this Section, shall be paid and credited for such deadheading at one (1) hour pay and credit for each hour of such deadhead time on the type equipment covered on the basis of the scheduled or actual flight time, whichever is greater, of the deadhead trip at Captain or First Officer rates according to the category in which the pilot is serving. When a pilot deviates pursuant to Paragraphs 19.D.3.c. or d. below, the pilot will be paid and credited only for the originally scheduled deadhead as scheduled.” Implemented for DH legs actually flown (not NSHW) as a part of sequences dated August 1, 2023 or later. DH as part of a sequence starting August 1, 2023 or later will be paid the greater of scheduled or actual block. DH as part of a sequence starting before August 1, 2023 will be paid on the basis of scheduled flight time, even if the DH flight occurs on or after August 1, 2023 Pilots who deviate from the scheduled DH (NSHW) will be paid on the basis of scheduled flight time. Pay for DH greater than scheduled may be a manual process and will be in accordance with LOA 23-004 – Implementation Timeline and Joint Committee , paragraph 5. Jumpseat Etiquette: When jumpseating, it is very important to follow proper procedures and etiquette. Please refer to the APA Jumpseat Committee page for all applicable guidelines and use the link to reciprocal jumpseat agreements to understand the rules for each participating airline. Based on debriefs we would like to emphasize the following points: If you hold a boarding pass for a non-AA/AE flight for any seat using your reciprocal airline jumpseat privileges, you are an Additional Crew Member (ACM). If you are given a Flight Deck jumpseat OR seat in the cabin, you must request permission from the Captain and expect to show your boarding pass, certificates and ID badge. Even if the agent wants you to rush onto the plane and into your seat, a visit with the Captain is required. Be prepared to share your documents. As an ACM, even in a cabin seat, you may not consume any alcohol. Even when not in uniform, you may be required to assist on the flight deck or in the cabin. You must remain prepared to assist the flight crew, should the need arise. Appropriate attire is “Business casual attire or approved pilot uniform. Jeans (denim) are not allowed.” Not all airlines allow facial hair, so plan accordingly. The captain is, and shall always be, the final authority over matters relating to admission to the flight deck. Note: If you hold a “W” boarding pass on an AA or AE flight, you are an ACM and must comply with 2 (show your badge and ‘W’ boarding pass) box-sizing: border-box;">We will provide information later this week on Jumpseat and DH-related CBA provisions effective August 31, 2023, Consideration of Fuel Burn to accommodate Flight Deck JS height: 0.5px; background-color: darkgray; overflow: visible; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; box-sizing: border-box;" fr-original-style="margin: 20px 0 30px 0;height: 0.5px;background-color: darkgray;"> Compass TDY Guide This is a new article from the APA Compass Project Committee. With the ratification of the 2023 CBA, many aspects of our Temporary Assignment (TDY) agreements became effective on the date of signing, Aug. 31, 2023. TDY is covered in Section 15, letter M of the 2023 CBA. The Compass Project, Contract Compliance, Scheduling, and Negotiating committees are revising and reviewing the Compass TDY Guide to match the new 2023 CBA language. The new version of the document will be available no later than Sept. 4, 2023, so pilots can reference it before TDY bidding opens on Sept. 5 for the contractual month of October. The Compass TDY Guide covers subjects such as TDY bidding, A-Pass travel, hotels, transportation, pay and much more. Please visit the APA Compass Project page to access this and many other resources. 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 . Fatigue in Short-Haul Operations Study This is a new message from the APA Flight Time/Duty Time Committee. NASA Ames Research Center is conducting a study to evaluate sleep, sleepiness, performance, and workload that can be used to assess fatigue levels of short-haul pilots during normal operations. We are writing to ask if you would be interested in participating in this voluntary study. The information below provides a brief description about who is eligible to participate, what information we collect, how the data collection occurs, and how we analyze data. To participate in the study, volunteers must meet the following criteria. Be an active line pilot with at least 50% of scheduled flights defined as short haul ( Identify two trips (in any order) within a schedule that meet the following criteria: Circadian Switching . At least one FDP that starts between 0000-0659h relative to home-base time, followed by at least one FDP that ends between 0000-0659h, or vice versa , within the same trip (e.g., an FDP that begins at 0500h and the next FDP ends at 0100h or vice versa ). AND Trip without Circadian Disruption : This trip must not contain any duties that are scheduled to begin or end between 0000h and 0659h) relative to home-base time. Volunteers will be asked to collect data on sleep, sleepiness, workload, and performance using scientifically valid methods. Volunteers will wear an actigraphy watch: a device that measures the wearer’s movement. The device looks and feels like a wristwatch and is equipped with light sensors and accelerometers that detect motion. Readings collected automatically from these devices are used to objectively determine quantity and quality of sleep before, during, and after the trips of interest. Volunteers will perform Psychomotor Vigilance Tasks (PVTs) and the NASA Task Load Index (TLX) on a provided iPod. The PVT is a quick, simple test that measures reaction time to evaluate relative alertness levels. The TLX enables the participant to record measures of workload within the duty period. Volunteers will complete subjective assessments of sleep and alertness by recording information about the quality and quantity of sleep and rating alertness across the study period through an app on the provided iPod. On duty days, volunteers will complete questions regarding schedule and operational factors. The total time to complete all tasks should not exceed 30 minutes per day, with no individual session exceeding 7 minutes. Participation will involve a minimum of 8 days and maximum of 26 days, depending on the length of trips. Risks associated with participation include: slight discomfort and inconvenience from wearing an Actiwatch, although no more than from wearing a wristwatch, and inconvenience and potential distraction from taking the reaction time test several times during the study. While your participation will not provide you with any direct benefit, results of this study may inform evidence-based practices for scheduling and fatigue mitigation strategies during short-haul operations. Your data will be protected in accordance with approved Institutional Review board (IRB) standards. NASA, along with study collaborators from Washington State University and Brigham ">Participants will be assigned an identification code - all data will be referenced to this code and not the individual’s name or employee number, providing confidentiality for participating pilots. Coded data will be stored on devices provided by each airline and/or their research partner. Data access will be limited to personnel named on the IRB study protocol. The results of the research will not be presented in any form that identifies individuals. If you are interested in participating or would like to know more information, please contact Nick Bathurst ( nasafatiguestudy@gmail.com ). Thank you for your consideration. Buckle Up! This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. We recently received information that the LHR Airside Operations Team is enforcing a mandatory seat belt requirement. Each crew member that is not in compliance will lead to a “point” on the driver's record. Expect that the driver will emphasize this requirement on future LHR trips. Please comply with the rule for your safety and out of respect for the driver. APA always recommends you wear a seatbelt to and from the hotel. LOSA Observer Applications Open This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee. If you saw last week’s CCI, APA Safety and AA Safety are pleased to announce the hiring of additional Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) observers. The joint APA/AA LOSA program is an industry leader, and this is your chance to give back to your fellow line pilots and contribute to safety through the Allied Pilots Association and American Airlines. Qualifications Be a Captain or First Officer in good standing with American Airlines ">Have your own laptop (Windows or Mac) Possess and exhibit mastery of the following soft skills: Safety-driven nature. Self-motivation and attention to detail. Ability to adapt to a myriad of situations. Professional and courteous demeanor in all interactions. Effective time management with ability to meet deadlines. To Apply - Please email the LOSA team ( LOSA@aa.com ) with the following: Resume in PDF format with the following file name format:   LASTNAME_ FIRSTNAME_2023_LOSA_RESUME Answers to the following questions saved in PDF format, Times New Roman font, size 11, black, file name format:  LASTNAME_ FIRSTNAME_2023_LOSA_QUESTIONS Describe the function and purpose of a LOSA program in your own words. In a few short sentences, describe why you would like to become a LOSA observer. Describe the top qualities you think are essential to be an effective LOSA observer. Describe any relevant experiences you bring to the team and how they would apply to this position. Briefly explain a recent threat or error you encountered on a trip and how it was managed. If selected, training will be conducted the 9th-11th of October 2023 at American Airlines’ headquarters, Skyview 8. Observers can expect to work on a month-on/month-off basis. During the month of observing, the observer will have 4-5 days of flight duty replaced with their observer duties. For more information on LOSA at American Airlines, please reference AApilots > ASAP box-sizing: border-box;">If you have any questions, please contact: Captain Hugh Morgan APA Safety Committee Deputy Chair-LOSA hmorgan@alliedpilots.org The deadline to apply is Sept. 5 at 1200 CDT. We look forward to receiving your application. Join Our *NEW* Contract Compliance Training This message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee was originally published in the Aug. 25 APA News Digest. Everything you wanted to know about the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement but were too afraid to ask! Join us at 0900 Central on Sept. 13 for a full day of training on the new CBA. Please take a few moments before the training to familiarize yourself with the Electronic Document Index . You must be logged in to AlliedPilots.org for the links to be accessible. This Index connects you to a vast array of APA documents that we will reference. It is equally useful in the daily operation as a line pilot, so we recommend you retain the Index for future reference. During the training, it may be helpful to have two screens; one to run Zoom and one to reference these documents. A Zoom account (it’s free!) is required to attend the training course. For those who are not familiar with Zoom, APA IT has created a Zoom Quick Reference Guide . (We plan to offer in-person training sessions soon.) Click here to register for the Sept. 13 training course . Help us help you! The Contract Compliance Committee’s goal is for you – the membership – to be informed, educated, and knowledgeable. Every single pilot should strive to be a contract expert or, at the very least, strive for continued learning and engagement. Knowledge is power, and it will assist you in employing and being a watchdog of your negotiated work rules. Join Us for YOUnion 101 on Sept. 20 APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 20, beginning at 1100 Central. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newer pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. The APA Compass Project is an industry-leading pilot mentoring and support program. Compass offers one-on-one support from experienced line-pilot sponsors for New Hires, New Captains, Return to Work Pilots, as well as tutorial videos, and an extensive database of stage-based documents covering a helpful topics that are of importance to all pilots.  Click here for more information and click here to register . After registration you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Join Our September Military Affairs Town Hall This is a new message from the APA Military Affairs Committee. Join our town hall via Zoom at 1430 Central on Wednesday, Sept. 20, to discuss a wide range of topics that directly impact our Guard and Reserve Pilots. Click here to register now for the town hall . A few of the topics we will discuss: Chinese visa issues, the FAA 1,000-hour rule for upgrades, VA Disability ratings and VA letters, PBS bidding ideas, and the USERRA five-year limit questions. We will have time for questions on any topic and we encourage you to submit questions in advance to militaryaffairs@alliedpilots.org . The Military Affairs Committee is here to assist you and we look forward to hearing from you on Sept. 20. Pigs of the Week 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 mid-July,  A319 aircraft 810  right engine thrust reverser has been on MEL most of the time, been written up six times, and has been out of service and MEL four times. It was last returned to service on Aug. 30. In the last week, the right engine on B737 aircraft 3RY has been written up and out of service four times for not starting. It was last returned to service on Aug. 29. Since Aug. 6, B737 aircraft 3AA has been written up eight times and been out of service seven times due to all lavatories being inoperative. It was last returned to service on Aug. 30 and routing is currently restricted to Class 1 maintenance stations only. Support Airport Employees Impacted by the Maui Wildfire The APA Government Affairs Committee has asked that we share the following message from the American Association of Airport Executives and Airports Council International — North America. We are mobilizing a joint a relief effort alongside ACI-NA to support our airport ohana directly impacted by the recent wildfire on the island of Maui. Based on our early communication with the State of Hawaii Airport Division team, we know many airport employees have been impacted by the devastation, including the total loss of homes and other personal property. Early estimates of the total damage and economic toll of the catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii that decimated Lahaina, a historic town on the island of Maui, is $8 to $10 billion. While the airport team works to relocate tourists off the island, with limited resources and no electricity in the Lahaina area, we are asking for your help to provide support for our colleagues for when they are able to turn their attention to their own catastrophic losses. Mahalo for your quick and generous support. Your donation is tax deductible as permitted by law and 100 percent of funds contributed will be distributed to those affected. Please contact Gwen Basaria (AAAE) at gwen.basaria@aaae.org and 703.797.2540 or Scott Elmore (ACI-NA) at selmore@airportscouncil.org or 202.861.8082 with any questions. 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 casual dinner on Aug. 29: Chad Albury, Jorge Alvarez Martinez, Kareem Bahnasawey, Frank Baranyai, Brian Bickmeyer, Timothy Boegler, Michael Bonner, Justin Brammer, Adam Caudill, Lee Crawford, Christopher Daniels, Marco Diaz Cabrera, Corbett Dixon, Jeffrey Edgington, Gary Evans, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Andrew Fletcher, Joseph Fry, Grant Gemar, George Giourgas, Chris Gough, Benjamin Gutierrez, Hamed Hamidi, James Haugen, Stephen Hunnicutt, Ankit Jariwala, Mark Kennedy, Jared Laniewski, Chaom Li, Ian Macleod, Eric Martin, Jason Newbry, Diego Ortega, Duane Palmore, Jose Perez, Dylan Perry, Joshua Piper, Sooraj Ramachandran, Samuel Rzonca, Matthew Sartori, Sterling Saul, Matthew Schnell, Adam Schreier, Gerald Scoggin III, Vadim Sharpilo, Austin Snyder, Quintin Socha, Roberto Torres Talavera, Spencer Wann, Jonathan Wilson, Ronald Wood, Hayden Young, Kody Young, and Joseph Zack.. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. On Aug. 30, 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 Colquitt II, Marcelo de Melo, Martin Fedigan Jr., Chad Griffith, Rex Hopkins, Juliana Horchner, William Jester, Matthew Lipkin, Robert Meanley Jr., Michael Morse Jr., Heidi Theile, and Benjamin Thompson. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: Concourse Conversations on Sept. 21 CLT: Retirement Dinner on Sept. 17; Runway 5K on Oct. 21 DCA: Flying Circus Aerodrome on Sept. 17; Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 28 LAX: Reno Air Races on Sept. 13-17; Fleet Week lunch aboard the San Francisco Belle Sun on Oct. 8; San Diego Yacht Club party on Nov. 2; Dave "> LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 APA Supports the APFA On Wednesday, APA members joined our union brothers and sisters on the picket line at airports around the system as the APFA announced the results of its strike authorization vote, with 99.4% of the flight attendants who voted casting their vote in favor of a strike. ORD Domicile Chair CA Wes Smith (at left) and STOP Committee Deputy Chair CA Andrea Hoover (at right) in ORD on Wednesday. BOS Domicile Chair CA Paul McFarland (second from left) and LGA Domicile Chair CA Lawrence Cutler (at right) at the Boston State House. Domicile Elections Election Round ballots listing the following candidates will be mailed on Sept. 7 and tallied on Sept. 28. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Candidates’ resumes were mailed to PHL and PHX pilots on Aug. 9, when they were also posted on the APA Elections webpage. If you have any questions, call 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Negotiating Committee: Compensation, One-Time Supplemental Payment, Ratification Bonus Negotiating Committee: Date of Ratification, Date of Signing, and Implementation Check Airman Committee: Check Pilot Zoom Meeting on Aug. 31 Family Awareness Committee: Hurricane Idalia Help APA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes Special Meeting Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (2) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (2) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Scheduling Committee (6) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What records are kept for Professional Standards? None. There are no individual case files kept, nor are there any records in an employee’s Permanent Employment History (PEH). Only non-specific, de-identified logs are kept to maintain generic trends and reliability of the program. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 Honoring and Supporting Veterans 100 Vets Who Give A Damn DFW is a group of like-minded veterans who want to make an impact on military charities. Technically, the group does not exist; it has no directors, officers, or treasurers. Its core group of organizers are simply volunteers generously donating their time to try and make a difference. Three organizations are randomly chosen from a list of member-nominated charities. Representatives for those organizations are asked to make five-minute presentations about why they deserve the group’s support. After the presentations, the charity that receives the most votes from the vets in the room will be the suggested recipient. Each veteran then writes a check to the suggested charity and/or the ones that moved them the most. The next meeting at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth is scheduled for Sept. 21, when the vets will hear from Brother’s Keeper, Hero Lab, and Project Sanctuary. Click here for more information . 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here for more information . APA Holiday Schedule APA headquarters, including Contract Administration, will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. Contract Administration will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 0700 to 1800 Central, and will resume normal operation on Tuesday. 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. Industry News For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Aug. 25, 2023

APA News Digest Aug. 25, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Compass Project Committee: We’re Updating Our Library to Reflect New Language Contract Compliance Committee: Join Our *NEW* Contract Compliance Training Contract Compliance Committee: Reassignment Premium Military Affairs Subcommittee: Tell Us About Your Experiences in China STOP Committee: Other Work Groups Need Our Support Next Week Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ Honoring and Supporting Veterans If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars We’re Updating Our Library to Reflect New Language This is a new message from the APA Compass Project Committee. The Compass Project Committee has an extensive library of documents and guides that are a great resource to all our pilots. Some of the topics covered include reserve, vacation, and schedule changes among many others. A lot of the information in the library is based on the 2015 Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement. Now that the Tentative Agreement has been ratified by the membership, the Compass Project documents will be revised accordingly to reflect the new contract language and references for the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This revision process will take some time. Subject matter experts from each committee affected by the new changes will work with the Compass Project documents team to get these revisions completed accurately and expeditiously. This means that the material contained in our current library will be obsolete, so pilots are cautioned that the information in these documents may not necessarily match the new 2023 CBA. While we complete these changes, the documents that have not been revised in compliance with the 2023 CBA will be easily identified. Each outdated document will have a front cover with a red outline and a warning in red letters advising that the document or guide is in the process of being revised. Additionally, each page of the document will be gray instead of white. As we complete the revisions, the front cover warning and gray pages will be removed, signifying the document or guide is ready to use with the most current 2023 CBA information. We will do our very best to have this new information available as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding. 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 . Join Our *NEW* Contract Compliance Training This is a new message from the APA Contract Compliance Committee. Everything you wanted to know about the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement but were too afraid to ask! Join us at 0900 Central on Sept. 13 for a full day of training on the new CBA. Please take a few moments before the training to familiarize yourself with the Electronic Document Index . You must be logged in to AlliedPilots.org for the links to be accessible. This Index connects you to a vast array of APA documents that we will reference. It is equally useful in the daily operation as a line pilot, so we recommend you retain the Index for future reference. During the training, it may be helpful to have two screens; one to run Zoom and one to reference these documents. A Zoom account (it’s free!) is required to attend the training course. For those who are not familiar with Zoom, APA IT has created a Zoom Quick Reference Guide . (We plan to offer in-person training sessions soon.) Click here to register for the Sept. 13 training course . Help us help you! The Contract Compliance Committee’s goal is for you – the membership – to be informed, educated, and knowledgeable. Every single pilot should strive to be a contract expert or, at the very least, strive for continued learning and engagement. Knowledge is power, and it will assist you in employing and being a watchdog of your negotiated work rules. Reassignment Premium This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q:  I am operating a sequence and have been reassigned. Do I receive additional pay? A: Both Lineholders and Reserves are eligible for Reassignment Premium pay via Section 15.N.4. LOA 23-004 partially implements the 15.N.4 language for all sequences with a FOS date of 01AUG23 or later. Until full implementation (no later than DOS plus 6 months), all reassigned segments will pay an additional 50%. After full implementation, reassigned segments in the first duty period will continue to pay an additional 50% and reassigned segments in subsequent duty periods will pay an additional 100%. Reassignments must be coded as “AF” at the segment level or “RA” at the sequence level. The Reassignment Premium pay will continue until the pilot is returned to their originally scheduled sequence, or when the sequence concludes. If a Lineholder experiences a Misconnect, Illegality, or Cancellation (MIC), Recovery Flying could be assigned. Recovery Flying is not a Reassignment, is not eligible for Reassignment Premium pay, and will be coded as “RO.” If a Reserve experiences a disruption, a Reschedule (Section 2.A.60) can occur. Reserves who are rescheduled should expect “25” coding with the associated rescheduled segments. CBA Section 15.N.4 4. In addition to 2. or 3. above, when a pilot is reassigned that pilot shall also receive a premium of: a. pay, no credit, at a rate of one-half (50 percent) times the pilot’s hourly base pay rate for that the reassigned time flown prior to the first break in duty following the reassignment; b. pay, no credit, at a rate of one (100 percent) times the pilot’s hourly base pay rate for the reassigned time flown subsequent to the first break in duty. c. the premium pay in a. and b. above will cease at the earlier of the pilot being returned to their originally scheduled sequence, or the pilot completing the sequence. d. Any additional flight time pay and credit associated with paragraphs E., F. or G that was generated as a result of the reassignment outside the original sequence footprint does not qualify for the premium described in a. or b. above. Section 2.A.60. Reschedule A pilot shall be deemed rescheduled when assigned flying that is contained within the original sequence footprint or within the pilot’s Recovery Flying Window, as applicable, following a disruption to the pilot’s scheduled sequence. The original sequence footprint or Recovery Flying Window may be extended if the pilot flies or is deadheaded on the first available flight(s) to base. The “first available flight to base” is the flight(s) that arrives at the base the earliest. The flight(s) may be direct or indirect. Tell Us About Your Experiences in China This is a new message from the APA Military Affairs Subcommittee. Attention, all current and former military pilots required to get a Chinese visa by American Airlines: We are looking for any anecdotal stories or evidence regarding denied visa applications, requests for additional information about your military background, any additional questioning on arrival in China, or anything else having to do with China’s visa program. As APA President CA Ed Sicher said in his membership message earlier this week, we are continuing to engage with AA management, as well as the U.S. State and Defense departments, on this issue; your stories or evidence will help provide the data we need. Please email us via militaryaffairs@alliedpilots.org . Thank you for your assistance. Other Work Groups Need Our Support Next Week This is an updated message from the APA Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants plans to conduct informational picketing at our 10 base airports, plus MCO, on Aug. 30, when they will announce the results of their strike authorization vote. The picket times will be either from 1000 to 1200 or from 1100 to 1300. If you can stand with your fellow crewmembers that day, click here to RSVP . The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association plans to conduct informational picketing at five airports (ATL, BWI, HOU, LAX, and MDW) on Aug. 31. If you can stand with your fellow pilots that day, click here to RSVP . Pigs of the Week 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 July 10, B777 aircraft 7BG has been written up 15 times for APU bleed air. It has been on MEL five times, and in the last week has been out of service five times. At the time of this writing, it remained out of service and restricted from revenue ETOPS. The left engine EGT on A321 aircraft 856 has been written up 24 times since May. It was most recently signed off on Aug. 22, but it was out of service at the time of this writing. In the last month, the flight deck door on A319 aircraft 753 has been written up 21 times and been out of service five times; several of those were for opening during revenue operations. It was most recently signed off on Aug. 24. UPDATE 1: Since May 26, A319 aircraft 757 has been written up 23 times for right engine bleed air and been out of service 15 times. At the time of this writing, it was restricted to AA maintenance stations. UPDATE 2: Since Aug. 6, B737 aircraft 3AA has been written up six times and has been out of service five times because all the lavatories are inoperative. It most recently returned to service on Aug. 24. 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 casual dinner on Aug. 22: Luz Agudelo, Mohammed Ahmed, Heather Atkinson, Marvin Borda, Patrick Bynum, Freddy Cabrera, William Cardona, Brian Cleys, Timothy Corimbelly, Carder Ehlert, James Fennell, Casey Ferris, Aaron Finke, Conor Fox, Miller Franklin, John Gelinne, Jamison Giles, Tyler Goodwin, Kathryn Guello, Justin Hackett, Peter Hathaway, Nicolas Hauzeur, Sloan Hollis, Jesper Jensen, William Joachim, Joshua Johnson, Logan Johnston, Jeong Kim, Adam King, Andrew Klosterman, Stefano Kolyouthapong, Cody Kontny, Kasiri Landon, Paul Latina, Semi Lemafa, Johannes Lombard, Eric Lourenco De Souza, Chad Manske, Glenn Matheny II, Cole Moore, Kyle Oser, Evan Pappas, Evander Pinder, Jon Pounds, Nicholas Ramirez, Amber Ranski, Andrew Repper, Steven Riddle, Alberto Salamanca Alvarez, Omer Sinayis, Alexander Smith, Joseph Stepp, Colton Thomas, Tandy Whitehead, and Benjamin Wiscomb. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. On Aug. 23, 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: Keene Cameron, William Foulk III, Milton Gandhi, Walter Hohmann, Jeffrey Kerr, James Kochenower, Ricardo Mata, Austin Norton, and Andrew Ohara. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: Concourse Conversations on Sept. 21 CLT: Retirement Dinner on Sept. 17; Runway 5K on Oct. 21 DCA: Flying Circus Aerodrome on Sept. 17; Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 28 LAX: Reno Air Races on Sept. 13-17; Fleet Week lunch aboard the San Francisco Belle Sun on Oct. 8; San Diego Yacht Club party on Nov. 2; Dave "> LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 Domicile Elections CA Brian Sweep and FO Jim Varden have withdrawn their candidacies for PHL Chair and PHX Chair, respectively. Election Round ballots listing the following candidates will be mailed on Sept. 7 and tallied on Sept. 28. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Candidates’ resumes were mailed to PHL and PHX pilots on Aug. 9, when they were also posted on the APA Elections webpage. If you have any questions, call 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. President: China Travel: Caution Required for Military Members Vice President: “I Care That You Understand It” Scope Committee: Scope Violation Verified Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes Emergency Special Meeting Information Hotline: Membership Ratifies Tentative Agreement Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes Special Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Reconvenes Special Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Adjourns Special Meeting Press Release: American Airlines Pilots Approve New Contract Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (4) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (2) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Do committee volunteers receive any kind of training? New committee volunteers receive an extensive two-day training course that includes more than 16 hours of classroom instruction. The training includes modules such as Conflict Resolution, Mediation, Mentoring, Pilot Personality, Generational Issues Affecting Cockpit Performance, Resources, and Communication Skills. Committee members also receive instruction on the Professional Standards process, the APA Policy Manual, and the importance of confidentiality. These concepts are reinforced through multiple role-play scenarios. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 Honoring and Supporting Veterans 100 Vets Who Give A Damn DFW is a group of like-minded veterans who want to make an impact on military charities. Technically, the group does not exist; it has no directors, officers, or treasurers. Its core group of organizers are simply volunteers generously donating their time to try and make a difference. Three organizations are randomly chosen from a list of member-nominated charities. Representatives for those organizations are asked to make five-minute presentations about why they deserve the group’s support. After the presentations, the charity that receives the most votes from the vets in the room will be the suggested recipient. Each veteran then writes a check to the suggested charity and/or the ones that moved them the most. The next meeting at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth is scheduled for Sept. 21, when the vets will hear from Brother’s Keeper, Hero Lab, and Project Sanctuary. Click here for more information . 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

American Airlines Pilots Approve New Contract

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250 American Airlines Pilots Approve New Contract New Contract Secures More Than $9.6 Billion in Additional Value Versus Prior Agreement FORT WORTH, Texas (Aug. 21, 2023) – The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, announced that its members have voted to ratify a tentative agreement that the union and airline management reached on Aug. 1. The pilots approved the new agreement by a margin of 72.7% in favor, with more than 95% of eligible pilots participating in the ratification vote. Voting opened at 1200 Central on Aug. 7 and closed at 1200 Central today. The American Arbitration Association administered the voting process and has certified the results. “The pilots of American Airlines have spoken: It’s time to move forward with a new working agreement that provides substantial monetary gains and quality-of-life improvements,” said Capt. Ed Sicher, Allied Pilots Association President. "This contract is a big first step toward restoring the wages, benefits, and work rules that were lost during the past two decades while our profession was under continuous assault. As pilots, we hold a tremendous amount of responsibility with every flight we take. It’s a responsibility we take seriously, as evidenced by the U.S. airline industry’s unrivaled safety record, and it’s time for our profession to provide rewards commensurate with its unique demands." The new, 48-month contract features approximately $1.1 billion in immediate, one-time payments and ratification bonuses; annual pay rate increases for the contract’s duration; and enhancements to various benefits and work rules. Capt. Sicher noted that work-rule changes in the new agreement are intended to help ensure more reliable service for passengers and more predictable schedules for pilots. On average, pilots will see an immediate pay raise of more than 21%. Combined with increases in pilots’ 401(k) contributions and subsequent pay raises each May, pilot compensation rates rise by more than 46% during the contract’s duration. In all, the new contract will provide American Airlines’ pilots with approximately $9.6 billion in additional value versus the prior agreement. It becomes amendable on Aug. 1, 2027, with a provision for the next round of bargaining to begin as soon as November 2026. Quality-of-life improvements represent nearly 20% of the increased value of the new contract, including enhancements to vacation benefits and reassignment pay and increases in training pay and per diem. Improvements in long-term disability benefits, enhanced life insurance benefits, and the creation of a Retiree Health Reimbursement Arrangement and a Market Based Cash Balance Plan for excess 401(k) contributions also deliver substantial value. “I want to offer my thanks and congratulations to the pilots of American Airlines for their engagement and professionalism throughout this lengthy negotiation,” Capt. Sicher said. “I also want to thank our negotiating team, staff, and the many other APA subject-matter experts who contributed their time and talents. “We look forward to continue doing all we can to advance our pilots’ interests by building on the significant contractual gains we have secured,” he said. “Make no mistake – our work is not finished, and we will remain laser-focused on maintaining the momentum we have achieved for the betterment of our members, the airline pilot profession, and the passengers we serve.” 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 15,000 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.
Press Releases

APA News Digest: Aug. 18, 2023

APA News Digest Aug. 18, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Negotiating Committee: There’s Still Time to Get Informed! Secretary-Treasurer: Ratification Voting Ends Monday APA Board of Directors to Convene Tuesday Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: CASS Outage Planned for Saturday Hotel Committee: Updates Regarding Skyview 6 Contract Compliance Committee: Sick Removal from a DOTC Application Award Government Affairs Committee: Do You Back the PAC? Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ 9/11 Museum Offers Free Admission Honoring and Supporting Veterans World War II Veteran Honored by Dream Flights If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars There’s Still Time to Get Informed! This is a new message from the APA Negotiating Committee. Thanks to all of you who attended a road show, whether in-person or via Zoom. We developed the road shows for the express purpose of helping you make an informed vote, and we hope that the presentation provided you with decision-quality information and details on negotiated provisions. We understand that not everyone was able to attend, so within the “Road Shows” area of Contract 2023 , we’ve posted the recordings of the CLT and DFW presentations. Below the links to the recordings, you’ll also find the “Week 1 Road Show Consolidated Q box-sizing: border-box;">That said, there’s simply no substitute for the source documents, and we encourage you to spend time reviewing the Executive Summary, recordings, and as much of the updated language in 2023 TA 2.0 as your time permits. The vote remains open, and your vote is important – you must make your election before voting closes at 1200 Central on Monday, August 21. Regardless of the outcome of the membership ratification vote on 2023 TA 2.0, it has been our distinct honor to represent you at the bargaining table during this round of bargaining. In Unity, APA Negotiating Committee Ratification Voting Ends Monday APA Secretary-Treasurer FO Pat Clark sent the following message to all members today. As a reminder, ratification voting on Tentative Agreement 2.0, conducted electronically through the American Arbitration Association, ends at 1200 Central on Monday , Aug. 21. You may change your vote as many times as you want prior to the end of the voting period, but it requires contacting AAA first at 1-800-529-5218. If you have any questions about the ratification process, please see the Ratification Voting Q box-sizing: border-box;">If you need a replacement PIN, please call AAA at 1-800-529-5218 between 0900 and 1700 Eastern today, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. AAA will provide extended support until 2359 Eastern on Sunday . The deadline to vote is 1200 Central on Monday . APA Board of Directors to Convene Tuesday A special APA Board of Directors meeting is scheduled to begin at 0900 Central on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at APA headquarters in Fort Worth. The meeting is scheduled to continue through midday on Thursday, Aug. 24. You may review the agenda here .   CASS Outage Planned for Saturday This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. An upgrade and migration of CASS (jumpseat authorization system) will take place on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 0900 to 1800 Central. The system will be unavailable from approximately 1000 to 1400, with intermittent outages anticipated up to 1800. We remind pilots that CASS verification is required for pilots to occupy a flight deck jumpseat. CASS verification is not required to occupy a cabin seat. Please plan accordingly. Updates Regarding Skyview 6 This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on Skyview 6, aka The Landing. Starting on Monday, Aug. 21, The Tavern will take food orders until 2200. Additionally, they will offer a takeout option. Management also arranged a van service that will take Skyview 6 guests to restaurants across the highway, as well as nearby stores such as Target and Walmart. There are two vans that will operate between 0700 and 2300, seven days a week, and they will shuttle crews whenever available. Please speak with the front desk to coordinate. For more information, see the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. Sick Removal from a DOTC Application Award This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q:  I was awarded a pick-up sequence through the DOTC application. I am now sick and cannot report for that sequence. I have time available in my Sick Bank. Will I be paid for the sequence? A: According to Q box-sizing: border-box;">In either scenario, you will be placed on the Sick List and will remain there until you utilize the contractual methods to clear. If your sequence was removed with 15, you may pick up or trade across that original Sequence Footprint after clearing the Sick List. If your sequence was removed with SK or US, the Sequence Footprint will be blocked with credit. Do You Back the PAC? This is an updated message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. Members of Congress have offered amendments to the FAA reauthorization bills that would raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots and lower the number of flight hours needed to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot transport certificate. Your Government Affairs Committee is working hard to convince lawmakers that these measures are unnecessary, unwise, and dangerous. We are able to have direct access to members of Congress thanks to your voluntary contributions to the APA Poltical Action Committee. Last month, 5,558 pilots contributed to the APA PAC . That number represented 36.3 percent of APA’s active members. Click the image below for a closer look at each domicile’s PAC contribution rates in May, June, and July. Our Political Action Committee would be extremely well-funded if every APA member contributed as if his or her career depended on it – because it does. Click here to back the PAC . Pigs of the Week 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 Aug. 6., B737 aircraft 3AA has been written up and out of service four times for all lavatories inop. It returned to service on Aug. 16 after the lavatory flush logic control module was replaced. In the last two weeks, the left engine bleed air on A319 aircraft 837 has been written up 10 times. The first three times, it was signed off as “performed reset/BITE test” or “ops checks good.” It has been out of service seven times, and most recently returned to service on Aug. 17. At the time of this writing, it was restricted to AA maintenance stations. Since May 26, the left engine bleed air on A321 aircraft 170 has been written up 18 times and been on MEL six times. It has been out of service four times in August. This has been signed off nine times as “performed reset/BITE test” or “ops checks good.” The most recent signoff on Aug. 16 mentioned a repaired leak, a replaced heat blanket, and a shorted interconnect cable. At the time of this writing, the aircraft was restricted to AA maintenance stations. 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 casual dinner on Aug. 15: Justice Ali, Travis Atchley, Oded Barchichet, Jesse Barger, Dylan Barreras, Samuel Bortkton, Michael Brannam, David Braun, Kevin Burgess, Nicholas Burt, Joan Castillo, Steven Cavoretto, Ryan Collins, Johnathan Cox, Tyler Curlee, Shawn Davis, Matthew DeFoore, Sabastian Drakes, Ashley Dunn, Rogelio Espinoza Jr., Spencer Gates, Manvir Gill, Adam Goldenberg, Curtis Hall, Lee Hamons, Brian Heiney, Brandon Hendrickson, Darek Holz, David Hunt, Ryan James, Kevin Kennedy, Curtis Langstraat, Kevin Laughary, Jin Lee, Max Levine, Robert Love, Douglas Luallin, Simon Mamic, Jalal Mansour, Justin Meeks, Tewodros Mekuria, Harrison Miller, Solomon Nader, Lukas Nelson, Mateo Pillot, Tyler Powell, Craig Robinson, Hunter Rogue, Axel Seixas, Nicholas Smith, David Stanton, Gabriel Thompson, Cody Timmons, Clinton Warbington, Andrew Wells, Mark Welty, Shawn Wynn, and Masanori Yamazaki. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Aug. 16, 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: Ruben Alconero, Clifford Austin, Christopher Benaiges, Timothy Bowden, Anthony Ciaravella, Chad Craig, Christopher Daniels, Matthew Donoghue, Delphin Gantt Jr., Chadwick Greer, Todd Gruber, Todd Homan, Michael Kirkpatrick, Chad Lampe, Bradley Locey, Keith Malkani, Daniel Moss, Jacques Rogers, Scott Shideler, Walter Sorenson Jr., Tanner Stapp, and John Twitchell. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : CLT: Runway 5K on Oct. 21 DCA: Flying Circus Aerodrome on Sept. 17; Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 28 LAX: Reno Air Races on Sept. 13-17; Fleet Week lunch aboard the San Francisco Belle Sun on Oct. 8; San Diego Yacht Club party on Nov. 2; Dave "> LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 Domicile Elections Resumes for the following candidates were mailed to PHL and PHX pilots on Aug. 9, when they were also posted on the APA Elections webpage. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid CA Brian Sweep PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino FO Jim Varden PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Election Round ballots will be mailed on Sept. 7 and tallied on Sept. 28. If necessary, Runoff Round ballots would be mailed on Oct. 10 and tallied on Oct. 31. If you have any questions, call 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Safety Committee: Unauthorized Procedures Are Ill-Advised  Scheduling Committee: Temporary Suspension of Exception Rule E in TTS Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (4) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (2) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What is the process for handling issues that occur repeatedly? As human beings, it is expected that behavior changes slowly and, as such, some pilots will always behave as their personality dictates. The Professional Standards process should not be expected to “change” a personality, but more thought of as an opportunity to share how a certain behavior affects peers and colleagues. There will also be the possibility of an employee exhibiting the same behavior because they have yet to be informed there is a different expectation. If an issue has been referred to a committee member, and an employee exhibits the same issue, please be patient and give the committee the opportunity to re-address the issue. As a submitter, if you are concerned, you have the option of updating the committee volunteer on observed progress. If at any time you are concerned with the time needed to process any submission, contact any National Deputy or your elected Domicile Officer for resolution. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 9/11 Museum Offers Free Admission Active and retired flight crewmembers are invited to visit the National Sept. 11 Memorial text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here to reserve free tickets . Honoring and Supporting Veterans 100 Vets Who Give A Damn DFW is a group of like-minded veterans who want to make an impact on military charities. Technically, the group does not exist; it has no directors, officers, or treasurers. Its core group of organizers are simply volunteers generously donating their time to try and make a difference. Three organizations are randomly chosen from a list of member-nominated charities. Representatives for those organizations are asked to make five-minute presentations about why they deserve the group’s support. After the presentations, the charity that receives the most votes from the vets in the room will be the suggested recipient. Each veteran then writes a check to the suggested charity and/or the ones that moved them the most. The next meeting at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth is scheduled for Sept. 21, when the vets will hear from Brother’s Keeper, Hero Lab, and Project Sanctuary. Click here for more information . World War II Veteran Honored by Dream Flights Last February, the APA Board of Directors approved a $20,000 donation to Dream Flights, an organization that honors military veterans and seniors with flights in a Boeing Stearman biplane. This week, KOBI-TV – the NBC affiliate in Medford, Ore. – covered the Dream Flight of a World War II veteran who received a surprise gift in advance of his 99th birthday. Click here to watch . 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Aug. 11, 2023

APA News Digest Aug. 11, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Negotiating Committee: Get Informed on 2023 TA 2.0 – Attend or Watch a Road Show! Family Awareness Committee: APA Families Enjoy Night Out in AUS Hotel Committee: Hotel Survey vs. Hotel Debrief Contract Compliance Committee: How Are We Paid After FDP Illegality? STOP Committee: Other Work Groups Need Our Support Sudden Grief Response Program: We Need More Volunteers Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Membership Committee: Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains APA Represented at OBAP Conference Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ 9/11 Museum Offers Free Admission Honoring and Supporting Veterans If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Get Informed on 2023 TA 2.0 – Attend or Watch a Road Show! This is a new message from the APA Negotiating Committee. Mark Myers, FO Chris Wachter, FO Adam Rutherford, and CA Jason Saxer Thanks to those of you who attended this week’s road shows. It’s been great for the Negotiating Committee, the Negotiating Department, and APA SMEs to be able to present the areas negotiated in this round of bargaining, and to be able to answer your questions on the 2023 TA 2.0. The final five opportunities to attend a road show are coming up on Aug. 15, 16, and 17. The presentation was created to help inform your decision, and it’s not too late to RSVP. Base Date Time Venue RSVP BOS Aug. 15 0900 EDT Hilton BOS Airport RSVP DFW Aug. 17 0900 CDT Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center RSVP LAX Aug. 16 1000 PDT LAX Airport Marriott RSVP ORD Aug. 16 0900 CDT Hilton ORD Airport RSVP PHX Aug. 15 0900 MST DoubleTree Phoenix RSVP Each of those RSVP links will require you to log into AlliedPilots.org first. That way, the website will be able to identify you. Simply click the “Submit” button, and you should see a message that says, “Your RSVP has been submitted.” Pilots who cannot attend a road show in person have three more opportunities to view one via Zoom. You can register for next week’s Zoom sessions by clicking the links below. PHX (0900 MST on Aug. 15) LAX (1000 PDT on Aug. 16) DFW (0900 CDT on Aug. 17) And for those who are unavailable on those days, videos of the Aug. 8 road show at CLT have been uploaded within the “Road Shows” space on the Contract 2023 site. That site also features the full language of TA 2.0, an executive summary of TA 2.0, comment letters from the Board of Directors, and Contract Comparisons that highlight differences between TA 2.0, our existing JCBA, the Delta CBA, the United CBA, and the United AIP. Voting opened at 1200 Central on Aug. 7. In response to members’ questions about the voting procedures, APA Secretary-Treasurer FO Pat Clark published a Ratification Voting Q box-sizing: border-box;">Your vote is important – make your election before voting closes at 1200 Central on Aug. 21. We look forward to seeing you next week! APA Families Enjoy Night Out in AUS This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. See more photos from the AUS event on APA’s Facebook page . The Negotiating Committee isn’t the only national committee that can take their show on the road. Several APA families enjoyed an evening at a Topgolf facility in AUS on Tuesday. If you live in a commuter city and would like to see a similar event near your home, contact the Family Awareness Committee. Hotel Survey vs. Hotel Debrief This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. Now that the Hotel Survey on the APA Mobile app is more comprehensive, certain issues are best tracked in the survey as opposed to a Hotel Debrief. Room wait times, transportation wait times, climate control issues, and lack of food options are all examples of issues that are best communicated through the survey. The survey is quicker to fill out than a debrief and helps us to track trends. We can identify problems clearly with the survey, and it allows us to address them with American appropriately. An issue in a debrief is often seen by the hotel or company as a “one off” (and often that is the case), but the survey gives us the necessary data to identify a trend that needs to be addressed. Save yourself some time and capture this information in the survey, which takes just a minute or two to fill out. There is no need to duplicate with the debrief unless it is egregious enough that it leads to a fatigue call, you are forced to secure your own transportation or hotel room, or it causes a late departure. For more information, see the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. How Are We Paid After FDP Illegality? This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q:  I am a Lineholder who reported for the first day of my sequence and incurred delays on the first flight. Because of those delays, I was no longer able to complete my scheduled flying due to an FDP illegality. The sequence was removed with XR, but how am I paid? A: Any Misconnect, Illegality, or Cancellation (MIC) creates a Replacement Flying Window (RFW) with Recovery Obligation. A Lineholder, or a Reserve pilot flying on days off (OG/PR), is pay protected for their originally awarded sequence value (Section 4.1.a). If you reported for duty – an FDP or a scheduled deadhead – and the sequence was subsequently cancelled, a Report Sequence should be generated. This Report Sequence will pay the greater of 5.15 (the 15.G Average Calendar Day RIG) or the time spent on duty (the 15.E Minimum Pay and Credit RIG). The Report Sequence will become part of the Sequence Protection, and its value will be matched against the original sequence value; this will not increase the total protected value. If you are assigned and fly Replacement Flying, the sum of the value of the Report Sequence and the value of the Replacement Flying will be compared to the original sequence value. If that combined value is greater, the higher sum will be paid. Section 4.C.1.a. A lineholder pilot or reserve pilot flying on days off whose sequence is cancelled for any reason shall be pay protected for the scheduled value of the sequence at the time of the award or assignment. Section 15.E.1.b. (E RIG) One (1) minute flight time pay and flight time credit for each two (2) minutes of the greater of actual, scheduled, or rescheduled duty in the hours of 0600-2159 (HBT) and one (1) minute flight time pay and flight time credit for each one and one-half (1.5) minutes of the greater of actual, scheduled, or rescheduled duty in the hours of 2200-0559 (HBT). Except a duty period which signs in after 2200 and ends after 0359 will receive one (1) minute flight time pay and flight time credit for each one and one-half (1.5) minutes for the entire duty period. Section 15.G. (G RIG) 1. A pilot who reports for any duty (including deadheading) shall receive a minimum of five hours and fifteen minutes (5:15) flight time pay and flight time credit multiplied by the number of calendar days contained in such pilot’s trip sequence, including days added as a result of a reschedule, reassignment, or delay. Except, to receive this credit on the final calendar day of the sequence, a pilot must have either an actual release after 0159 or have a scheduled release after 0159. 2. A pilot who performs two (2) or more on duty periods broken by at least one (1) off duty period away from such pilot’s base shall receive, for each duty period provided in E.1. above, a minimum of two (2) hours flight time pay and flight time credit. Other Work Groups Need Our Support This is an updated message from the APA Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee. The CWA-IBT Association, which represents passenger service agents at American Airlines, plans to conduct informational picketing at eight airports (CLT, DFW, IAH, MIA, ORD, PHL, PHX, and STL) on Aug. 15. If you can stand with your fellow union employees that day, click here for more details . The Association of Professional Flight Attendants plans to conduct informational picketing at our 10 base airports, plus MCO, on Aug. 30. The picket times will be either from 1000 to 1200 or from 1100 to 1300. If you can stand with your fellow crewmembers that day, click here to RSVP . The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association plans to conduct informational picketing at five airports (ATL, BWI, HOU, LAX, and MDW) on Aug. 31. If you can stand with your fellow pilots that day, click here to RSVP . We Need More Volunteers This is a new message from the Sudden Grief Response Program. The Sudden Grief Response Program is looking for volunteers to assist family members in times of crisis. We are a specialized committee that deals with the unexpected death of a pilot, or a pilot’s family member, and assists the survivors as needed through these tough times. If you are interested in joining our effort, please contact FO Vern Reaser via vreaser@alliedpilots.org . Pigs of the Week 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. In the last five days, B777 aircraft 7LJ has been written up four times for R1 windshield heat. At the time of this writing, it was out of service. Since July 24, B737 aircraft 3CX  has been written up eight times and been out of service five times for cabin pressurization faults. It was recently operated under an SFP (Special Flight Permit) unpressurized with a NRFO2 management crew to a maintenance base, where it remains out of service. From Aug. 3 to Aug. 7, A319 aircraft 804 was written up six times and out of service four times for landing gear disagree. It was most recently signed off on Aug. 8. 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 casual dinner on Aug. 8: Lester Armstrong, Hugh Atkinson, Brent Blandino, Taylor Bodenhamer, Michael Brown, Carlos Buitrago, Jacob Cabra, Jess Cantrell, Preston Carrington, Matthew Casile, Yoandy Castellanos, Ryan Caulder, Keegan Christensen, Stephen Dobbin, David Haase, Alexander Hermeling, Eric Higgins, Joshua Hoffman, Matthew Holley, David Hopely, Timothy Hyer, Nicholas Koutelos, Benjamin Kula, Matthew Laurentz, James Lawson, Francisco Leach Boria, Eric Liscar Jr., John Long III, Sarah Mahloch, Shawn McDonald, Barry McKeown, Casey McLennand, Kyle Miller, Thomas Monday, Toby Moore, Daniel Moorman, Robert Nicolai, Nathan Nitzh, Cameron Nowell, Bradley Parker, Ahmad Peay, John Pelzer, Luis Perez, Anthony Petraglia, Angelo Piscopo, Andrew Piwowarek, Ernest Quallis, Shmuel Rosenfeld , Eden Sade, Alejandro Salas, Sterling Stewart, Nathaniel Tinny, Colin Vining, Jason Volentine, and Matthias Wrede. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Aug. 9, 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: Brian Anderson, Ana Anderson, Richard Baumann, Michael Bramble, Eric Carlson, Bryan Compton, Nicholas Dubois, Robert Dunning, Bryan Fonseca, Tyrel Greenwade, Mark Hansberger, Arpinder Kaur, Michael Kirkpatrick, Joseph Kolarik, Alan Korotenko, Bret Kozura, Scott Malcolm, Mario Pompeii III, William Russo, Scott Shideler, Laura Smith, Brian Stockdell, David Valenziano, and Benjamin Wilson II. Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate these pilots who upgraded to captain last month. They are listed by their post-upgrade base and equipment. CLT 320: Kellen Cottrell, Matthew Donoghue, Quenten Esser, Delphin Gantt, Andrew Garrett, Chadwick Greer, Michael Halliday-Williams, David Hunter, John Jarred, Marco Junco, Timothy Kahoe, Robert Meanley Jr., Michael Nicoson, Michael Pfeifer, Kyrylo Romanovych, Laura Smith, and Daniel Woodard CLT 737: Ryan Dacey DCA 737: Robert Chambers, David Kelley, David Kirk, and Kyle Morales DCA 320: Christopher Daniels and Kelly Ladd DFW 787: Bryan Compton and Robert Dunning DFW 737: Bryan Black, Jerad Carpenter, Thomas Crews, David Elston, John Fierro, Bryan Fonseca, Chad Griffith, Samuel Hernandez Carlo, Arpinder Kaur, Nicholas Kinner, Joe Kolarik, Alan Korotenko, Duncan Mackechney, Rick Massimi, and Sean Noel DFW 320: Clifford Austin, Shannon Buller, Donald Butler, Joe Cardillo, Manuel Castro, Carlos Coloma, Chad Craig, Todd Dornlas, Kenneth Evans, Nikki Green, James Haizlip, Matthew Hall, Mark Hansberger, David Hoekstra, Matthew Hoerstman, Walter Hohmann, Todd Homan, Kelly Kareis, Graham Kyle III, Karl Lamm, Chad Lampe, Amanda Lantz, William Magyar, Ricardo Mata, Jonathan McMillian, Mark Myers, Charles Niblack, Max Pippin, Brent Pounders, Alan Radford, James Reagan, Michael Roberson, Timothy Scaife, Ian Shirey, James Sowden, Tanner Stapp, Calvin Tenhet, Arthur Villegas, Michael Wear, George Wilson, Kevin Wilson, and Ehren Zapletal LAX 737: Keene Cameron and Gordon Sheals LAX 320: Adrian Arjonilla, Jonathan Barlow, Paul Berthon, Anthony Ciaravella, Martin Fedigan Jr., Ashkan Karimi, Thomas Leisek, Joseph Panettiere, Seth Pelletier, Richard Perkins, Mario Pompeii III, Jarod Robinson, and Jacques Rogers LGA 777: Richard Dilko LGA 737: Nicholas Dubois, William Jester, Jeffrey Kerr, Steven Lasker, Samuel Rodriguez Caballero, Devin Tolentino, Sean Vance, and Forrest Zetterberg MIA 777: Michael O’Bryan MIA 737: Esteban Arcila Aranzazu, David Behar, Christopher Benaiges, Leandro De Los Santos, Hugo Gonzalez, Juan Gutierrez, Daniel Housley, Michael Siegel, Alejandro Sparis, Ray Tidwell III, and John Twitchell MIA 320: Marcelo DeMelo, Michael Morse, Chris Nicholson, and Nicholas Taylor ORD 737: Perfecto Bahena Salgado, Mathew Boesche, Eric Carlson, Christopher Chapekis, Bret Hildebrant, and Scott Malcolm PHL 320: Mike Amos, Todd Gruber, Ilian Peltekov, Adam Rockhill, and Heidi Theile PHX 320: Richard Baumann, Tyrel Greenwade, and Steven Wargocki APA Represented at OBAP Conference CA Andrea Hoover, FO Josh Daneault, CA Steve Pacheco, CA Jorge Sanchez, CA Melvin White, and FO Natalie Anagnostou Members of the Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee and the Family Awareness Committee were at the annual Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals conference in New Orleans this week, answering pilots’ questions about APA, American Airlines, and Tentative Agreement 2.0. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : DCA: Flying Circus Aerodrome on Sept. 17; Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 28 LAX: Reno Air Races on Sept. 13-17; Fleet Week lunch aboard the San Francisco Belle Sun on Oct. 8; San Diego Yacht Club party on Nov. 2; Dave "> LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 Domicile Elections Resumes for the following candidates were mailed to PHL and PHX pilots on Aug. 9, when they were also posted on the APA Elections webpage. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid CA Brian Sweep PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino FO Jim Varden PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Election Round ballots will be mailed on Sept. 7 and tallied on Sept. 28. If necessary, Runoff Round ballots would be mailed on Oct. 10 and tallied on Oct. 31. If you have any questions, call 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Secretary-Treasurer: Ratification Voting Q ">Professional Standards and Safety Committees: Unauthorized Use of Personal Electronic Devices During Flight Deck Duties  Safety Committee: Maui Fires Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (5) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (2) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs How do we add and who selects committee members? The Domicile Officers are responsible for determining the number of and selecting the candidates for the domicile Professional Standards committees. Typical volunteers possess qualities such as maturity, empathy, peer respect, tact, and strict adherence to standard operating procedures and protocols. The APA President selects the national committee members from an approved list of recommended candidates. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 9/11 Museum Offers Free Admission Active and retired flight crewmembers are invited to visit the National Sept. 11 Memorial text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> Click here to reserve free tickets . Honoring and Supporting Veterans 100 Vets Who Give A Damn DFW is a group of like-minded veterans who want to make an impact on military charities. Technically, the group does not exist; it has no directors, officers, or treasurers. Its core group of organizers are simply volunteers generously donating their time to try and make a difference. Three organizations are randomly chosen from a list of member-nominated charities. Representatives for those organizations are asked to make five-minute presentations about why they deserve the group’s support. After the presentations, the charity that receives the most votes from the vets in the room will be the suggested recipient. Each veteran then writes a check to the suggested charity and/or the ones that moved them the most. The next meeting at the C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth is scheduled for Sept. 21, when the vets will hear from Brother’s Keeper, Hero Lab, and Project Sanctuary. Click here for more information . 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: Aug. 4, 2023

APA News Digest Aug. 4, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Get Informed Before You Vote on TA 2.0 TA 2.0 Ratification Vote Procedures RSVP for a TA 2.0 Road Show STOP Committee: APFA and SWAPA Need Our Support Family Awareness Committee: Thanks for Coming Out to Oshkosh CIRP Subcommittee: Join Us for Training in Late September Hotel Committee: Late Check-in Procedures Contract Compliance Committee: Incorrect Assignments for Reserve Pilots Aeromedical Committee: Our Recommended Reading List Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Membership Committee: Gone West Pilot Pipeline Hasn’t Been Properly Maintained Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Get Informed Before You Vote on TA 2.0 On Aug. 1, the APA Board of Directors approved sending Tentative Agreement 2.0 to the membership for a ratification vote. Voting will open at 1200 Central on Aug. 7 and close at 1200 Central on Aug. 21. APA members can visit the Contract 2023 website to review: The full language of Tentative Agreement 2.0 with changes indicated An Executive Summary of TA 2.0 Comment Letters from Board Members An Implementation Timeline A Back-Pay Calculator Supplemental Information: APA Survey ">Implementation Process Flow Chart Sequence Construction Interactions Additionally, the Negotiating Committee has provided Contract Comparisons that highlight differences between TA 2.0, our existing JCBA, the Delta CBA, and the United TA. These documents are also on the Contract 2023 website. TA 2.0 Ratification Vote Procedures Following the Board of Directors’ approval of Tentative Agreement 2.0, and in accordance with the APA Constitution and Bylaws, the ratification vote will be conducted via electronic ballot. Voting opens at 1200 Central on Aug. 7 and closes at 1200 Central on Aug. 21. The electronic balloting will be supervised and conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), which sent all members detailed voting instructions via email and regular mail last month. These instructions, including your PIN, still apply to the ratification vote for Tentative Agreement 2.0. AAA sent you a reminder email with the voting instructions and your PIN number today. If you did not receive these instructions, please contact AAA at 1-800-529-5218 between 0800 and 1600 Central, Monday through Friday. If you have any questions about the ratification voting process, please contact APA Election Coordinator Kathy Lazenby by phone at 817-302-2175 (between 0900 and 1630 Central, Monday through Friday) or by email at  TA2023@alliedpilots.org . RSVP for a TA 2.0 Road Show On Aug. 1, the APA Board of Directors authorized road shows on TA 2.0 to commence no sooner than Aug. 7 and conclude no later than Aug. 18. Members are free to attend any of the road shows, regardless of where they are based. Base Date Time Venue RSVP BOS Aug. 15 0900 EDT Hilton BOS Airport RSVP CLT Aug. 8 0900 EDT DoubleTree South Charlotte Tyvola RSVP DCA Aug. 10 0900 EDT Hyatt Regency Crystal City RSVP DFW Aug. 17 0900 CDT Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center RSVP LAX Aug. 16 1000 PDT LAX Airport Marriott RSVP LGA Aug. 9 1000 EDT LGA Airport Marriott RSVP MIA Aug. 10 1000 EDT Hilton MIA Blue Lagoon RSVP ORD Aug. 16 0900 CDT Hilton ORD Airport RSVP PHL Aug. 9 0900 EDT PHL Airport Marriott RSVP PHX Aug. 15 0900 MST DoubleTree Phoenix RSVP Each of those RSVP links will require you to log into AlliedPilots.org first. That way, the website will be able to identify you. Simply click the “Submit” button, and you should see a message that says, “Your RSVP has been submitted.” Pilots who cannot attend a road show in person have five opportunities to view one via Zoom. You can register for next week’s Zoom sessions by clicking the links below. Links for the following week will be shared soon. PHL (9 a.m. EDT on Aug. 9) DCA (9 a.m. EDT on Aug. 10) PHX (9 a.m. MST on Aug. 15) LAX (10 a.m. PDT on Aug. 16) DFW (9 a.m. CDT on Aug. 17) APFA and SWAPA Need Our Support This is a new message from the APA Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants plans to conduct informational picketing at our 10 base airports, plus MCO, on Aug. 30. The picket times will be either from 1000 to 1200 or from 1100 to 1300. If you can stand with our fellow crewmembers that day, click here to RSVP . The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association plans to conduct informational picketing at five airports (ATL, BWI, HOU, LAX, and MDW) on Aug. 31. If you can stand with your fellow pilots that day, click here to RSVP . Thanks for Coming Out to Oshkosh This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. CA Wes Smith, FO Paul Meyers, FO Tim Jackson, FO Natalie Anagnostou, CA Eric Rehm, CA Andrea Hoover, and CA Adrian Radosav. We would like to thank all of the APA members and their families who stopped by our hospitality area last week during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. We averaged between 150 and 200 visitors per day, and our July 26 dinner – which honored three veterans who received the Medal of Honor for their service in Vietnam – had 500 attendees. We would also like to thank the ORD Domicile Officers and the volunteers from the Government Affairs Committee, the STOP Committee, the ASAP Subcommittee, and the LOSA Subcommittee for helping us represent APA. You can see more photos from Oshkosh on APA’s Facebook page . Join Us for Training in Late September This is a new message from the APA Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee. Are you a good listener? Would you like to assist other pilots? The Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) wants you! CIRP volunteers talk to pilots when they experience a critical incident. If you are interested in becoming a CIRP volunteer, we will be conducting training Sept. 26-28 using the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Model. This training is for volunteers who have not been previously trained in the ICISF CISM Model or those who have been previously trained and want a refresher. The training will be at APA HQ in Fort Worth. You will need to bid for Sept. 26-28 off in PBS. Plan on traveling to DFW prior to the first day of training and returning home late afternoon on the last day. Training materials (electronic book), certificate (upon completion), A12 travel to/from, hotel, and most meals will be provided. If you are interested in volunteering, please plan your September PBS bid to be available Sept. 26-28. To volunteer, or if you have questions, contact FO Jim Woodke at jwoodke@alliedpilots.org or 847-331-8409. Late Check-in Procedures This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. If you have a layover spanning two overnights and want to use the hotel room for only the second night, or your plan on checking in on the second day of your layover for any reason, please call ahead to the hotel and inform them you will be checking in the following day. Hotels often monitor the inbound flight arrival and will mark crew members as no-shows if they do not arrive the first day. Calling the hotel the day of your scheduled arrival to inform them you will check in the following day should ensure your room will be available when you arrive. September Bidding Alert: The Hotel Committee reminds you to not bid for trips based on the hotels listed on the bid packages, as the final hotel allocations are not complete at the time the package is published. For more information, see the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. Incorrect Assignments for Reserve Pilots This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q:  I believe I was assigned out-of-order as a Reserve pilot. There are other pilots available in lower Variance Groups (less GTD) who appear legal for my assignment. How do I remedy this issue? A: If you believe you have been incorrectly assigned as a Reserve pilot, your first action should be to compile a list of pilots who you believe to be Qualified, Legal, and Available (QLA) for the assignment. It will be helpful to identify the associated pilot’s employee number for use when discussing the issue with Crew Scheduling, and it is best to have that conversation prior to the conclusion of DOTC (1500 HBT), or as soon as possible. Some aspects to consider when reviewing an assignment that may not be readily apparent: The other pilot may not be qualified. The other pilot may be VMAX or IMAX limited. The other pilot may have a 30/168 issue. The other pilot may not be contactable to provide contractual notification of the assignment. The other pilot may have already received a next day sequence or RAP assignment that conflicts with the assignment in question. If you are unable to secure a satisfactory resolution, please submit a Contract Compliance Report . 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 . Outlive: The Science box-sizing: border-box;"> Wouldn’t you like to live longer? And better? In this operating manual for longevity, Dr. Peter Attia draws on the latest science to deliver innovative nutritional interventions, techniques for optimizing exercise and sleep, and tools for addressing emotional and mental health. Aging and longevity are far more malleable than we think; our fate is not set in stone. With the right roadmap, you can plot a different path for your life, one that lets you outlive your genes to make each decade better than the one before. 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. Pigs of the Week 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. In the last week, A320 aircraft 119 has been written up five times and been out of service four times for number 1 brake temp. It returned to service today, but it is restricted to class 1 and 2 maintenance stations. Since July 17, B737 aircraft 3BJ has been written up and out of service six times for the right engine thrust reverser. At the time of this writing, it remained out of service. Update 1: Since May 26, the right engine bleed air on A319 aircraft 757 has been written up 18 times and been out of service 11 times At the time of this writing, the bleed air was on MEL and the aircraft was restricted to AA maintenance stations. Update 2: In the last month, B737 aircraft 3HT has been written up and been out of service seven times for right wing to body overheat. It was recently operated under a Special Flight Permit to a maintenance base for repairs. At the time of this writing, it remained out of service. 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 casual dinner on Aug. 1: Christopher Addington, Khaleel Ahmed, Timothy Baldwin, Kevin Bell, Miles Bewley, David Blessing, Benjamin Brennan, Dakota Buderus, Jared Bulach, Robb Burbach, Martin Burden, Samuel Caldwell, Omar Colon, Martin Corbeel, Rafael Corrales Rodriguez, Blaine Cyr, Adam Dagan, Kyle Domski, Paul Downing, Christopher Duhon, Farouk Elhadidy, Clint Fleishman, Brian Fojt, Anthony Forest, Jonas Frazier, Nicholas Gennarelli, William Gisler, Michael Goebel, Matthew Harris, Chad Harrison, Abigail Hartman, Andrew Hill, Max Jackson, Gene Jacobus, James Jarrett, Michael Kenney, Kory Kiefer, Andrew Kmiec, Nilton Kodama, Jarred Lang, Anton Lindt, Lucas Louden, Joseph Martin, Carlos Martins, Eliab Mejia, Kevin Miller, Irvin Mitchell, Kevin Nelson, David Neville, Evan Noah, Martin O’Brien, Patrick Orrison, Troy Pothast, Tresor Ruhorimbere, Bruce Sato, Thomas Short, Daniel Shuron, Yuheng Sun, Hernan Turtula, and Michael Woodrum. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On Aug. 2, 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: Kendall Bascom, Bryan Black, Joseph Cardillo, Manuel Castro, Jorge De La Vega, David Elston Jr., Nikki Green, Samuel Hernandez-Carlo, Eduardo Jorge, Timothy Lynch, Jonathan Marquart, Rick Massimi, Brian Murphy, Lucas Myers, Andrew Nash, Adam Rockhill, Kevin Romero, Charalambos Rommo, Andrew Rozell, David Sanders, Joseph Settles, Gordon Sheals, Ian Shirey, Keith Sternberg, Jennifer Witschger, Daniel Woodard, Dennis Woodlief, and Forrest Zetterberg. Gone West This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of these pilots, whose deaths we learned of last month: Larry Ray, 80, on Feb. 13; John Roach, 72, on April 21; Tam Brogdon, 60, on May 1; Cliff Bizek, 90, on June 1; Dale Calender, 74, on June 6; Joe Mason, 94, on June 13; Don Waggoner, 84, on June 14; Terry Norman, 84, on June 16; John Shaw, 89, on June 22; Jim Drasal, 85, on June 29; Ron Devos, 85, on July 2; Bob Gregor, 84, on July 4; Denny Joyce, 91, on July 4; Gary Anderson, 83, on July 7; Ron Such, 86, on July 7; Terry Mestas, 74, on July 11; Robert “Monty” Montgomery, 89, on July 19; Matt Kelch, 86, on July 21; Mike Hennessy, 67, on July 26; and Rich Hansen, 55, on July 28. Pilot Pipeline Hasn’t Been Properly Maintained This week, USA Today published an article headlined “ Empty cockpits, canceled flights, crowded airports: Congress tackles the pilot shortage .” Some members of Congress want to increase the number of airline pilots by raising the retirement age and/or lowering training standards, but the article notes that APA, ALPA, and SWAPA are all opposed to both proposals. “There’s pilots out there; they’re just not getting through the pipeline quick enough,” APA Communications Committee Chair CA Dennis Tajer told USA Today , adding that the pipeline problem starts in the cradle and ends in the cockpit. “This is what happens when you don’t tend to the pipeline, and then you turn on the faucet and expect to have a good flow, and there’s only a trickle coming out.” Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : DFW: Family Awareness event at TopGolf in Austin on Aug. 8 LAX: Concourse Conversations on Aug. 17 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Secretary-Treasurer: How to Find Your Unique Identifier Secretary-Treasurer: Tentative Agreement 2.0 Ratification Vote Negotiating Committee: 2023 Tentative Agreement Version 2.0 Update Membership Committee: Voting After Probation Ends Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes at HQ Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Approves TA 2.0 Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Adjourns Meeting Multiple committees: Managing Stress in Stressful Times Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (5) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (2) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (1) Checkmate (1 on 777 and 1 on 320) 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 average longevity is seven years; some have volunteered for more than 25 years. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: July 28, 2023

APA News Digest July 28, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Agreement in Principle Reached on Proposed Tentative Agreement 2.0 2Q23 Earnings – By The Numbers Contract Compliance Committee: Reassignment Premium Medical Advisors: VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Save the LAX Employee Cafeteria Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ 100-Year-Old Veteran Honored by Dream Flights If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Agreement in Principle Reached on Proposed Tentative Agreement 2.0 On Thursday, the APA Negotiating Committee notified the Board of Directors that they had reached an Agreement in Principle with management on proposed enhancements to the Tentative Agreement. The AIP, including all related contract language, has been submitted to the Board. The Negotiating Committee summarized the proposed enhancements in a message to the membership . The Board has scheduled a special meeting for 0900 Central on Monday. If the Board approves the proposed TA 2.0, it will then be subject to membership ratification, with the Board establishing new schedules for the ratification vote and associated road shows. Here are links to each APA Information Hotline that we have published since the July 21 edition of the APA News Digest: July 21 : The Board was in session from 1500 Central until 2350 Central. During that time, the Board recalled CA John Owens from the Negotiating Committee and elected FO Chris Wachter to serve as Chair. July 22 : The Board was in session from 1300 Central until 1930 Central. July 23 : The Board was in session from 1200 Central until 1920 Central. During that time, the Board voted to postpone the ratification vote that had been scheduled for July 24-Aug. 7 and the associated road shows. July 24 : The Board was in session from 1900 Central until 2140 Central. July 25 : The Board was in session from 1700 Central until 2320 Central. July 27 : The Board was in session from 1500 Central until 1900 Central. During that time, the Board approved a motion to allow themselves to vote on the amended TA with less than seven days’ notice. 2Q23 Earnings – By The Numbers The following are overview numbers recently reported by Delta, United, and American. While not an all-inclusive financial review, it provides a sample of operating and pre-tax profits (with related margins), free cash flow as reported by each airline, as well as their respective earnings per share (EPS) guide for the full year 2023. 2Q23 Earnings – Operating Profit/Margin box-sizing: border-box;" width="700">   Operating Profit Operating Margin Pre-Tax Profit Pre-Tax Margin DAL $2.5B 17.1% $2.2B 15.2% UAL $2.4B 16.8% $2.2B 15.3% AAL $2.2B 15.4% $1.8B 12.8% Free Cash Flow (Adjusted) (Non-GAAP) DAL: $1.1B UAL: $2.2B AAL:  $1.2B Earnings per Share (EPS) Full Year 2023 Profit Forecast by Each Airline DAL: $6.00-$7.00 EPS (Diluted Shares = 642,000) $3.9B-$4.5B Profit UAL: $11.00 -$12.00 EPS (Diluted Shares = 331,500) $3.6B-$4.0B Profit AAL: $3.00-$3.75 EPS (Diluted Shares = 719,345) $2.2B-$2.7B Profit Source: Companies’ 2Q23 8K filings Reassignment Premium This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q:  I have experienced a Misconnect, Illegality, or Cancellation (MIC) on my sequence. I am a Lineholder, and Crew Tracking is returning me to base on what was originally a day off. Am I entitled to Premium for working on my scheduled day off? A: If your sequence contains Replacement Flying that complies with JCBA Section 4.C.2.c.(2) – returning you to base on the first available flight(s), either direct or connecting – you would not be entitled to additional Premium. However, if you were not returned on the first available flight(s), then you would qualify for Reassignment Premium (RA PREM). This RA PREM is based on the actual time flown or the scheduled deadhead time that resides outside the original Sequence Footprint (Section 15.N.3.). RO = first available flight(s), outside of the original Replacement Flying Window (RFW) AF = not the first available flight(s), outside of the original Replacement Flying Window (RFW) If you find the incorrect coding applied to the legs contained within your sequence, a call to Crew Tracking at the conclusion of the sequence should correct the situation. It may prove useful to have the alternative routing readily available when you make the call to Crew Tracking. Once the AF is applied, ensure that the RA PREM is added by PayComp; a Direct Connect reminder may be necessary. The RA PREM should be annotated on your schedule three to four days after the Direct Connect is submitted. Section 4.C.2.c.(2) c. Replacement Flying - Flying that is assigned / awarded by the Company to a pilot whose sequence, or portion thereof, has cancelled. (1) Replacement Flying Window - (i) The Sequence Footprint plus four (4) hours, or the end of the calendar day, whichever is later, or (ii) the Sequence Footprint, plus thirty (30) hours for Trans Oceanic sequences, including to/from Hawaii, U.S. to South of the Equator. (2) The Replacement Flying Window may be extended beyond C.2.c.(1) above if the pilot flies or is deadheaded on the first available flight(s) to base. The "first available flight(s) to base" is the flight(s) that arrives at the base the earliest. The flight(s) may be direct or indirect. Section 4.C.3.a.(6) (6) Premium pay provisions shall apply for any reassignment during replacement flying that result in a pilot flying beyond the Sequence Footprint (of the originally cancelled sequence). Section 15.N.3. 3. In addition to 2. above, when a pilot is reassigned to flying that resides outside of the originally scheduled sequence footprint that pilot shall also receive a premium of: a. pay, no credit, at a rate of one-half (50 percent) times the pilot's hourly base pay rate for that time flown outside of the footprint of the pilot's regularly scheduled sequence footprint. b. Any additional flight time pay and credit associated with paragraphs E., F. or G that was generated as a result of the reassignment outside the original sequence footprint does not qualify for the premium described in a. above. VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure This is a repeated message from the APA Medical Advisors. VA Disability Ratings have been a recent subject of concern for many pilots. Disability benefits and/or related medical conditions must be disclosed to the FAA. The FAA is seeking to reconcile any inaccuracy or failure to report on past medical applications by providing an opportunity for disclosure. All First-Class Airman Medical Certificate holders with unreported VA benefits must submit a new medical application and schedule an appointment with an AME when their current medical expires, or no later than July 31, 2023, whichever is earlier. Any questions regarding this should be directed to the APA Medical Advisors . Failure to submit an expedited reapplication and reexamination in accordance with the FAA’s timeline or failure to disclose all reasonably known information may result in legal enforcement action. Pigs of the Week 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. In the last month, the right engine bleed air on A321 aircraft 579 has been written up six times and has been out of service five times. It most recently returned to service on July 24. Since July 18, the green hydraulic system on A319 aircraft 801 has been written up six times and has been out of service five times for overheating. It most recently returned to service on July 24. In the last month, the right engine IDG (integrated drive generator) on A319 aircraft 771 has been written up eight times. Since July 17, it has been out of service six times for IDG over temp while the APU was on MEL. At the time of this writing, it remained out of service. 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 casual dinner on July 25: Jesus Aguilar, Michael Alexander, Julian Arrocha, Ryan Baskette, Kevin Blount, James Bowers, Erik Bransdorfer, Mick Brindle, Thomas Burke III, Charles Caldwell, James Carraway, Bradley Cochran, Richard Corman, Andrea Cossidente, Trond Dalsplass, Byron Darnell Jr., John Daugherty, Bruno Della Maggiori, Casey Dupell, Jeffrey Emerich, Andrew Forsyth, Aaron Frey, Przemyslaw Gargol, Joseph Garry, Chad Hennings, John Horn, Aaron Johnson, Christopher Kerlee, Matthew Krinn, Mason Kutruff, Nicholas Meikle, Massimiliano Modica, Carlos Montanez, Alan Nagy, Jason Nance, Marc Nichols, Christian Pedersen, Taen Pied, Russell Pierce, Carl Pitts, Michael Popo, Thomas Radikin, Noah Reitter, Adam Robinson, Luiz Henrique Rodrigues Mangolim, Carlos Rodriguez Dominguez, Denville Sam, Robert Scherer, Jason Schnitker, Brandon Spear, Jeffrey Stahl, Jarod Steen, Dan Stewart, Roberto Vecco Arze, Jereme Warner, Jason Warren, Jared White, and Adrian Wilbert. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On July 26, 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 Bouck, Joshua Crowley, Michael Drongosky, Brian Fortier, Cheryl Hanson, Bret Hildebrant, David Hunter, Bradley James, Cassandra Johnson, John Kvetko, Chris Nicholson, Travis Ricks, Andrew Salmon, Paulo Silva, Keith Sternberg, Nicholas Taylor, Steven Wargocki, and Michael Wear. Save the LAX Employee Cafeteria This is a new message from the LAX Domicile Officers. It was recently brought to our attention that American Airlines does not intend to offer a space in the new expanded terminal for the employee cafeteria. This has been a staple of LAX for decades, not just for our crews, but crews around the system, agents, mechanics, ramp employees, TSA, and other airport employees. We were told this decision was made in 2018 by AA Corporate Real Estate. The proposed Tentative Agreement has a $30 cap on crew meal reimbursements. This cap will increase with inflation each year. Try to find a good meal in the LAX terminals without bumping into this cap. This cafeteria is a staple for us. It offers good food at a reasonable price for employees. The breakfast burritos are world famous! Click here to send an email to those at AA who can affect this decision. Let them know what this means for you and your coworkers. Your email will go to: Katherine Goudreau, Managing Director, Corporate Real Estate Facilities Radney Robertson, Managing Director, LAX Operations Andrew Masiello, LAX Senior Base Manager LAX Chief Pilots LAX Domicile Officers Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : DFW: Family Awareness event at TopGolf in Austin on Aug. 8 LAX: Concourse Conversations on Aug. 17 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 PHL: Town hall meeting on July 31 Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Board of Directors: Road Shows and Membership Ratification Vote on Hold Board of Directors: APA Board of Directors Update Board of Directors: APA Board of Directors Update President: We Are Unified – Information is Power Military Affairs Committee: Chinese Visa Requirements: Your Feedback Needed Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (5) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (5) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (4) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (1) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Can a previous, resolved submission to Professional Standards be referenced in a future action? No. A resolved issue cannot be used to support other disciplinary actions. An agreement exists with management that Professional Standards referrals are never part of an employee’s permanent record. Professional Standards volunteers will never be asked to relate any case information in the employee discipline process. Confidentiality rules apply to management also. Once an issue is released to the Professional Standards program, it is as if management “forgets” the issue ever occurred. To read all of the FAQs, click here . Professional Standards’ 24/7 hotline: 817-402-2181 100-Year-Old Veteran Honored by Dream Flights Last February, the APA Board of Directors approved a $20,000 donation to Dream Flights, an organization that honors military veterans and seniors with flights in a Boeing Stearman biplane. This week, Fox News covered the Dream Flight of a 100-year-old pilot who flew for the U.S. Navy in both World War II and the Korean War. Click here to watch . 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Agreement in Principle Reached on Proposed Tentative Agreement 2.0

Agreement in Principle Reached on Proposed Tentative Agreement 2.0 Today, your APA Negotiating Committee notified the Board of Directors that we have reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with American Airlines management on proposed enhancements to the Tentative Agreement. The AIP, including all related contract language, has been submitted to the Board for its review. The Board will convene a Special Meeting to consider the proposed TA 2.0. If the Board approves the proposed TA 2.0, it will be subject to membership ratification to become our new collective bargaining agreement, with the Board establishing new schedules for the ratification vote and Road Shows. As the Board noted on Sunday when they postponed the ratification vote on the original TA, they expected the process of reaching an AIP on a TA 2.0 to take days, not weeks, and tasked your Negotiating Committee accordingly. We worked diligently with our management counterparts to meet that timeline. This AIP includes the improvements to the current TA discussed by the parties last week, along with additional improvements. In the following list of the proposed changes, you will see that some items are contingent on ratification of the United Agreement in Principle and are noted as such. All items are contingent on an August 2023 ratification of the 2023 TA 2.0. Ratification Bonus LOA ~21% Fully Pensionable Ratification Bonus: January, February, March, and April 2023 will now also be included in addition to May, June, and July 2023. Hourly Pay Rates Snap-up Clause: Contingent on United pilots ratifying their agreement in principle by January 1, 2024 , American Airlines pay rates will increase to match the United and Delta pay rates beginning during the contractual month after their respective snap-up clauses have been completed. Contingent on United pilots ratifying their agreement in principle , all AA annual pay rate increases will be adjusted from May 2 to the preceding January 1 of each respective year during the contract. The Long Range Narrowbody Pay band adjusted such that the hourly pay rates for block hours flown will be paid as a flat override equal to the difference between the Long Range Narrowbody Pay Band and the Narrowbody Pay Band and at 12th year longevity pay step for Captain and First Officer, respectively. 401(k) Direct Contribution Contingent on United pilots ratifying their agreement in principle , the increases to 401(k) contributions will adjust to January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2026. Positive Space and Hotel Following Reassignment and Recovery Flying If a pilot is assigned Recovery Flying or reassigned flying that ends outside of the original sequence footprint and the pilot has no opportunity to commute to their home of record on that day on American Airlines or American Eagle, the pilot will receive: Positive space travel to their home of record the following day; and Will be provided a hotel room International Override Captain: $7.00 First Officer: $5.00 Per Diem – Adjustments Domestic: $2.85 (remains same from TA) International: $3.40 Annual percentage process remains. Medical Reimbursements Pilots will be reimbursed for procedures, tests, treatments, or examinations to regain a First-Class Medical certificate that are not customarily covered by insurance. $5,000 cap per procedure $10,000 lifetime cap Cross-Town Expenses Reserve pilots in bases with co-terminal/satellite airports will be reimbursed for actual expenses up to $300 for travel to and from co-terminal/satellite airports (primary airport not included) for the purpose of duty. Applies to pilots based in domiciles with the following primary airports: DCA, LAX, LGA, MIA. Extended Sick Leave Bank (ESB) Pre-loaded with 120 hours at time of creation ESB Accrual – Five hours per month up to 180 hours Lifetime cap of 540 hours Available for pilot to use as bridge to LTD Available for pilot to “plus-up” LTD payments up to 15 hours per month for up to 12 months Pilot must provide appropriate medical documentation to access ESB. Medical Protections and Qualifications The Company may not require a pilot to undergo any medical procedure(s), other than that which is required by the FAA to maintain a First-Class Medical certificate. If a pilot does not meet a governmental travel requirement to operate to an international or domestic destination due to their vaccination status or for other medical reasons, the pilot will be bid restricted or removed from sequences to such destination(s) without pay protection. Pilots must self-report qualification status, including vaccination, to the Company. Unaugmented Sequence Duty Limits Unaugmented allocated sequences will not be built with duty periods to exceed the lesser of the applicable FAR Table B minus 30 minutes or 13 hours. Reserve Work Block Size Narrowbody Reserve block minimum size must be set to three days for bidding in all months, except for international statuses in bases for which there is also a domestic status for the same fleet (DFW/320/I, ORD/737/I, LGA/737/I). Reserve “Show, No-Go” Pay Increased from two to five hours. Reserve Voluntary Early Report Incentive When a Reserve pilot volunteers and is awarded a sequence that reports prior to 1000 on the first day following a duty-free period or planned absence, the reserve shall receive two hours of pay, no credit, above guarantee. Maximum Duty Periods For allocated Domestic sequences, the number of duty periods in the sequence cannot exceed the number of calendar days of the sequence. Jumpseats on New Aircraft New aircraft from the manufacturer must have a second jumpseat installed if manufacturer configuration option. Life Insurance The Company shall provide eligible pilots with basic term life insurance coverage of $750,000. There is no age-related graduated scale. Open Time Limit Heatmap Added to implementation timeline at no later than DOS 12 months. Will provide a live dynamic visual representation of OTLs on a color gradient scale. Classification Date Adjustment Implementation Classification date adjustments will be made in a progressive order by month of hire. All adjustments will be completed no later than December 31, 2024. Additions to the Post-Ratification LOA Evaluate for potential modification and interaction to pairing construction: Enhanced narrowbody pairing distribution parameters Unaugmented long-duty day RIG (10 hour 1:1) Supplement L discussions and potential modifications Adjustments to how sequences are withheld for training in conjunction with the implementation of Line Check Pilots Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work to finalize this process. Respectfully, Chris, BJ, Adam, and Matt APA Negotiating Committee
Negotiations Public News

Road Shows and Membership Ratification Vote on Hold

Road Shows and Membership Ratification Vote on Hold The announcement of the United Agreement in Principle rendered our current Tentative Agreement (TA) un-ratifiable. We know it, you know it, and management knows it, too. During American Airlines’ second-quarter earnings call on Thursday, Robert Isom and his team proudly touted our airline’s operational and financial performance and prospects for the future. Some of the journalists and analysts on hand asked Robert Isom about the status of our TA. His responses were very consistent – he reiterated his intention to “take care of our pilots” and “match the wages” in the United AIP. During his subsequent State of the Airline remarks, Robert Isom acknowledged his commitment to match wages including retroactive pay. Conspicuously absent from any of his comments: a commitment to adjust the work rules and quality-of-life provisions in the TA in a manner comparable to what Scott Kirby has committed to at United. Robert Isom confirmed his intentions with the proposal his team made and the video he issued to the membership on Friday afternoon. We do not intend to move forward with a TA that simply adopts the economic aspects of the United AIP – and management’s proposal does not even do that in all respects. We have highlighted to management various quality-of-life and work-rule improvements that would bring us in line with our peers. Most of those items remain unaddressed in management’s most recent proposal. Apparently, Robert Isom’s idea of taking care of our pilots and ensuring parity with our peers at other airlines is that we will be paid comparably while working under more onerous work rules. That won’t fly. Robert Isom said he wants pilots to “feel great about their jobs.” For that to happen, we need work rules that meaningfully improve our work-life balance and how we perform our job, and we want a management that recognizes our job is more than just the paycheck we receive for going to work. We firmly believe the time to fix our TA by including the necessary work-rule and quality-of-life enhancements is now. Your Board wants to get to a deal we can send to our membership for ratification. We believe management shares the same goal. Our Negotiating Committee is preparing to meet with its management counterparts in an effort to build on the proposal management offered on Friday to get it to the point where it can be approved and sent to the membership for a ratification vote. We believe there is a path to do that, one which should be accomplished in days, not weeks. As you know, the ratification vote on the current TA is scheduled to open tomorrow, with Road Shows beginning on Tuesday. As noted above, all parties agree the current TA is not ratifiable. Consequently, we will not move forward with a ratification vote and Road Shows on the TA this week. We intend to continue our efforts to reach an amended TA that contains sufficient compensation, work rules, and quality-of-life enhancements comparable to those offered to our peers. Any modifications to the TA will not be done through a Letter of Agreement bypassing membership ratification. Every effort will be made to ensure the membership is the final authority. We remain committed to delivering an amended TA that can be ratified by our membership. We call on management to join us in doing so as soon as possible. In Unity, CA Paul McFarland, BOS Domicile Chair CA Gemma Meehan, BOS Domicile Vice Chair CA Doug Hancock, CLT Domicile Chair FO Erik DeWinne, CLT Domicile Vice Chair CA Joe Collins, DCA Domicile Chair CA Tim Doreen Jr., DCA Domicile Vice Chair CA Jon Sherrell, DFW Domicile Chair FO Jason Gustin, DFW Domicile Vice Chair CA Bill Evans, LAX Domicile Chair CA Tim Dick, LAX Domicile Vice Chair CA Lawrence Cutler, LGA Domicile Chair CA Jim Scanlan, LGA Domicile Vice Chair CA Thomas Copeland, MIA Domicile Chair CA Anne Witcher, MIA Domicile Vice Chair CA Wes Smith, ORD Domicile Chair FO Paul Meyers, ORD Domicile Vice Chair FO Paul DiOrio, PHL Domicile Chair CA Kevin Wilkes, PHL Domicile Vice Chair CA David Duncan, PHX Domicile Chair FO Brian Ellis, PHX Domicile Vice Chair
Public News Board of Directors

APA News Digest: July 21, 2023

APA News Digest July 21, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... The Decision Before Us Tentative Agreement Ratification Vote RSVP for a Contract 2023 Road Show American Reports Quarterly Profit of $1.3 Billion APFA to Conduct Strike Vote Family Awareness Committee: We’ll See You at Oshkosh Government Affairs Committee: U.S. House Approves FAA Bill Preserving ATP Requirements Hotel Committee: “Booking in Progress” is Still Just a Placeholder Contract Compliance Committee: Illegalities During Recovery Obligation Medical Advisors: VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars The Decision Before Us APA President CA Ed Sicher sent the following message to all members today. As you are surely aware, your APA Board of Directors, National Officers, and Negotiating Committee have been fully engaged since the news broke regarding the United pilots’ Agreement in Principle (AIP). With the change in our bargaining environment brought about by the United AIP, we have focused our efforts on enhancing our current Tentative Agreement (TA) so that it is worthy of your consideration. Senior management responded favorably to the invitation to meet promptly to address the new landscape, and the Negotiating Committee undertook a comprehensive review of the United AIP to facilitate Board guidance on which provisions to address. The Board then dispatched the Negotiating Committee to engage with management with an extensive and ambitious list of needed improvements to the current TA. This afternoon, in response to our demands, management responded with a comprehensive proposal designed to bring closure to negotiations and maintain the membership voting schedule to the extent possible. Management made proposals in many areas to include the following: Snap-up to match Delta/United pay rates after the Delta snap-up triggers Future wage increases accelerated to take effect every January 1 Ratification bonus of 21% to fill the retro hole January-April 2023 based on longevity and seat on May 2, 2023 401(k) acceleration of increase to January 2024 Increase in international override to $7/$5 Increase in per diem to domestic $2.85/international $3.40 Extended sick leave bank pre-loaded to 120 hours and accruing 4 hours per month in addition to previous accrual Medical freedom protections Max un-augmented duty day lesser of 13 hours or FAR 117 table B minus 30’ Reserve “show, no go” pay increase to 5 hours 2-hour OG incentive for reserves volunteering to show and subsequently assigned prior to 1000 on day 1 Hotel guarantees for reassignments outside original sequence footprint with no opportunity to commute to home of record that calendar day Maximum duty periods in sequence not to exceed number of calendar days Increase in life insurance coverage to $750,000 regardless of age Your Board reconvened at 1500 Central to receive a negotiations update. With today’s developments, the Board will have an opportunity to determine whether management’s comprehensive proposal is worthy of a membership vote. I encourage you to stay engaged, stay informed, and ensure that YOUR domicile representatives hear YOUR input regarding the path forward. In Unity, CA Ed Sicher APA President Tentative Agreement Ratification Vote In accordance with the APA Constitution and Bylaws, the ratification vote will be conducted via electronic ballot. Voting is scheduled to open at 0700 Central on July 24 and close at 0700 Central on Aug. 7. The electronic balloting will be supervised and conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Detailed voting instructions were emailed to each member on July 14, when they were also sent via postal mail. ( Click here to see an example .) To review the Tentative Agreement and related information, please visit the Contract 2023 webpage. Questions? Please contact APA Election Coordinator Kathy Lazenby: Phone: 817-302-2175 Email: TA2023@alliedpilots.org Hours: 0900 to 1630 Central, Monday through Friday RSVP for a Contract 2023 Road Show The full Tentative Agreement, an Executive Summary of the TA, and Board members’ comment letters were posted to the Contract 2023 webpage on July 10. The APA Policy Manual stipulates that each domicile shall receive a “Road Show” presentation after the membership has at least 14 days to study the aforementioned documents. In accordance with that policy, we have scheduled a series of presentations across the system. Members are free to attend any of the presentations, regardless of where they are based. Base Date Time Venue RSVP BOS Aug. 1 0900 EDT Hilton BOS Airport RSVP CLT July 25 0900 EDT Hilton South Charlotte Tyvola RSVP DCA July 27 0900 EDT Hyatt Regency Crystal City RSVP DFW Aug. 3 0900 CDT Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center RSVP LAX Aug. 1 1000 PDT LAX Airport Marriott RSVP LGA July 27 1000 EDT Martinique Hotel (49 W. 32nd St.) RSVP MIA July 26 1000 EDT Hilton MIA Blue Lagoon RSVP ORD Aug. 2 0900 CDT Hilton ORD Airport RSVP PHL July 26 0900 EDT PHL Airport Marriott RSVP PHX Aug. 2 0900 MST DoubleTree Suites (320 N. 44th St.) RSVP Each of those RSVP links will require you to log into AlliedPilots.org first. That way, the website will be able to identify you. Simply click the “Submit” button, and you should see a message that says, “Your RSVP has been submitted.” American Reports Quarterly Profit of $1.3 Billion On Thursday, American Airlines reported its second-quarter financial results, including: Record quarterly revenue of $14.1 billion, a 4.7% increase year over year. Second-quarter net income of $1.3 billion, or $1.88 per diluted share. Excluding net special items, second-quarter net income of $1.4 billion, or $1.92 per diluted share. Generated operating cash flow of $1.8 billion and free cash flow of $1.2 billion in the second quarter. Ended the quarter with $14.9 billion of total available liquidity. “It was another fantastic quarter for American, driven by the hard work of our team to deliver a reliable operation for our customers and the continued strong demand for our product,” CEO Robert Isom said in a press release . “Our operation is performing at historically strong levels, and we have worked to refresh our fleet and build a comprehensive global network, all of which helped to produce record revenues in the second quarter. We will build on this momentum the rest of the year and continue to prioritize reliability, profitability, accountability and strengthening our balance sheet.” During management’s earnings call with reporters and Wall Street analysts, Mr. Isom fielded several questions about the status of our Tentative Agreement. “We’re going to match the wages that United is proposing,” he said, later adding, “No matter what, over the long run, we’re going to make sure our pilots are taken care of.” APFA to Conduct Strike Vote The Association of Professional Flight Attendants has scheduled a strike authorization vote that will begin on July 28 and conclude on Aug. 29. Like us, the flight attendants have been in contract negotiations with American Airlines management since 2019. We’ll See You at Oshkosh This is an updated message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. Wednesday’s dinner at the APA tent will be a cooperative event with American Airlines’ Military and Veterans Initiatives program. Three veterans who received the Medal of Honor for their service in Vietnam – Patrick Brady, Sammy Davis, and Jim McCloughan – will be the guests of honor. Earlier on Wednesday, FO Ken Hagan and FO Jim Woodke from the APA Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee will discuss the history of critical incident stress management (CISM) and how it can be successfully applied to aviation. The goal of CISM is to keep pilots in the air after a critical incident by attempting to identify and mitigate the harmful effects of stress and PTSD before it begins to disrupt daily life with self, family, and friends. Their seminar is scheduled from 1430 to 1545 on July 26 in Workshop Classroom A. U.S. House Approves FAA Bill Preserving ATP Requirements This is a new message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 351-69 to approve its FAA bill (H.R. 3935) that would authorize more than $100 billion for aviation operations, equipment, and airports for five years. The bill does not call for any changes to new-hire pilot qualification requirements but includes a provision raising mandatory pilot retirement to age 67. The next step in the process will be for the Senate to consider its version of the bill. Once the Senate approves an FAA bill, the House and Senate bills will be reconciled, and both chambers will vote on that new version. If approved, it then goes to President Biden’s desk for his signature. Your APA Government Affairs Committee is pleased that the House chose to preserve the existing ATP requirements. We will be closely engaged with the Senate in the coming days to help ensure that its version of the bill does likewise. In addition, we will be addressing the pilot retirement age issue with the Senate in accordance with APA policy, which calls for preserving mandatory retirement at age 65. “Booking in Progress” is Still Just a Placeholder This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. It happened again – last week, one of our pilots ended up sleeping in an airport. And no, the airport did not have a crew room. A few weeks ago, an international crew was denied entry to a foreign country because the company had not secured rooms for them. They were escorted back through security and told to board the first flight back to the states. DO NOT depart if you see “Booking in Progress” in CCI. We have said it before: Those three words are a placeholder. They do not mean someone is in the process of booking you a room. Once you move the metal, you are no longer the priority. Pilots who question “Booking in Progress” experience a much quicker wait when a departure time is at risk. Take care of yourself and your crew, and ensure the company is abiding by the JCBA by providing you with suitable accommodations. For more information, see the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. Illegalities During Recovery Obligation This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q:  I was scheduled to fly a two-day sequence with a follow-on, two-day sequence (four days of flying). The last flight of my first sequence cancelled. I was brought back to domicile on the first available flight the next day (Section 4.C.2.c.(2)), but the Replacement Flying and extension of the first sequence overlapped my follow-on sequence. Why was my next sequence not removed OP? Why am I now responsible for Recovery Obligation for the second sequence? A:  When a sequence is delayed, a reassignment is executed, or Replacement Flying is assigned that causes an illegality with your next sequence, a Replacement Flying Window (RFW) is created to protect the value of the conflict sequence. Section 4.C.3.a.(3) allows for a Replacement Flying assignment that causes an illegality with the pilot’s next sequence(s) and resultant Recovery Obligation for the removed sequence. Section 4.C.3.a.(4) allows the RFW to be extended when the first available flight back to domicile is outside the RFW. If this assignment creates an illegality, the pilot is responsible for Recovery Obligation for the removed sequence. If the Company does not utilize the first available flight(s) back to domicile, the flying or deadheading is a reassignment and not RO. In accordance with Section 4.C.7.c, a follow-on illegality created from this type of assignment should be removed with “OP.” This removal is a paid, no credit, no RO code and, at pilot option, would allow you to “double-dip” and pick up additional flying. The pilot may call Crew Tracking and ask the flights outside the RFW which do not comply with 4.C.2.c.(2) be coded as AF. Section 4.C.3.a.(3):  The Company may assign Replacement Flying that causes an illegality with the pilot’s next sequence(s). Section 4.C.3.a.(4):  The Company may assign Replacement Flying that is scheduled to terminate beyond the Replacement Flying Window in accordance with C.2.c.(2). Section 4.C.2.c.:  Replacement Flying – Flying that is assigned / awarded by the Company to a pilot whose sequence, or portion thereof, has cancelled. (1) Replacement Flying Window – (i) The Sequence Footprint plus four (4) hours, or the end of the calendar day, whichever is later, or (ii) the Sequence Footprint, plus thirty (30) hours for Trans Oceanic sequences, including to/from Hawaii, U.S. to South of the Equator. (2) The Replacement Flying Window may be extended beyond C.2.c.(1) above if the pilot flies or is deadheaded on the first available flight(s) to base. The “first available flight(s) to base” is the flight(s) that arrives at the base the earliest. The flight(s) may be direct or indirect. Section 4.C.7.c.:  Reassigned during replacement flying – if reassigned during replacement flying, and the reassignment causes an unresolved illegality with the pilot’s next sequence(s) at the time of assignment, the pilot shall be removed paid and uncredited from the illegal sequence(s) with no replacement flying obligation for the removed sequence(s). VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure This is a repeated message from the APA Medical Advisors. VA Disability Ratings have been a recent subject of concern for many pilots. Disability benefits and/or related medical conditions must be disclosed to the FAA. The FAA is seeking to reconcile any inaccuracy or failure to report on past medical applications by providing an opportunity for disclosure. All First-Class Airman Medical Certificate holders with unreported VA benefits must submit a new medical application and schedule an appointment with an AME when their current medical expires, or no later than July 31, 2023, whichever is earlier. Any questions regarding this should be directed to the APA Medical Advisors . Failure to submit an expedited reapplication and reexamination in accordance with the FAA’s timeline or failure to disclose all reasonably known information may result in legal enforcement action. Pigs of the Week 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 July 4, B737 aircraft 3HT has been written up five times and been out of service four times for right wing to body overheat. At the time of this writing, it was restricted to Class 1 or 2 maintenance stations. In the last month, A321 aircraft 189 has been written up seven times and been out of service five times for poor cabin cooling. At the time of this writing, it was out of service. Since May 26, the right engine bleed air on A319 aircraft 757 has been written up 14 times and been out of service nine times. At the time of this writing, the bleed air was on MEL. UPDATE: In the last two weeks, the right engine on A321 aircraft 575 has been written up and been out of service nine times for start faults. At the time of this writing, it was out of service. 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 casual dinner on July 18: Angel Ayure-Lopez, William Barkley, Francis Barros, Taylor Boaks, Steven Boyd, Sergio Bressan, Gregory Brown, Oravis Cabrera, Dalton Caldwell, Scott Carlson, Erick Castro, Yu Wang Chia, Andrew Colich, Jeremy Crist, Matthew Cruse, Louis D’Antonio, Kenneth Darlington, Keith Ervin, Antoine Gamet, Jonathan Gentile, Shane Gylling, Kenneth Hailey, Michael Ham, Jay Heide, Thomas Herrington, Jason Holmes, Michael Kelly, Alexander Kingsley, Steven Kirkpatrick, Mark Kleiner, Steven Knight, Matthew Kuntz, Bruce Lefferts, David MacPherson, John Marshall, Peter Martin, Neil McKenna IV, Peter McMorrow, Derek Mintle, Jaime Moncada Garcia, Bradley Nordstrom, Christopher Ortiz, Matthew Palmer, Jermaine Phillips, Jacob Porter, Jose Rafols, John Richmond, Paul Robertson, Matthew Roper, Matias Sandoval, Aaron Shotts, Andres Sierra Diaz, Matthew Slaughter, Michael Slover, Stephen Stark, Dagan Stites, Michael Thorsen, Van Ward II, Jeffrey Williams, and Merlin Yoder. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On July 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: Esteban Arcila Aranzazu, Kendall Bascom, David Behar Mejia, Jeffrey Boyer, Michael Bramble, Shannon Buller, Jerad Carpenter, Kellen Cottrell, Ryan Dacey, Richard Dilko, Quenten Esser, Andrew Garrett, Hugo Gonzalez, Shawn Gray, James Haizlip, Matthew Hoerstman, Marco Junco, Matthias Knuth, Michael Kologi, Graham Kyle Iii, Rafael Madrid, Paul Matthews, Charles Niblack Jr., Michael Nicoson, Richard Petersen, Max Pippin, Michael Roberson, Richard Robinson, Mark Ruddell, Johannes Ruderstaller, Michael Siegel, Paulo Silva, Alejandro Sparis, Calvin Tenhet, Sean Vance, Arthur Villegas, George Wilson, and Kevin York. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: TA Road Show on Aug. 1 CLT: TA Road Show on July 25 DCA: TA Road Show on July 27 DFW: TA Road Show on Aug. 3; Family Awareness event at TopGolf in Austin on Aug. 8 LAX: TA Road Show on Aug. 1; Concourse Conversations on Aug. 17 LGA: TA Road Show on July 27; New York Mets game on Sept. 2 MIA: TA Road Show on July 26 ORD: TA Road Show on Aug. 2 PHL: TA Road Show on July 26 PHX: Arizona Diamondbacks game on July 24; TA Road Show on Aug. 2 Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Communications Committee: United Pilots Reach Agreement in Principle APA Leadership: Our New Bargaining Landscape President: Will They Attempt to Lowball Us Again? Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes Emergency Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Reconvenes Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Resumes Meeting Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Meeting Update Membership Committee: You’re on Probation With AA, Not With APA Information Technology Steering Committee: Volunteers Needed to Beta Test APA Mobile 2.0 Press Release: “Compromising on Safety is Never an Option” Communications Committee: We Remember TWA Flight 800 Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (5) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (6) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (4) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (2) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Since the program is voluntary, can a person choose not to be a part of the program? The Professional Standards Program is completely voluntary. If you are approached by a committee volunteer, it is your choice whether to participate. However, please remember the choice to not participate may lead to the company resolving the issue at their sole discretion. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Will They Attempt to Lowball Us Again?

Will They Attempt to Lowball Us Again? Fellow APA Pilots, It is dead obvious that with the announcement of the United Agreement in Principle, our existing Tentative Agreement is woefully deficient by comparison and in need of significant improvements. As your APA National Officers and Board of Directors stated emphatically in our joint message on Sunday evening, the bargaining landscape has changed, and management must respond accordingly. Today, I spoke with American Airlines CEO Robert Isom and met with Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Steve Johnson to determine whether management shares our commitment to doing what’s required to produce a TA that truly matches our industry competitors — a TA worthy of consideration by our members. I was accompanied by members of the Negotiating and Economic box-sizing: border-box;">Is management serious about doing what’s required? Do they understand the need for a genuinely competitive pilot contract? Will they attempt to lowball us again with yet another subpar offer? Time will tell, and it won’t take long. In the meantime, I ask that you continue to stay informed and engaged. I know you are frustrated and short on patience after four-plus years in Section 6 negotiations — but the fight isn’t over yet by any stretch. Thank you for your support. In Unity, CA Ed Sicher President
President Public News

“Compromising on Safety is Never an Option”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250 “Compromising on Safety is Never an Option” FORT WORTH, Texas (July 18, 2023) – Three unions – the Allied Pilots Association (APA) representing the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) representing 74,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian carriers, and the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) representing the 10,000 pilots of Southwest Airlines – are voicing “serious concerns” regarding two pending issues in the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill. One proposal in the bill seeks to relax the minimum experience requirements to serve as a professional airline pilot, and the other would raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots. The unions summarized their concerns in a letter sent today to the White House, Congress, and the Department of Transportation. Excerpts from the letter: “Policymakers established the current pilot experience requirements in the wake of a series of fatal accidents in which the National Transportation Safety Board cited the adequacy of flight crew training and qualifications as contributing factors. Today’s requirements are the product of the collaborative efforts of the FAA and a cross-section of aviation industry subject-matter experts that have served the airline industry and the traveling public well for more than a decade and should not be relaxed.” “Similarly, the current age 65 mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots is supported by data and conforms with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. Those advocating for raising the retirement age have not produced sufficient data relating to the safety implications of such a change. Last week, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg voiced his department’s opposition to raising the retirement age for just this reason. “We don’t think this is the time to change that, and I would want to see a lot more data before we could feel comfortable with any kind of change to that,” he said. The Office of Management and Budget echoed those concerns in its July 17 Statement of Administration Policy regarding the FAA bill, noting that “making this change without doing research and establishing any necessary policies would be outside the international standard.” “Safety is our primary focus in everything we do as pilots and compromising on safety is never an option. We ask our elected representatives to support our pilots, and the public, by embracing this same philosophy.” The letter is signed by Capt. Ed Sicher, APA President; Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA President; and Capt. Casey Murray, SWAPA President. 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 15,000 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 . Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 74,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow ALPA on Twitter: @ALPAPilots . Located in Dallas, Texas, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) is a non-profit employee organization representing the more than 10,000 pilots of Southwest Airlines. SWAPA works to provide a secure and rewarding career for Southwest pilots and their families through negotiating contracts, defending contractual rights, and actively promoting professionalism and safety. For more information on the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, visit SWAPA.org .
Press Releases

Our New Bargaining Landscape

Our New Bargaining Landscape APA Pilots, Your Board of Directors convened virtually at 1000 Central today to address yesterday’s announcement that United Airlines management has reached an agreement in principle with its pilots and the potential impact of that agreement on our pending Tentative Agreement. Much like what happened when we announced our proposed TA last fall while United was in the process of ratifying its deal at the time, it’s clear that the industry and bargaining landscape have changed yet again with the new United AIP. While our pending TA built on some of the gains achieved in the Delta pilots’ agreement, it appears that United CEO Scott Kirby has found ways to address pay and quality-of-life items for his pilots that American CEO Robert Isom and his team have repeatedly told us were simply impossible to do here. As your elected representatives, it is our responsibility to review these new developments and determine how to proceed. To that end, the Board discussed various potential paths forward with the Negotiating Committee and voted to approve related tasking. We are encouraged that management has agreed to meet with our negotiating team on Tuesday morning. While it is unclear at this point how management views the impact of the United deal on our TA, there should be no question that your Board of Directors believes the bargaining landscape has changed and management must address those changes in substantive and meaningful ways. The ball is in their court. Thank you for your continued engagement. Additional information will be forthcoming as events warrant. In Unity, CA Ed Sicher, APA President CA Chris Torres, APA Vice President FO Patrick Clark, APA Secretary-Treasurer CA Paul McFarland, BOS Domicile Chair CA Gemma Meehan, BOS Domicile Vice Chair CA Doug Hancock, CLT Domicile Chair FO Erik DeWinne, CLT Domicile Vice Chair CA Joe Collins, DCA Domicile Chair CA Tim Doreen Jr., DCA Domicile Vice Chair CA Jon Sherrell, DFW Domicile Chair FO Jason Gustin, DFW Domicile Vice Chair CA Bill Evans, LAX Domicile Chair CA Tim Dick, LAX Domicile Vice Chair CA Lawrence Cutler, LGA Domicile Chair CA Jim Scanlan, LGA Domicile Vice Chair CA Thomas Copeland, MIA Domicile Chair CA Anne Witcher, MIA Domicile Vice Chair CA Wes Smith, ORD Domicile Chair FO Paul Meyers, ORD Domicile Vice Chair FO Paul DiOrio, PHL Domicile Chair CA Kevin Wilkes, PHL Domicile Vice Chair CA David Duncan, PHX Domicile Chair FO Brian Ellis, PHX Domicile Vice Chair
Joint Leadership Public News

APA News Digest: July 14, 2023

APA News Digest July 14, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... RSVP for a Contract 2023 Road Show Did You Miss This Week’s Town Hall? Tentative Agreement Ratification Vote Summer Trans-Atlantic Flights – AA at No. 3 Deutsche Bank: “Projecting a Record June Quarter Operating Profit” Family Awareness Committee: Please Make Plans to Join Us at Oshkosh National Communications Network: Concourse Conversations at PHX on July 20 Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: Make Only One Primary Reservation Per Destination Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee: JetBlue Travel Embargoes for AMS/CDG Hotel Committee: Beware of Hotel Allocations in PBS Bid Packages Compass Project: Clearing Up TDY Misconceptions Contract Compliance Committee: Duty Free Period vs. Reserve Availability Period STOP Committee: SWAPA Plans to Picket on Aug. 31 Medical Advisors: VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Membership Committee: Congratulations to Recent Retirees Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars RSVP for a Contract 2023 Road Show The full Tentative Agreement, an Executive Summary of the TA, and Board members’ comment letters were posted to the Contract 2023 webpage on July 10. The APA Policy Manual stipulates that each domicile shall receive a “Road Show” presentation after the membership has at least 14 days to study the aforementioned documents. In accordance with that policy, we have scheduled a series of presentations across the system. Members are free to attend any of the presentations, regardless of where they are based. Base Date Time Venue RSVP BOS Aug. 1 0900 EDT Hilton BOS Airport RSVP CLT July 25 0900 EDT DoubleTree by Hilton South Charlotte Tyvola RSVP DCA July 27 0900 EDT Hyatt Regency Crystal City RSVP DFW Aug. 3 0900 CDT Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center RSVP LAX Aug. 1 1000 PDT LAX Airport Marriott RSVP LGA July 27 1000 EDT Martinique Hotel (49 W. 32nd St.) RSVP MIA July 26 1000 EDT Hilton MIA Blue Lagoon RSVP ORD Aug. 2 0900 CDT Hilton ORD Airport RSVP PHL July 26 0900 EDT PHL Airport Marriott RSVP PHX Aug. 2 0900 MST DoubleTree Suites (320 N. 44th St.) RSVP Each of those RSVP links will require you to log into AlliedPilots.org first. That way, the website will be able to identify you. Simply click the “Submit” button, and you should see a message that says, “Your RSVP has been submitted.” Did You Miss This Week’s Town Hall? The National Officers hosted a National Town Hall Meeting on July 12 that was largely focused on the Tentative Agreement. Members can click here to watch a recording of the town hall. Members can also click here to watch three videos of the Negotiating Committee’s briefing to the Board of Directors on July 6 as well as a video of the Board’s discussion and vote on July 7. Tentative Agreement Ratification Vote This is an updated version of a message that APA Secretary-Treasurer FO Pat Clark sent to all members on July 11. Following the Board of Directors’ approval of the Tentative Agreement, and in accordance with the APA Constitution and Bylaws, the ratification vote will be conducted via electronic ballot. Voting opens at 0700 Central on July 24 and closes at 0700 Central on Aug. 7. The electronic balloting will be supervised and conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Detailed voting instructions were emailed to each member on July 14, when they were also sent via postal mail. ( Click here to see an example .) To review the Tentative Agreement and related information, please visit the Contract 2023 webpage. Questions? Please contact APA Election Coordinator Kathy Lazenby: Phone: 817-302-2175 Email: TA2023@alliedpilots.org Hours: 0900 to 1630 Central, Monday through Friday Summer Trans-Atlantic Flights – AA at No. 3 Air travel intelligence company OAG (Official Airline Guide) recently released a market analysis of this summer’s record-setting figures for flights between the United States and Europe. According to OAG, “With more flights, strong demand, and capacity once again under pressure in many markets, there is every reason to expect this summer to be a record revenue-producing period for airlines across the Atlantic.” Within the OAG market analysis, the following comparative table was presented: United is responsible for 38 percent of those flights, followed by Delta with 36 percent. American brings up the rear at 26 percent. Deutsche Bank: “Projecting a Record June Quarter Operating Profit” In a recent note to investors, Deutsche Bank airlines analyst Michael Linenberg provided the following preview of second-quarter earnings: “We are projecting a record June-quarter operating profit of $7.9 billion for the U.S. airline sector (which we define as the 11 publicly traded airlines operating under their own brand) as a strong demand environment drives industry top-line to an all-time high of $58 billion.” “Pretax profits are estimated to be $6.8 billion – third best ever (after 2017 and 2016) – as the sector deals with an increased debt load and higher interest expense. However, if we were to adjust for United’s quarter end operational challenges (see below), industry pretax profit would also be a record .” “While revenues are strong, so are inflationary pressures, which is why industry margins continue to lag the prior cycle. For example, underlying our June-quarter industry forecast is an operating margin of 13.5% and a pretax margin of 11.7%, which compares to margins of 15.9% and 14.5%, respectively, for the 2014-2019 period. Overall, margins are still healthy, but we see further margin upside as the industry recovery gains momentum following its worst downturn ever. And despite the prevailing view that a U.S. recession is on the horizon, we believe the industry is well-positioned to generate strong earnings – even in the face of economic contraction – that will not only represent significant year-over-year growth, but likely lead the majority of S ">“So, while we do see a U.S. recession as a potential investment risk for the sector, we share Mr. Bastian’s view that running a good airline may be a far greater challenge for management given the numerous constraints across the aviation ecosystem. As one airline executive recently quipped to us, “It is very expensive to run a good airline, but very, very, very expensive to run a bad airline.” We couldn’t agree more and are of the view that service, reliability, and customer intent to repurchase (via passenger surveys/net promoter scores) may be more significant contributors of airline financial outperformance, at least under the current circumstances, than some of the other key inputs we tend to focus on.” Please Make Plans to Join Us at Oshkosh This is an updated message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. APA will be at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh the last week of July. Many of your elected officials, including APA President CA Ed Sicher and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres, will be in attendance, along with volunteers from national committees. Come gain insight and perspectives directly from those making it happen. And be sure to bring your family, as there will be plenty of snacks during our nightly happy hours. In addition to the happy hours, we are planning three dinners that week: barbecue on July 26 , pizza on July 28 , and tacos on July 29 . If you plan to join us for any of those meals, please RSVP via the links in the previous sentence so we can ensure there is enough food for everyone. Concourse Conversations at PHX on July 20 This is a new message from the National Communications Network. APA’s National Communications Network will host Concourse Conversations at PHX from 0800 to 1600 on July 20. Look for us in front of the Pei Wei near gate A23. These events provide an opportunity for members at large to hear directly from union volunteers. We will be collecting feedback to send to the Board of Directors and National Officers. Every pilot who stops by will be given a Starbucks gift card. Make Only One Primary Reservation Per Destination This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. During this busy summer travel season, please remember the following rules must be followed when reserving the jumpseat on AA mainline flights. Pilots may book only one primary reservation to the same destination, meaning multiple reservations to the same destination on the same day are NOT permitted. Exception: If you have an alternate reservation on an earlier flight, then you are permitted to have a primary reservation on a later flight. You are NOT permitted to have a primary reservation followed by an alternate reservation. Please refer to the IVR User Guide for additional details. If you have questions, send them to jumpseat-committee@alliedpilots.org . JetBlue Travel Embargoes for AMS/CDG This is a new message from the APA Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee. JetBlue began service between CDG and JFK on June 29. It will begin service to AMS from JFK on Aug. 29 and to AMS from BOS on Sept. 20.  JetBlue has placed an embargo on all pass travel, to include ZED fares and jumpseaters, for both cities as follows: CDG is unavailable June 29 to Sept. 5. AMS is unavailable Aug. 29 to Sept. 29. Beware of Hotel Allocations in PBS Bid Packages This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. PBS bid packages are built prior to hotel allocations being complete for that month. Sometimes, the hotel listed on the bid package will not be the allocated hotel for that sequence. Management is working toward a system that would potentially allow them to complete the allocations ahead of the bid package being published; however, they are not there. We recommend that you do not bid for a trip based solely on the hotel listed on the bid package, especially in markets that have three or more hotels. For more information, see the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. Clearing Up TDY Misconceptions This is a new message from the APA Compass Project. Temporary Assignment, or Temporary Duty (TDY), is covered in Section 15, Letter M of our current JCBA. If there is a temporary shortage of pilots in a bid status, the Company may create a temporary vacancy and make it available for pilots, currently qualified and available, to bid. Pilots can either be voluntarily awarded or involuntarily assigned a TDY. Here are three of the most common misconceptions regarding TDY. “TDY always includes a travel day at the front and back end.” Pilots involuntarily assigned TDY are entitled to a positioning deadhead at the beginning and at the end of the month. While this is typically built as a standalone deadhead-only sequence, it can be built in conjunction with a flight sequence, provided all FAR Part 117 legalities are adhered to. Crew Scheduling cannot build deadheads on a day off unless the pilot agrees to it. Crew Scheduling will not build a deadhead-only sequence for pilots voluntarily awarded TDY. It is the pilot’s responsibility to schedule the travel so that they are in position for their flying or reserve assignment. Pilots who are voluntarily awarded TDY are allowed to use A1/A3 travel to/from their TDY base. “But what if I have carry-in flying or a large block of reserve days through the monthly transition?” The short answer is that you can’t be in two places at once, and you always need to have legal rest between duty periods. Whether you were assigned or awarded the TDY, there needs to be an opportunity for you to get to your new base. It’s a little easier for pilots who are assigned TDY, as you will get a deadhead built into your sequence or Crew Scheduling will build you a standalone deadhead-only sequence. Pilots awarded a TDY must still have a period free from duty that is adequate in length to position themselves to their new base and be rested and fit for duty. We can’t cover every situation that might create a conflict, but the bottom line is that, when a conflict arises, Crew Scheduling must fix the conflict. “TDY is being offered in my status, but I have training that month. I’m not eligible, right?” Not true! The company has been known to award TDY, both voluntary and involuntary, to pilots who have CQT scheduled. This is not necessarily consistent from month to month, so if you are interested in TDY, and are scheduled for CQT, bid it anyways! If you would like more information about TDY, the Compass TDY Guide covers subjects such as TDY bidding, A-Pass travel, hotels, transportation, pay and much more. 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 . Duty Free Period vs. Reserve Availability Period This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q:  I am a Short Call Reserve pilot and was assigned into one or more Duty Free Periods (DFPs). My DFPs were “slid” in 24-hour increments after domicile rest concluded and now infringe on my pre-assigned Reserve Availability Period (RAP). Shouldn’t my RAP be removed? Wouldn’t I assume Long Call duty at the end of my slid DFPs? ? A:  If you have remaining availability within your pre-assigned RAP after the conclusion of your slid DFPs, you will join that RAP in Progress (RIP). However, all legalities will be anchored to the original start time of the RAP. RAP shifting limits and rest requirements will also apply as if you commenced the RAP as originally scheduled. This is the negotiated circumstance where a RIP is applied. A pilot whose RAP has been wholly consumed by the slide will have their pre-assigned RAP for the following day. Reference:  See the 10th item in the  DOTC/RAS Settlement Agreement  from 2018. SWAPA Plans to Picket on Aug. 31 This is a repeated message from the APA Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association is planning to conduct informational picketing on Aug. 31 at five airports: ATL, BWI, HOU, LAX, and MDW. The brief at each location will begin at 0830 local time, except for LAX, where it will begin at 1000 Pacific. If you can stand with your fellow union pilots that day, click here to RSVP . VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure This is a repeated message from the APA Medical Advisors. VA Disability Ratings have been a recent subject of concern for many pilots. Disability benefits and/or related medical conditions must be disclosed to the FAA. The FAA is seeking to reconcile any inaccuracy or failure to report on past medical applications by providing an opportunity for disclosure. All First-Class Airman Medical Certificate holders with unreported VA benefits must submit a new medical application and schedule an appointment with an AME when their current medical expires, or no later than July 31, 2023, whichever is earlier. Any questions regarding this should be directed to the APA Medical Advisors . Failure to submit an expedited reapplication and reexamination in accordance with the FAA’s timeline or failure to disclose all reasonably known information may result in legal enforcement action. Pigs of the Week 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. In the last two months, A321 aircraft 586 has been written up 12 times for right engine bleed air and has been out of service eight times. It was most recently signed off on July 13. In the last week, A321 aircraft 575 has been written up five times for right engine start faults and has been out of service five times. It was most recently signed off on July 13. At the time of this writing, its routing was restricted to AA maintenance stations. 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 casual dinner on July 11: Matthew Akers, Zachary Albertini, Hillel Attali, Jason Bagwell, Edward Balzer IV, Jeffrey Belanger, Christopher Benavides, Cody Benham, Peter Buffkin Jr., Jonathan Burdick, Gareth Bussa II, Lee Carlson, Kayla Criscenzo, James Cunningham III, Charles Daniels, Wesley Davis, Henry Deed, Peter Demesmaeker, Bryan Denton, Darin Dial, Kevin Dunbar, Robert Fender, Christopher Frolander, Juan Gallego, Omer Golan, Jacinto Gonzalez Jr., Finnegan Gruggett, Timothy Hammond, Donovan Hampton, William Harders, Patricia Humphries, Craig Hutchinson, Nov Ing, Michael Janda, Cameron Kissell, Vladimir Kolesnikov, Brian Kuhn, Aaron Litt, Gary Marlowe, Christopher Marriott, Alan Matthews, Brian Matthews, Edgardo Melendez Rodriguez, Ronny Menendez, Samuel Moreland, Benjiman Morris, Kirk Nelson, Andrew Nemethy, James Nussey, David Orlosky, Christopher Ott, Chloe Pedersen, Vincent Rolletta III, Lucas Sawyer, Joseph Sempio, Kaitlin Shaffery, Ryan Thornburg, Joshua Wagner, Chris Whitman, Brian Wilson, Kyle Wolinski, and John Zachary. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On July 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: Roger Andersen, Kirk Anderson, Robert Beale, Ronald Boyle, Donald Butler, Leandro De Los Santos, Ralph Delatour, John Dobbins, Todd Dornlas, Erin Fagan, Juan Gutierrez, Daniel Housley, Kelly Kareis, David Kelley, Clinton Kennedy, David Kirk, Kelly Ladd, Amanda Lantz, Steven Lasker, William Magyar, David Martinez, Carolyn McDuff, Sean Noel, Ilian Peltekov, Alan Radford, David Ramsey, Rafael Rivera, Timothy Scaife, James Sowden, Adam Steichen, Ray Tidwell III, Devin Tolentino, Jonathan Uhler, Mitchell White, and John Yelick. Congratulations to Recent Retirees This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate the following pilots who retired in May and June. CLT: CA James Bebeau, CA John Bertelsen, CA Jimmy Bradley, CA Kerry Cummings, CA Paul Dobracki, CA Brian Dominick, CA Gregory Farbo, CA William Gary, CA Clifford Houtz, CA Richard Maury IV, FO Tony McMillan, FO James Ritcher, FO William Scileppi, CA James Sgueglia, FO William Simons, CA Stephen Spencer, CA Scott Valdez, and CA Gregory Wicker DCA: CA Joseph Bretthauer, CA Pat Donnelly, CA David Gregg, CA Michael Hannin, CA Stephen James, CA Herbert McMillan, CA Glenn Woodruff, and CA Charles Yetsconish DFW: CA James Acree, CA Lawrence Bell, CA Roger Bransford, CA Michael Canatella, CA Daniel Carey, CA Bradley Chatfield, CA James Connor, FO Dominic Decrescentis, CA Joseph Fonseca, CA Matt Harris, CA Charles Hughes, FO Michael Hulcher, CA Kevin Jones, CA Nick Kuklenski, FO Jeffry Martinec, CA John Mielcarek, CA Gene Mitchell, CA Charles Morris, CA Mary Muehlbauer, CA James Ousley Jr., CA Johannes Overman, FO Marie Ramos, CA Paul Rheudasil, CA Colin Richardson, CA Michael Riehl, CA David Sapiro, FO Keith Sauls, CA Louis Shaheen, CA Daniel Siciliano, FO William Stotlar, FO James Swenor, CA Samuel Tait, CA Jeff Thurstin, CA Richard Tierney, CA Kelvin Trott, CA Frank Vinci, CA Steve Weaver, and CA Frank Zak LAX: CA Lauro Aguila, CA Robert Dusair, FO Michael Halpin, FO Robert Hostager, CA Benjamin Ledley, CA Ronald Minkin, CA M Nibley, FO Mark Perusse, CA Robert Scott, CA Scott Turner, CA Colin Violette, and FO Margaret Watt LGA: CA Matthew Gailing, FO J.L. Gowan, CA Glenn Hoffson, CA Robert Jones, CA Frank Lacorte, FO Brett Lassen, CA John Neal, CA Timothy O'Neill, CA Thomas Parker, CA Michael Schmidt, and CA Paul Strevy MIA: CA Michael Bake, CA Rex Brewer, CA Robert Campbell, CA Michael Ceruti, CA Kris Cornett, CA Michael David, CA Paul Deegan, CA David Ditzel, CA Daniel Everts, CA Richard Eyre, FO Kevin Knitter, CA David Lint, CA Mike Long, FO James Luzzi, CA Philip Manning, CA Michael Slogar, CA William Wiebler, and CA James Witham ORD: CA Judson Birza, CA Kurt Jansen, CA Peter Menke, CA Thomas Moquin, CA James Nikodem, FO Seth Peterson, CA Peter Thompson, CA Dirk Vause, and CA Ralph Viets PHL: CA Timothy Averett, CA Mark Bonaparte, CA Brandon Hubley, FO Mark Kennedy, CA Ralph Kruger, CA Kirk Kubias, CA Steve MacDonald, CA William Northrup, CA Andrew Nystrom, CA Del Padgett, CA Robert Strand, FO Bruce Taylor, CA Laurence Terry, and CA George Walters PHX: CA Steven Brennan, CA David Cook, CA Steven Korcheck, CA Caron Octigan, and FO David Watson Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: TA Road Show on Aug. 1 CLT: TA Road Show on July 25 DCA: Baltimore Orioles game on July 17; TA Road Show on July 27 DFW: TA Road Show on Aug. 3; Family Awareness event at TopGolf in Austin on Aug. 8 LAX: TA Road Show on Aug. 1; Concourse Conversations on Aug. 17 LGA: TA Road Show on July 27; New York Mets game on Sept. 2 MIA: TA Road Show on July 26 ORD: TA Road Show on Aug. 2 PHL: TA Road Show on July 26 PHX: Concourse Conversations on July 20; Arizona Diamondbacks game on July 24; TA Road Show on Aug. 2 Domicile Elections PHL and PHX pilots will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair to represent each domicile on the APA Board of Directors for a two-year term starting on Nov. 1. The following pilots whose names were submitted for nomination have completed the Willingness to Serve and Conflict of Interest forms. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid CA Brian Sweep PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino FO Jim Varden PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Candidates’ resumes will be mailed and posted on Aug. 9. Election Round ballots will be mailed on Sept. 7 and tallied on Sept. 28. If necessary, Runoff Round ballots would be mailed on Oct. 10 and tallied on Oct. 31. If you have any questions, call the APA Elections Department at 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Communications Committee: Tentative Agreement Now Posted Security Committee: New Legislation in China  Professional Standards Committee: Let’s Help One Another Beat the Heat!  Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (3) Captain’s Authority Committee (5) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (6) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Hotel Committee (2) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (4) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (2) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) Uniform (1 female) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the Member Engagement Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What issues are not appropriate for Professional Standards? No. A resolved issue cannot be used to support other disciplinary actions. An agreement exists with management that Professional Standards referrals are never part of an employee’s permanent record. Professional Standards volunteers will never be asked to relate any case information in the employee discipline process. Confidentiality rules apply to management also. Once an issue is released to the Professional Standards program, it is as if management “forgets” the issue ever occurred. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: July 7, 2023

In This Edition ... APA Board of Directors Approves Proposed Tentative Agreement Road Shows Will Begin on July 25 National Town Hall Meeting on July 12 Compass Project: Join Us for YOUnion 101 on July 12 STOP Committee: SWAPA Plans to Picket on Aug. 31 Family Awareness Committee: Please RSVP for Dinners at Oshkosh Contract Compliance Committee: Deadhead to Live Leg Aeromedical Committee: Our Recommended Reading List Medical Advisors: VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Membership Committee: Gone West Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars APA Board of Directors Approves Proposed Tentative Agreement This is an updated version of a message that the APA Communications Committee sent to all members today. By a vote of 16 in favor and 4 opposed, the APA Board of Directors has approved the proposed Tentative Agreement and initiated the membership ratification process. In taking these actions, the Board approved the following individual motions: To approve the June 2023 proposed Tentative Agreement and forward it to the membership for a ratification vote. To approve the written explanation of the Tentative Agreement prepared by the Negotiating Committee in accordance with APA Policy Manual Section 9.06.B.4. In accordance with APA Constitution and Bylaws Article XII.E, to set the membership ratification voting period on the Tentative Agreement to commence on Monday, July 24, at 0700 Central. Voting shall close on Monday, Aug. 7, at 0700 Central. In accordance with APA Policy Manual Section 9.06.C., Board members’ comment letters regarding the Tentative Agreement will be provided to the membership. These letters will be posted to the Contract 2023 website, along with the written explanation of the Tentative Agreement and the Tentative Agreement itself, after 1200 Central on Monday, July 10. The Board also voted to approve these motions today: To amend the motion establishing the August special Board meeting for Aug. 1-3 and instead set it for Aug. 15-17. To approve eight days of deferred vacation for Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee Chair FO Steve England, who performed union work during his scheduled vacation in June. In accordance with R2016-11, we are providing a synopsis reflecting all main motions and resolutions that the Board addressed today. In accordance with R2017-37 Rev 1, video footage of the open portions of the Board meeting will soon be posted here . Road Shows Will Begin on July 25 APA Policy Manual Section 9.06.C says each domicile shall receive a “Road Show” presentation after the membership has at least 14 days to study the written text of any Tentative Agreement, the proposed implementation schedule, and a comment letter from each member of the Board of Directors who wishes to send one. Road shows will happen on the following dates. Times and specific locations will be announced no later than July 10. BOS: Aug. 1 CLT: July 25 DCA: July 27 DFW: Aug. 3 LAX: Aug. 1 LGA: July 27 MIA: July 26 ORD: Aug. 2 PHL: July 26 PHX: Aug. 2 National Town Hall Meeting on July 12 Your National Officers will host a National Town Hall Meeting via Zoom at 1600 Central on Wednesday, July 12. Click here to register for the July 12 meeting . This meeting will primarily focus on the Tentative Agreement and events in the coming weeks, to include road shows and member voting. If you have questions you would like to submit for the meeting, please email those to townhall@alliedpilots.org . The deadline for submitting questions is 2359 Central on Tuesday, July 11. For those unable to participate live, we plan to upload a recording of the town hall to AlliedPilots.org/Videos after the meeting. Join Us for YOUnion 101 on July 12 This is a repeat message from the APA Compass Project. APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Wednesday, July 12. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newest pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to register . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. SWAPA Plans to Picket on Aug. 31 This is a new message from the APA Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association is planning to conduct informational picketing on Aug. 31 at five airports: ATL, BWI, HOU, LAX, and MDW. The brief at each location will begin at 0830 local time, except for LAX, where it will begin at 1000 Pacific. If you can stand with your fellow union pilots that day, click here to RSVP . Please RSVP for Dinners at Oshkosh This is a repeat message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. APA will be at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for six days: July 24-29. Many of your elected officials, including APA President CA Ed Sicher and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres, will be in attendance, along with volunteers from national committees. Come gain insight and perspectives directly from those making it happen. And be sure to bring your family, as there will be plenty of snacks during our nightly happy hours. In addition to the happy hours, we are planning three dinners that week: barbecue on July 26, pizza on July 28, and tacos on July 29. If you plan to join us for any of those meals, please RSVP via AlliedPilots.org/Calendar so we can ensure there is enough food for everyone. Deadhead to Live Leg This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q: When can a pilot with a deadhead-only duty period be converted to a live leg? A: A pilot with a DH only duty period may be assigned to fly a live leg: If the pilot received the DH only duty period assignment as the result of a mid-sequence down line fatigue event; or If the pilot is notified of the conversion and is provided legal rest prior to the assigned flight duty period Note: A pilot has no contractual obligation for contact while on an ODL. Deadhead to Live Leg Settlement Agreement 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 . The Toxin Solution: How Hidden Poisons in the Air, Water, Food, and Products We Use Are Destroying Our Health – and What We Can Do to Fix It Dr. Joe Pizzorno founded Bastyr University, the nation’s first and largest fully accredited university of natural medicine. He is convinced that lifelong good health rests on two key determinants: your exposure to toxins and your ability to process them in your body. While lifestyle, diet, and genetics all play major roles in well-being, many symptoms of declining health and chronic disease are rooted in toxic overload. In The Toxin Solution , Dr. Pizzorno provides the proven detox and tailored methods he has developed to heal toxic overload and restore health in just eight weeks. With this essential guide, you will learn how to avoid toxins in food and the products you use, mend your gut and prepare for detox, support your body in releasing the chemicals, and repair some of the damage toxins have caused. 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. VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure This is an updated message from the APA Medical Advisors. VA Disability Ratings have been a recent subject of concern for many pilots. Disability benefits and/or related medical conditions must be disclosed to the FAA. The FAA is seeking to reconcile any inaccuracy or failure to report on past medical applications by providing an opportunity for disclosure. All First-Class Airman Medical Certificate holders with unreported VA benefits must submit a new medical application and schedule an appointment with an AME when their current medical expires, or no later than July 31, 2023, whichever is earlier. Any questions regarding this should be directed to the APA Medical Advisors . Failure to submit an expedited reapplication and reexamination in accordance with the FAA’s timeline or failure to disclose all reasonably known information may result in legal enforcement action. Click here to download your My HealtheVet records as a PDF. You will need to get the document that shows your TOTAL benefit and the breakdown. If you do not have a My HealtheVet account, take time to register today . Pigs of the Week 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. In the last week, the first officer’s airspeed on A320 aircraft 128 has been written up and out of service three times. It most recently returned to service on July 7. Since June 26, the weather radar/windshear on A319 aircraft 754 has been written up seven times and been out of service four times. It most recently returned to service on July 7. In the last three weeks, the right engine bleed air on A321 aircraft 995 has been written up and out of service five times. It most recently returned to service on July 5. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On July 6, 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: Adrian Arjonilla, Perfecto Bahena, Jonathan Barlow, Kendall Bascom, William Browning, Robert Chambers, Christopher Chapekis, Carlos Coloma, Jason Conner, Thomas Crews V, Rene Dam, Michael Drongosky, Kenneth Evans, John Fierro, Michael Halliday-Williams, David Hoekstra, Glen Jackson, Jeffrey Johnson, Timothy Kahoe, Nicholas Kinner, Karl Lamm, Thomas Leisek, Duncan Mackechney, Jonathan McMillian, Kyle Morales, Jason Oliveira, Seth Pelletier, Michael Pfeifer, James Reagan, Jarod Robinson, Samuel Rodriguez Caballer, Kyrylo Romanovych, John Seitz, and Myron Stoltzfus. Gone West This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of these pilots, whose deaths we learned of last month: Bob Hoover, 68, on Jan. 14; Okley Post, 80, on Feb. 1; Earl “Bob” Wells, 96, on May 2; Rob Axel, 72, on May 13; George Sadler, 65, on May 13; Gene Morris, 94, on May 21; Arthur “Edge” Coppage, 59, on May 25; Cliff Pocock, 92, on May 26; Suzy Charles, 57, on May 28; Ed Danner, 87, on May 28; Joe Folds, 86, on May 29; Bill Ross, 60, on June 3; Vince Nelson, 62, on June 6; Guilliard Thompson, 98, on June 9; and Carl Palmer, 79, on June 20. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: TA Road Show on Aug. 1 CLT: Retirement Dinner on July 9; TA Road Show on July 25 DCA: Domicile Meeting on July 14; Baltimore Orioles game on July 17; TA Road Show on July 27 DFW: TA Road Show on Aug. 3; Family Awareness event at TopGolf in Austin on Aug. 8 LAX: TA Road Show on Aug. 1; Concourse Conversations on Aug. 17 LGA: TA Road Show on July 27; New York Mets game on Sept. 2 MIA: TA Road Show on July 26 ORD: TA Road Show on Aug. 2 PHL: TA Road Show on July 26 PHX: Concourse Conversations on July 20; Arizona Diamondbacks game on July 24; TA Road Show on Aug. 2 Domicile Elections PHL and PHX pilots will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair to represent each domicile on the APA Board of Directors for a two-year term starting on Nov. 1. The following pilots whose names were submitted for nomination have completed the Willingness to Serve and Conflict of Interest forms. PHL Chair FO Michael Drost CA Francis Heid CA Brian Sweep PHL Vice Chair FO Jordan Glasner CA Brian Sweep PHX Chair CA Herschel Beard IV CA Michael Saracino FO Jim Varden PHX Vice Chair FO Jeremy Ryder FO Jim Varden Candidates’ resumes will be mailed and posted on Aug. 9. Election Round ballots will be mailed on Sept. 7 and tallied on Sept. 28. If necessary, Runoff Round ballots would be mailed on Oct. 10 and tallied on Oct. 31. If you have any questions, call the APA Elections Department at 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. National Officers: It’s the 4th of July: Why the Silence?  President: Independence Day 2023 Communications Committee: “Positive Rate” Episode 13: Proposed TA and the Path Forward APA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes Via Zoom APA Information Hotline: APA Board of Directors Convenes to Consider Proposed TA Membership Committee: System Seniority List Audit  Captain’s Authority Committee: Top Ten Pilot Pushing Quotes  Military Affairs Committee: Military Affairs Update Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (4) Captain’s Authority Committee (4) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (6) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Hotel Committee (2) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (4) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (3) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) Uniform (1 female) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the National Committee Volunteer Portal . Professional Standards FAQs Since the program is voluntary, can a person choose not to be a part of the program? The Professional Standards program is completely voluntary. If you are approached by a committee volunteer, it is your choice whether to participate. However, please remember the choice to not participate may lead to the company resolving the issue at their sole discretion. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA News Digest: June 30, 2023

In This Edition ... Two APA Board of Directors Meetings Scheduled Contract Comparison 2023 5G Rollout at This Point “is Just Crazy” APA Supports SEIU: “Without You, There is No Interstate Commerce” Safety Committee: Pushback Departure Salute with Equipment Not Clear Compass Project: Our Family Navigation Team Needs You Compass Project: Join Us for YOUnion 101 on July 12 National Town Hall Meeting on July 12 Family Awareness Committee: Please RSVP for Dinners at Oshkosh Hotel Committee: Document the Issue Contract Compliance Committee: Can I be Rescheduled After Declaring Fatigue? Aeromedical Committee: Forest Fires and Air Quality Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class APA Holiday Schedule Domicile Events Domicile Elections Are You Willing to Serve? CA Johnathan Benton to Receive Posthumous Award Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Two APA Board of Directors Meetings Scheduled The APA Board of Directors has scheduled an emergency special meeting via Zoom beginning at 1400 Central today. As noted in yesterday’s announcement, Section 1.02.C of the APA Policy Manual says the following about such meetings: “The purpose of emergency meetings shall be defined in the Call of the meeting, and no other business may be considered at an emergency meeting.” The Board intends to address the following items during this meeting: Reviewing the Association’s bargaining strategy Follow-up discussion with Negotiating Committee Approval of the Negotiating Committee’s written explanation of the proposed TA, in accordance with Policy Manual Section 9.06.B.4. Board strategy Motions and tasking We will post an audio recording of all open portions of today’s meeting once it has concluded. In addition, APA President CA Ed Sicher notified the Board on Tuesday that – in accordance with Article V, Section 3.A.2.a of the APA Constitution and Bylaws; Article XII, Section D of the APA Constitution and Bylaws; and Section 9.06.B.4 of the Policy Manual – he has called an in-person special Board meeting at APA Headquarters beginning at 0900 Central on Thursday, July 6, “for the purpose of evaluating and voting on the recent AIP reached by the Negotiating Committee.” Contract Comparison 2023 In accordance with APA Policy Manual Section 9.01.A., the Negotiating Committee – with assistance from the Economic text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> updated comparison of ratified collective bargaining agreements for the pilots of American, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and Spirit. 5G Rollout at This Point “is Just Crazy” The FAA is set to allow wireless carriers to activate their 5G signals near airports on July 1, the first day of a four-day holiday weekend.  “Can you imagine that? We’re rolling this out at the most epic time of air travel,” APA Communications Committee Chair CA Dennis Tajer said during an interview with Fox Business’ The Big Money Show on Wednesday. Although all of American Airlines’ mainline aircraft have been retrofitted with technology that should prevent the 5G signals from interfering with radio altimeters, that is not the case for hundreds of planes operated by Delta Air Lines and regional carriers. “The FAA has actually said, ‘There are still a thousand airplanes out there that are not ready for this, but we’re gonna do it anyway.’ And they’ve even said in their own document that there are safety implications,” CA Tajer told Fox Business. “Why in the world would you roll this out? This is just crazy. I’m less worried about quick downloads of videos than I am about safe downloads of passengers to the airport.” CA Tajer also discussed 5G on Tuesday during an episode of Fox News’ America Reports : “The bottom line is, what is the rush on this? This is about safety, and safety should not be rushed. And we’re not sure why this deadline is being maintained. All I can say is it seems like this phone is more important than the wings I have on my chest, and that’s wrong.” APA Supports SEIU: “Without You, There is No Interstate Commerce” APA President CA Ed Sicher spoke during SEIU’s rally on Wednesday at DFW. APA President CA Ed Sicher, Vice President CA Chris Torres, STOP Committee Chair CA Steve Pacheco, and STOP Committee Deputy Chair CA Andrea Hoover – along with several other APA pilots plus representatives from the APFA, TWU, and CWA – joined Service Employees International Union (SEIU) leadership and rank-and-file members on the picket line at DFW on Wednesday to reinforce the SEIU’s message to the traveling public: American Airlines management has failed to ensure fair wages and benefits for airport service workers. “We’re the ones who help make it possible for people to see their loved ones, go on a summer vacation or travel for business. Without us, the planes can’t take off. Yet the airlines and their contractors treat us like we’re disposable,” said Payton Abrams, an unaccompanied minor escort who services American Airlines in Dallas. “American Airlines is our country’s largest airline and raked in record revenue last year – there’s no reason the workers who help keep AA flights running should be struggling to put food on the table without healthcare or paid time off. It’s time for American Airlines to clean up the mess they’ve created.” “Without you, there is no interstate commerce,” CA Sicher said. “And without us, together, believing in the importance of what we do, and securing by contract what we’re worth, management will continue to grind us down and offer us as little as they possibly can.” Pushback Departure Salute with Equipment Not Clear This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee. APA and the Transportation Workers Union (TWU) have been working collaboratively on improving ramp safety. There have been numerous issues lately, including a trend of pushback drivers disconnecting their headsets, then giving the “departure salute” with the tug tractor not clear of the aircraft; sometimes, it’s still underneath the aircraft. The Ramp Operations Manual states, “Once the pushback tractor, all other equipment and personnel are completely clear of the path of the aircraft, the Left Wingwalker will indicate readiness to depart by displaying the bypass pin to the Captain, awaiting acknowledgment from the Captain with a flash of taxi light(s) (nose or wing root), then performing a standard military salute with the left or right hand using an approved safety wand, indicating the area is clear for taxi.” Ramp Crew TWU leadership reports these instances of non-compliance with SOPs are a direct result of shortfalls in their training and mentor programs. It is well-documented by both the NTSB and the FAA that our industry is experiencing an across-the-board outflow of experienced workers; this includes ramp workers. AA ramp workers wearing orange safety vests indicates they have less than 100 days experience on the job. As they try to train this massive influx of new workers, it is not uncommon to see an AA pushback crew with a single experienced ramp worker supervising two workers wearing orange vests.  With this concerning trend, the Ramp Crew TWU leadership advises it is crucial that captains follow the exact AOM pushback verbiage to avoid confusion (Reference AOM, Pushback/Start, Procedures, Communications). If you encounter a ramp worker following incorrect procedures to include showing you the steering bypass pin when the area is NOT clear, APA Safety recommends you do the following: Consider not flashing the taxi light in response to the pin being presented. Instead, the captain may turn their head side to side (signifying “no”), then point to the push tractor. Call operations on the radio and advise them the ramp crew gave a departure salute without the area being clear. This provides immediate feedback to the pushback crew. File an ASAP. This report provides actionable data for AA to monitor trends. Click on the following links to see materials provided to pushback crews: All Clear Salute Training Poster Ramp Safety Departure Salute Bulletin Ramp Operations Manual (ROM) Our Family Navigation Team Needs You This is a new message from the APA Compass Project. With the recent increase in pilot hiring, the Family Navigation Team within the APA Compass Project is more important than ever. Volunteers are needed to help our pilot-parents navigate all that comes with preparing for the birth or placement of a child and going out on parental leave. These volunteers will be a supportive resource to these parents as they try to maintain their careers while being the parents their children deserve. As most parents know, it is no easy feat. Parents need to look out for one another and being a Family Navigation Team sponsor is one of the best ways to do that. If you are a parent, passionate about helping others, and in good standing with APA, the Family Navigation Team needs you! There is an extra need for those who have experience with adoption, breastfeeding/pumping, fertility treatments, how to handle postpartum depression, and/or are based in California, Massachusetts, or New York. Anyone interested in helping 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 this truly remarkable program, please email 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 . Join Us for YOUnion 101 on July 12 This is a new message from the APA Compass Project. APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Wednesday, July 12. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newest pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to register . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. National Town Hall Meeting on July 12 Your National Officers will host a National Town Hall Meeting via Zoom at 1600 Central on Wednesday, July 12. Click here to register for the July 12 meeting . These meetings are intended to provide updates to the membership from the National Officers, Board of Directors, and national committees, and there will also be opportunities to answer your questions. While registration is not required, doing so in advance will provide you with a link to the meeting and call-in numbers, as well as a reminder one hour prior to the meeting. ( A Zoom account is required to register .) For those who do not wish to create a Zoom account, we will provide a direct link and call-in numbers via the AlliedPilots.org member home page on the day of the meeting. You will be able to view audio/video through a chosen device, or you can attend as audio only via a phone call. We also plan to call all members shortly before the meeting begins as a reminder to participate. For those who are not familiar with Zoom, our IT Department has created a Zoom quick reference guide . Please RSVP for Dinners at Oshkosh This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. APA will be at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for seven days next month: July 24-30. Many of your elected officials, including APA President CA Ed Sicher and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres, will be in attendance, along with volunteers from national committees. Come gain insight and perspectives directly from those making it happen. And be sure to bring your family, as there will be plenty of snacks during our nightly happy hours. In addition to the happy hours, we are planning three dinners that week: barbecue on July 26, pizza on July 28, and tacos on July 29. If you plan to join us for any of those meals, please RSVP via AlliedPilots.org/Calendar so we can ensure there is enough food for everyone. Document the Issue This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. When you send a Hotel Debrief regarding the condition of a hotel room, please attach a picture if applicable. We have received debriefs with a great description of just how bad a room is, only to have the hotel manager send AA Hotel Contracts pictures of the “exact room” the pilot stayed in, conflicting with the debrief. The problem could have been remedied in the interim, or the pictures could be of a completely different room. Sometimes videos can be helpful as well. Recently, a pilot staying in YUL sent a video of noise outside of his room. It was the second debrief we had sent to AA regarding the issue. He told us it sounded like he was at a World Cup game, but the video truly drove the point home! We sent the video to AA, and they immediately started to work on relocating crews. Including pictures or videos with your debrief can help communicate exactly what the problem is and what needs to be remedied by the hotel or transportation company along with the severity of the problem. If you have any issues with attaching a file to the debrief, send the debrief without it and email your photo or video to us via hotel-committee@alliedpilots.org. For more information, see the QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. Can I be Rescheduled After Declaring Fatigue? This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q: I have notified Crew Tracking that I am fatigued. When can I be rescheduled for further flying? A: According to JCBA Section 15.K.5.a., the Company has four options after a mid-sequence fatigue call: It can immediately deadhead you back to domicile. It can deadhead you back to domicile after fatigue rest. It can assign you any portion of the original sequence after fatigue rest. It can assign you to any other flying within the footprint of the original sequence. The choice of these options is to be made when you notify Crew Tracking of your fatigue status and estimate when you will be ready for further duty. In practice, the Company will also search a pilot for Recovery Obligation flying after a fatigue call. This is not in compliance with the contractual language and is the subject of Presidential Grievance 17-167. If you perform the Replacement Flying assignment, you are guaranteeing the value of that RO sequence and not necessarily the original sequence. The fatigue removal will be adjudicated, and the outcome of that process will determine whether you are entitled to pay protection for an operationally driven fatigue event. Contract Language: Section 15.K.5. All Pilots - Mid-Sequence Fatigue a. Pilots who have commenced (signed in for) a sequence and who determine that they cannot safely continue due to fatigue shall advise Crew Tracking. Once advised, Crew Tracking shall, if not releasing the pilot at home base, choose one of the following four options under which the pilot may be rescheduled: (1)Deadhead the pilot to base in the same duty period, if legal, or, when not legal, if it is mutually agreeable in keeping with current procedures. (2)Deadhead the pilot to base following the completion of a rest period. (3)Following rest, assign the pilot to any portion of the original sequence. (4)Following rest, assign the pilot to any other flying within the footprint of the original sequence (return to home base by the scheduled end of the original sequence). This in no way prohibits Crew Tracking from reassigning a pilot following the rest period. Forest Fires and Air Quality This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee. Each year, forest fires create havoc and greatly influence the quality of the air we breathe. To mitigate this threat, many federal agencies provide advanced data collection techniques to prepare and alert the public to the harm that reduced air quality can have on our health. The Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow.gov provides many interactive tools, maps, and prevention strategies. Click here for useful links . Pigs of the Week 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. In the last month, A319 aircraft 757 has been written up 10 times for right engine bleed air, been on MEL five times, and been out of service six times. It was most recently signed off on June 24. Since April, A321 aircraft 177 has been written up 16 times for APU bleed air, been on MEL 12 times, and been out of service seven times. At the time of this writing, it remained out of service. After coming out of storage, then maintenance, and returning to service in April, B737 aircraft 3AK has been out of service 22 times. It was a pig in May for captain’s stick shaker. Since the beginning of June, the leading-edge slats have been written up six times and been out of service five times. It most recently returned to service on June 26. UPDATE 1: Since April, B737 aircraft 3PC has been written up and out of service 11 times for flap faults. It was most recently signed off on June 26. UPDATE 2: Since February, B787 aircraft 8AJ ’s R1 door has been written up 28 times for air leak/noise and has been out of service seven times. This was most recently signed off on June 28. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On June 28, 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: Neal Baylor, Paul Berthon, Mathew Boesche, Bennie Burns Jr., Brian Cameron, Charles Dannels, Brandon Dutton, Jeffrey Hicks, John Jarred, Edward Jefarsky, Michael Jeffers, Peter Kaliniak, Eric Kalke, Mark Myers, Brent Pounders, Daniel Torres, Todd Wissing, and Ehren Zapletal. APA Holiday Schedule APA headquarters, including Contract Administration, will be closed on Monday and Tuesday in observance of Independence 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. Domicile Events BOS pilots – including Domicile Vice Chair CA Gemma Meehan (left) – and their guests gathered at Fenway Park on Wednesday to watch the Red Sox play the Marlins. You can see more photos on our Facebook page. Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : DCA: Baltimore Orioles game on July 17 LGA: New York Mets game on Sept. 2 PHX: Concourse Conversations on July 20; Arizona Diamondbacks game on July 24 Domicile Elections PHL and PHX pilots will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair to represent each domicile on the APA Board of Directors for a two-year term starting on Nov. 1. The electronic submission for nomination process closed at 0001 Central today. Pilots whose names were submitted have until 0001 Central on July 7 to complete the Willingness to Serve and Conflict of Interest forms. The results of the electronic submissions will be certified at 1000 Central on July 7. If you have any questions regarding the nomination process, please call the APA Elections Department at 817-302-2175. Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (4) Captain’s Authority Committee (4) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (6) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Hotel Committee (2) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (4) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (3) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (7) Training Committee (3) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) Uniform (1 female) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the National Committee Volunteer Portal . CA Johnathan Benton to Receive Posthumous Award Southeastern Oklahoma State University will honor longtime APA Government Affairs Committee Chair CA Johnathan Benton during its homecoming celebration on Sept. 22-23. A 1991 graduate of the university, CA Benton will be recognized as part of a group of Distinguished Alumni. The university and the Southeastern Alumni Association present the award each year. CA Benton lost his life on Jan. 16, 2023, in a light aircraft accident in Kingfisher, Okla. Professional Standards FAQs What issues are not appropriate for Professional Standards? Professional Standards will not normally address CBA disagreements, substance/alcohol abuse, and any immediate threat to safety of flight. The program is not designed to address issues related to security violations; legal, medical, or criminal issues; or gross negligence. Professional Standards is not able to address issues arising from “The Line” forums, nor should PS volunteers post to “The Line” forums. However, if you are in doubt about which APA committee is best suited to handle your needs, all Professional Standards volunteers are familiar with the vast network of support offered at APA and through the company. Call Your Union First! 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Proposed Tentative Agreement Provided to APA Board of Directors

Proposed Tentative Agreement Provided to APA Board of Directors   In accordance with APA Policy Manual (PM) 9.06.B., today Sunday, June 25, the Negotiating Committee presented a proposed Tentative Agreement, all related letters, and implementation schedule to the Board of Directors, in full contractual language. In accordance with PM 9.06.B.2, the Board will convene a special meeting no earlier than July 2 to consider the Tentative Agreement. The proposed Tentative Agreement and implementation timeline will be posted to the Contract 2023 website , along with other important information, following an opportunity for the Board to consider the documents.   If this proposed Tentative Agreement is approved by the Board as a Tentative Agreement, the Tentative Agreement will be sent to the membership for consideration and for a ratification vote to become a new collective bargaining agreement. As part of the process, the Negotiating Committee will conduct roadshows at each domicile. Roadshows will begin no sooner than 14 days after all required documents, including the Tentative Agreement and implementation timeline, are provided to the pilot group for review, in accordance with PM 9.06.C. Anticipate new road show dates, along with the electronic voting window, to be announced contingent on Board approval of the proposed Tentative Agreement.   We want to recognize the support of numerous committee members, including Economic and Financial Analysis Committee Chair FO Nick Silva and member FO Scott Slater, Contract Compliance Committee Chair CA Jason Saxer and member CA Chris Bush, Scheduling Committee members CA Drew Coleman and CA Les Edwards, Check Airman Committee member CA Drew Blahnick and Chair CA James Scully, and Retirement and Benefits Committee Chair FO Brian Bell. The National Officers and Board of Directors have committed a great deal of time to this effort, including President CA Ed Sicher, Vice President CA Chris Torres, PHL Domicile Chair FO Paul DiOrio, LGA Domicile Chair CA Larry Cutler, and DFW Domicile Chair CA Jon Sherrell, who participated in the closing negotiations with the Negotiating Committee prior to reaching the May 19 agreements on final economic terms. We also want to recognize the unwavering support of the APA Negotiating Department and APA staff.   Most of all, we thank you for your continued support and patience throughout this process.    For the Negotiating Committee,     Captain John Owens, Chairman
Negotiations Public News

APA News Digest: June 23, 2023

APA News Digest June 23, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... What’s the Delay? STOP Committee: Multi-Union Picketing Planned for June 28 at DFW Government Affairs Committee: Do You Back the PAC? Hotel Committee: New Hotel Survey Updates Contract Compliance Committee: Can a Reserve Pilot Get Sit RIG? Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Domicile Events Domicile Elections Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars What’s the Delay? APA leadership sent the following message to all members on Thursday. After a long pause in membership updates regarding our contract negotiations, many of you are rightly asking, “What’s the delay?” The simple answer: It’s the implementation schedule! Our Negotiating Committee has worked tirelessly over the past several weeks to complete the drafting of full contract language in the proposed TA. That process was completed earlier this week. According to our governing documents, however, the Board cannot meet to consider the proposed TA until it is also presented with an agreed-upon implementation schedule. Despite their efforts to secure an implementation schedule that is reasonable and contains appropriate penalties in the event management fails to deliver on the deal it has negotiated, the Negotiating Committee has reported that management is simply unwilling to agree to be held accountable for the commitments it has made in the proposed TA. We are all too familiar with Robert Isom’s management team not living up to their promises and not being held accountable. They sometimes don’t implement the agreed-upon provisions or simply pick and choose which ones they like. Fresh in our memories are the 62 unimplemented contractual items they somehow couldn’t get around to implementing MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER the last exit-from-bankruptcy agreement. Many of these unimplemented provisions have caused financial and quality-of-life harm to us. Management simply couldn’t find “the time” or the “programming resources,” or chose not to spend the money required to implement those items. Sometimes, they didn’t even bother to give us a reason for their failure to comply. Ironically, one of the principles that Robert Isom mentions most often when discussing his vision for his tenure as CEO is “accountability.” That’s right, “accountability.” That isn’t a typo. Well, we plan on holding him accountable this time. The implementation schedule is a core component of our contract. Non-compliance penalties for management are something that you, the membership, have rightfully demanded. At this point, management continues to push back against any penalties for not implementing contractual enhancements, causing a delay in the closeout of these negotiations, and leading us to question whether they ever intended to grant those enhancements in the first place. None of us can afford to assume that this time will be any different than the last time. You know the old saying: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Due to the lack of progress on this issue, we will be making it clear to Robert Isom, his investors, and the traveling public that the blame for American Airlines not removing uncertainty, securing future flying, fully utilizing its current aircraft, unclogging its training pipeline, and thus improving the airline’s revenue stream falls squarely on his shoulders. A special APA Board of Directors meeting will be scheduled soon to chart a path forward. Thank you for standing by for further updates. In Unity, CA Ed Sicher, APA President CA Chris Torres, APA Vice President FO Patrick Clark, APA Secretary-Treasurer CA Paul McFarland, BOS Domicile Chair CA Gemma Meehan, BOS Domicile Vice Chair CA Doug Hancock, CLT Domicile Chair FO Erik DeWinne, CLT Domicile Vice Chair CA Joe Collins, DCA Domicile Chair CA Tim Doreen Jr., DCA Domicile Vice Chair CA Jon Sherrell, DFW Domicile Chair FO Jason Gustin, DFW Domicile Vice Chair CA Bill Evans, LAX Domicile Chair CA Tim Dick, LAX Domicile Vice Chair CA Lawrence Cutler, LGA Domicile Chair CA Jim Scanlan, LGA Domicile Vice Chair CA Thomas Copeland, MIA Domicile Chair CA Anne Witcher, MIA Domicile Vice Chair CA Wes Smith, ORD Domicile Chair FO Paul Meyers, ORD Domicile Vice Chair FO Paul DiOrio, PHL Domicile Chair CA Kevin Wilkes, PHL Domicile Vice Chair CA David Duncan, PHX Domicile Chair FO Brian Ellis, PHX Domicile Vice Chair Multi-Union Picketing Planned for June 28 at DFW This is a new message from the APA Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee. We’re obviously fed up with American management’s tactics, but that does not make us unique among the airline’s work groups. A coalition of labor unions – including the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the Communications Workers of America, the Service Employees International Union, and the Transport Workers Union of America – plans to conduct informational picketing at DFW on June 28, in advance of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The event will be at C14 from 1045 to 1145. If you can stand with us that day, email STOP-Chair@alliedpilots.org . Do You Back the PAC? This is an updated message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. Members of Congress have offered amendments to the FAA reauthorization bills that would raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots and lower the number of flight hours needed to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot transport certificate. Your Government Affairs Committee is working hard to convince lawmakers that these measures are unnecessary, unwise, and dangerous. We are able to have direct access to members of Congress thanks to your voluntary contributions to the APA Poltical Action Committee. Last month, 5,598 pilots contributed to the APA PAC . That number represented 36.8 percent of APA’s active members. Click the image below for a closer look at each domicile’s PAC contribution rates in March, April, and May. Our Political Action Committee would be extremely well-funded if every APA member contributed as if his or her career depended on it – because it does. Click here to back the PAC . New Hotel Survey Updates This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. We appreciate the feedback from our pilots and everyone’s participation in the quick hotel survey on the APA Mobile app. While we know it seems longer, the additional data is extremely helpful in improving hotels and transportation. Pilots have said once they have completed a few surveys and are more proficient it only takes them 30 to 45 seconds to complete. Simply put, we have outgrown the limited amount of data the old survey provided. To keep the new survey as simple as possible, we collect feedback without using any drop-down menus or endless question looping. Pages 1-2, if applicable, just slide to poor or great, Page 3 is only “if applicable,” and Pages 4-5 require selection of one answer for transportation. These surveys are vital to improving the layover experience. The Hotel Committee uses the data to find out where our problem hotels are and to push to get out of them. It gives us a big picture of how the membership feels about each of our hotels. Additionally, when we review a market, we use the data from the incumbent hotels to determine if the pilots would like to keep or leave the property. Surveys are not automatically popping up until the release of Mobile 2.0. Currently, you can access all surveys in your APA Mobile app inbox. They will soon pop up automatically like they did in the past. We appreciate your patience and your continued participation. Please know your time investment is helpful and very useful for us to gain a FL350 view of all layovers. For more information, see the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. Can a Reserve Pilot Get Sit RIG? This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q: Is a Reserve pilot who flies an OG or PR sequence entitled to Sit RIG, as prescribed in Section 15.E.4? A: Yes, the pay should be annotated as Above Guarantee. If you do not see the entries on your HI1 or HI2, please submit a Direct Connect to PayComp. Section 15.C.4.a Reserve pilots can be assigned flying up to eighty-five (85) hours. Reserve pilots may elect to fly on days off at Company option and will be paid above guarantee. Section 15.E.4 1:2 Pay For Scheduled Sit Times over 2 Hours Duty periods with scheduled sit times greater than two (2) hours shall receive one (1) minute of pay for every two (2) minutes of sit time in excess of two (2) hours. This provision applies to scheduled sit-times only (i.e. as allocated), the time is not credited and the pay only applies to the time above the first two (2) hours and will be paid in addition to any other pay earned in accordance with Section 15.E., F. or G. Pigs of the Week 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. In the last month, the right engine thrust reverser on A319 aircraft 716 has been written up seven times, been on MEL four times, and been out of service three times. At the time of this writing, it remained on MEL. B737 aircraft 3BY has experienced five SOF (smoke-odor-fume) events in the last two weeks, with the most recent one happening on June 20. At the time of this writing, there was a TAC restricting it to Class 1 maintenance stations. In the last two months, the APU on B737 aircraft 3RV has been written up 15 times, been on MEL five times, and been out of service four times. At the time of this writing, it was out of service and had a TAC restricting it to Class 1 or 2 maintenance stations. UPDATE: Since February, B787 aircraft 8AJ has been written up 26 times for R1 door air leak/noise and has been out of service six times. This was most recently signed off on June 22. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On June 21, 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: Mark Ackerman, Wesley Baucom, Ryan Baughman, Neal Baylor, Phillip Beall, Mikael Boge, Matthew Bourg, Scott Brunet, Mark Covell, Joshua Crowley, Neil Delaney, Eric Faraday, Jonathan Fowler, Alex Golembiewski, Brandon Hargrove, Aubrey Harris III, David Izard, Aleksandr Kozyrev, Collin Lachapelle, Rodney Lewis, David Lynch, Nick Maywand, Mehran Mushtaq, Matthew Nemecek, Marc Patane, Travis Prime, Alexander Richards, Reginald Roberts, Casey Roddy, Brian Slipke, Jeffrey Smith, Robert Tomlinson, Edward Topper, Donald Wiley, Jack Williams, Kevin Wilson, Kurt Wohldmann, and Rocco Zavaglia. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: Boston Red Sox game on June 28 DCA: Domicile Meeting on July 14; Baltimore Orioles game on July 17 PHX: Concourse Conversations on July 20; Arizona Diamondbacks game on July 24 Domicile Elections PHL and PHX pilots will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair to represent each domicile on the APA Board of Directors for a two-year term starting on Nov. 1. The electronic submission for nomination process is now open, and it will close at 0001 Central on June 30. Pilots whose names have been submitted have until 0001 Central on July 7 to complete the Willingness to Serve and Conflict of Interest forms. The results of the electronic submissions will be certified at 1000 Central on July 7. If you have any questions regarding the nomination process, please call the APA Elections Department at 817-302-2175. Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (4) Captain’s Authority Committee (4) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (6) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Hotel Committee (2) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (4) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (3) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (8) Training Committee (2) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) Uniform (1 female) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the National Committee Volunteer Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What types of issues will Professional Standards accept? Almost any issue that would benefit from the peer-to-peer method of resolution is acceptable, such as individual conflicts, ineffective operating methods/techniques, problems of a professional or ethical nature, conduct that could lead to discipline, and recognizing exceptional performance. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

What’s the Delay?

What’s the Delay? After a long pause in membership updates regarding our contract negotiations, many of you are rightly asking, “What’s the delay?” The simple answer: It’s the implementation schedule! Our Negotiating Committee has worked tirelessly over the past several weeks to complete the drafting of full contract language in the proposed TA. That process was completed earlier this week. According to our governing documents, however, the Board cannot meet to consider the proposed TA until it is also presented with an agreed-upon implementation schedule. Despite their efforts to secure an implementation schedule that is reasonable and contains appropriate penalties in the event management fails to deliver on the deal it has negotiated, the Negotiating Committee has reported that management is simply unwilling to agree to be held accountable for the commitments it has made in the proposed TA. We are all too familiar with Robert Isom’s management team not living up to their promises and not being held accountable. They sometimes don’t implement the agreed-upon provisions or simply pick and choose which ones they like. Fresh in our memories are the 62 unimplemented contractual items they somehow couldn’t get around to implementing MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER the last exit-from-bankruptcy agreement. Many of these unimplemented provisions have caused financial and quality-of-life harm to us. Management simply couldn’t find “the time” or the “programming resources,” or chose not to spend the money required to implement those items. Sometimes, they didn’t even bother to give us a reason for their failure to comply. Ironically, one of the principles that Robert Isom mentions most often when discussing his vision for his tenure as CEO is “accountability.” That’s right, “accountability.” That isn’t a typo. Well, we plan on holding him accountable this time. The implementation schedule is a core component of our contract. Non-compliance penalties for management are something that you, the membership, have rightfully demanded. At this point, management continues to push back against any penalties for not implementing contractual enhancements, causing a delay in the closeout of these negotiations, and leading us to question whether they ever intended to grant those enhancements in the first place. None of us can afford to assume that this time will be any different than the last time. You know the old saying: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Due to the lack of progress on this issue, we will be making it clear to Robert Isom, his investors, and the traveling public that the blame for American Airlines not removing uncertainty, securing future flying, fully utilizing its current aircraft, unclogging its training pipeline, and thus improving the airline’s revenue stream falls squarely on his shoulders. A special APA Board of Directors meeting will be scheduled soon to chart a path forward. Thank you for standing by for further updates. In Unity, CA Ed Sicher, APA President CA Chris Torres, APA Vice President FO Patrick Clark, APA Secretary-Treasurer CA Paul McFarland, BOS Domicile Chair CA Gemma Meehan, BOS Domicile Vice Chair CA Doug Hancock, CLT Domicile Chair FO Erik DeWinne, CLT Domicile Vice Chair CA Joe Collins, DCA Domicile Chair CA Tim Doreen Jr., DCA Domicile Vice Chair CA Jon Sherrell, DFW Domicile Chair FO Jason Gustin, DFW Domicile Vice Chair CA Bill Evans, LAX Domicile Chair CA Tim Dick, LAX Domicile Vice Chair CA Lawrence Cutler, LGA Domicile Chair CA Jim Scanlan, LGA Domicile Vice Chair CA Thomas Copeland, MIA Domicile Chair CA Anne Witcher, MIA Domicile Vice Chair CA Wes Smith, ORD Domicile Chair FO Paul Meyers, ORD Domicile Vice Chair FO Paul DiOrio, PHL Domicile Chair CA Kevin Wilkes, PHL Domicile Vice Chair CA David Duncan, PHX Domicile Chair FO Brian Ellis, PHX Domicile Vice Chair
Joint Leadership Public News

APA News Digest: June 17, 2023

APA News Digest June 17, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Government Affairs Committee: We Are Fighting Dangerous Aspects of FAA Bills Negotiating Committee: Get Up to Speed on Contract 2023 Hotel Committee: Are You Using the Hotel Webpages? Information Technology Steering Committee: MyOT Text Service INOP Contract Compliance Committee: Can I Get a Hotel Room in Base? Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars We Are Fighting Dangerous Aspects of FAA Bills This is a new message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. We would like to thank the APA members who have sent nearly 7,000 messages to Congress via our Voter Voice advocacy campaign regarding the mandatory retirement age. Despite your efforts, the House Transportation Committee narrowly approved an amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill that would raise the mandatory retirement age by two years to 67. On Wednesday, that committee passed the amendment to the full House by a 32-31 vote. We are continuing to lobby against this amendment for all of the reasons we laid out in a press release on Thursday. “Safety considerations drove the establishment of the current international standard of age 65 mandatory retirement, and raising the pilot retirement age would introduce additional risk into commercial aviation,” APA President CA Ed Sicher said in that press release. APA Communications Committee Chair CA Dennis Tajer reiterated those points when he told Forbes , “We’ve had an unprecedented safety record for more than a decade, and now some are saying, ‘Let’s change things and see what happens.’ Unstudied and untested ideas like this are unnecessary and reckless.” Meanwhile, the Senate version of the FAA reauthorization bill includes an “Enhanced Qualification Program” that would provide a 250-hour reduction in the actual flight experience requirements for a Restricted Air Transport Pilot certificate after completion of an air carrier-developed training course. We are opposed to this measure as well, as we said in Friday’s press release . And we appreciate the perspective of Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois , a pilot who said this to her colleagues on Thursday: “A vote to reduce the 1,500-hour rule for pilot training will be blood on your hands when an inevitable accident occurs as a result of an inadequately trained flight crew.” Get Up to Speed on Contract 2023 This is a new message from the APA Negotiating Committee. Your Negotiating Committee and Negotiating Department continue to work with management on finalizing the contract language that will be submitted to the Board of Directors for consideration as a proposed Tentative Agreement. As that work progresses, you have time to review several other documents created by your negotiators: A Quick Reference Guide to the Agreement in Principle Summarized highlights of the Agreement in Principle Section-by-section summaries of APA’s positions on the Contract 2023 website Thanks for your patience as we work through the final steps of a complicated process. Are You Using the Hotel Webpages? This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. APA’s Hotel Webpages can easily be found via the APA Mobile app’s Dashboard and on the Shortcuts (Quick Links) menu on AlliedPilots.org. They contain much more information than CCI-HIDIR/HTL and are worth a look before your next trip. These webpages are pilot-centric and focus on what you need for your layover, including links to the hotel’s website and phone numbers, a map of the area, and perhaps most importantly, specific information on transportation and how to get to the pickup spot/hotel.  The Amenities sections include how pilots feel about the hotel and transportation as indicated by survey data. Additionally, this section goes over information such as pilot discounts offered and any warnings from APA. (Example: “Avoid even numbered rooms due to excessive road noise.”)  Finally, there are Food, Activities, and Reviews sections with information submitted by other APA members. The Hotel Committee relies on you to keep this information accurate and relevant. There are “Feedback” buttons on each page so you can provide your requests, recommendations, and any necessary corrections.  We hope these pages are a tool to enhance your layover experience; we appreciate your feedback! For more information, see the QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. MyOT Text Service INOP This is a new message from the APA Information Technology Steering Committee. We have had reports from members, associated with every major cellular carrier, that they are encountering delivery issues with the MyOT Text service. This has been a pretty common occurrence over the past few years for cell carriers to flag email-to-text messages as spam, or to throttle their delivery, but in the past we have been able to remedy those situations in a timely manner. We’re continuing to investigate the issue and have engaged each cellular carrier, but in the interim APA IT suggests you utilize the APA Mobile Inbox, or email, as the delivery mechanism for MyOT messages. Here’s how to enable APA Mobile Inbox delivery: Select Mobile Sabre. Select DECS links -> MyOT. Select “Change Alert Address.” Select the check box by “APA Mobile Inbox/Notifications.” Select “Update.” Can I Get a Hotel Room in Base? This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q : Am I ever entitled to a hotel room in base? A: Yes, in conjunction with the Section 7.A.8 language. When you have a scheduled ODL in base and are to continue your sequence with future flying, a hotel room will be provided by the Company. This could be the result of a fatigue event. Exceptions: Sequence termination, in base. The contractual language would not require that a hotel room be provided between two sequences (e.g., individual RO sequences). Reserve Pilots. Reserve pilots are not permitted to overnight in base. Section 7.A.8 In flying a trip sequence, layover rest may be taken at the pilot’s base, as if the rest were taken away from base and the provisions of Section 7 and Section 15.F and 15.G., if applicable, shall apply. Pigs of the Week 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 May 29, A321 aircraft 971 has been written up six times for airframe vibrations. It recently repeated after flying to a maintenance base for repairs under a Special Flight Permit. It was most recently written up on June 15 and was out of service at the time of this writing. Since the beginning of May, A319 aircraft 746 has been written up eight times for airframe vibrations. It has flown under a Special Flight Permit to a maintenance base for repairs three times, most recently on June 16. At the time of this writing, it was out of service. Since April, B737 aircraft 3PC has been written up and out of service eight times for flap faults. This was most recently signed off on June 12. UPDATE: Since February, the R1 door on B787 aircraft 8AJ has been written up 24 times for air leak/noise and has been out of service five times. This was most recently signed off on June 16. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On June 14, 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: Nicholas Amini, Balend Banham, Christopher Biggs, Durand Branch, Dustin Brisson, Brian Cameron, Biagio Colandreo Jr., Frank De Leon Jr., David Devoe, William Dodd, John Dwyer, David Elliott, Eric Enggasser, Garrett Greiss, Nicholas Guttman, Matthew Hall, Nathaniel Hesse, Charles Holleman, Christopher Jones, C. Christian Klein, Joshua Laquerre, Seth Mccollough, Ryan Mcgill, Timothy Mezera, Edward Miles, Christopher Murray, Joseph Panettiere, William Randolph, Marco Rodriguez, Michael Sanders, James Schmehl, Christopher Schwamberger, Stephen Siminski, Mark Sparks, Tevita Tangataevaha, Derreck Westrich, and William Zink. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: Boston Red Sox game on June 28 DCA: Domicile Meeting on July 14; Baltimore Orioles game on July 17 PHL: Philadelphia Phillies game on June 20; Domicile Meeting on June 23; Retirement Dinner on June 23 PHX: Concourse Conversations on July 20; Arizona Diamondbacks game on July 24 Domicile Elections PHL and PHX pilots will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair to represent each domicile on the APA Board of Directors for a two-year term starting on Nov. 1. The electronic submission for nomination process is now open, and it will close at 0001 Central on June 30. Pilots whose names have been submitted have until 0001 Central on July 7 to complete the Willingness to Serve and Conflict of Interest forms. The results of the electronic submissions will be certified at 1000 Central on July 7. If you have any questions regarding the nomination process, please call the APA Elections Department at 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Government Affairs Committee: Call to Action: Contact Congress About Age 67 Press Release: “Raising Pilot Retirement Age Would Introduce Additional Risk” Communications Committee: Potential Tentative Agreement Schedule Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: MX Ferry Flights of Damaged Aircraft Professional Standards Committee: Pilot Rest Seats Are For Pilots  Scheduling Committee: December 2023 Vacancy Bid  Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (4) Captain’s Authority Committee (4) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (6) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Hotel Committee (2) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (3) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (8) Training Committee (2) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) Uniform (1 female) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the National Committee Volunteer Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What if I have a challenge with a Check Airman? Professional Standards is a natural necessity for the Check Airman community, just as it is for line pilots. Make your union the first call in an attempt to assist in a solution with human interaction issues that arise on a daily basis. We have established a specialized “domicile” for the Check Airman community. When you call the phone tree (817-402-2181), simply input “CKA” or say “Check Airman” to be routed to the appropriate volunteer for handling your case. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

APA Opposes Enhanced Qualification Program Amendment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250 Allied Pilots Association: “Lowering the Bar is a Terrible Idea” FORT WORTH, Texas (June 16, 2023) – The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, voiced its opposition to the proposed Enhanced Qualification Program (EQP), which would provide a 250-hour reduction in the actual flight experience requirements for a Restricted Air Transport Pilot certificate after completion of an air carrier-developed training course. The pending Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, which would reauthorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration and associated safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years, includes an EQP amendment. “Under what has been proposed, a pilot could be flying passengers in FAR 121 operations with as few as 500 hours of actual flight experience,” said APA President Capt. Ed Sicher. “It’s difficult to imagine that anyone remotely familiar with the rigors of our profession thinks that is a good idea. To the contrary, when it comes to minimum flight experience requirements, lowering the bar is a terrible idea. “This ill-conceived EQP proposal doesn’t even include basic details such as when the ground-school training would be provided, which means it could run concurrently with airline initial training, resulting in no additional training at all,” he said. “For the sake of aviation safety, we urge lawmakers to reject this amendment.” Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration rejected outright a similar proposal by Republic Airways for its Lift Academy — which is an EQP training program — due to safety deficiencies. In its decision, the FAA declared that “the relief requested is not in the public interest and would adversely affect safety.” “The United States leads the world in aviation safety, having reduced airline passenger fatalities by 99.8 percent since the implementation of the current pilot training and qualification rules after a series of tragic accidents,” Sicher said. “There is no defensible reason whatsoever to put that stellar safety record at risk, and there should be no changes to the minimum flight experience requirements for airline pilots – period!” 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 15,000 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.
Press Releases

Allied Pilots Association: “Raising Pilot Retirement Age Would Introduce Additional Risk”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481/Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250 Allied Pilots Association: “Raising Pilot Retirement Age Would Introduce Additional Risk” FORT WORTH, Texas (June 15, 2023) – The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, voiced its opposition to any change in the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots. The pending Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, which would reauthorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration and aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years, includes an amendment that would raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 65 to 67. “Safety considerations drove the establishment of the current international standard of age 65 mandatory retirement, and raising the pilot retirement age would introduce additional risk into commercial aviation,” said APA President Capt. Ed Sicher. “Health concerns such as cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes become more prevalent as we age — something that has been studied extensively and demonstrated by American Airlines’ own data. Approximately one in every three pilots nearing age 65 on our seniority list is on long-term sick or disability, and the rate of illness rises exponentially after age 59. Moreover, extending pilots’ flying careers would prolong our exposure to solar radiation and the debilitating effects of circadian rhythm disruption, which have been shown to shorten our lifespans. “As for increasing pilot supply, it’s not at all clear how much of a difference this would make,” he said. “While there is no actual pilot shortage, airlines are experiencing bottlenecks in their pilot training pipelines. Raising the retirement age would exacerbate the situation by increasing the number of training cycles as senior pilots are forced back to domestic flying, sometimes on different equipment.” Raising pilot retirement age would put the United States at odds with the International Civil Aviation Organization, which mandates retirement for pilots in multi-crew operations at age 65. Pilots who are age 65 and older would be unable to fly outside U.S. borders, complicating airlines’ schedule construction. Pilots who are 65 and older would have to be assigned to domestic-only flying, in turn displacing younger, less-senior pilots from those routes and adding to the training backlog. “Raising pilot retirement age would be ill-advised for a host of reasons, and we urge lawmakers to remove the amendment before approving this legislation,” Sicher said. “There is no sound justification for such a change.” 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 15,000 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.
Press Releases

APA News Digest: June 9, 2023

APA News Digest June 9, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Get Caught Up on APA Governance Projects Hotel Committee: How to Request a Day Room Contract Compliance Committee: Premium Pay for Reassignments Aeromedical Committee: Eye Health and Laser Strikes Government Affairs Committee: Bill Prioritizes Passenger Safety in Evacuations Compass Project: Join Us for YOUnion 101 on June 14 Family Awareness Committee: Bidding Alert – Join Us at Oshkosh Family Awareness Committee: Fini Flight Offers In-Flight Restart for Retiring Pilots Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Membership Committee: Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains Domicile Events Domicile Elections Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars Get Caught Up on APA Governance Projects The APA Board of Directors has scheduled a Governance box-sizing: border-box;">In advance of the caucus, the Board directed APA’s staff to create a “Governance Projects” folder on the Board Meeting Information webpage. Any member in good standing can visit that folder to review: The APA-ALPA Merger Exploratory Committee’s written reports to the Board The APA-ALPA Merger Exploratory Committee’s PowerPoint presentations Videos of the APA-ALPA Merger Exploratory Committee’s discussions with the Board on June 1 A 2018 report from the Contemporary Airline Benchmark Analysis Ad Hoc Committee A series of 2014 reports from the Governance Project A 2001 report from the ALPA Exploratory Committee How to Request a Day Room This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. When you are scheduled for a five-hour sit, you are contractually entitled to a day room. If this sit was on your schedule more than 24 hours prior to block-in, the room should already have been assigned and viewable in CCI. However, if the five-hour sit is a result of sequence disruption – or breaks that were not originally built into the sequence and occur within 24 hours – the room will not be automatically assigned. If you would like to secure a day room under these circumstances, call Crew Tracking to request room authorization. If it is a valid request, the tracker will approve the room through an internal system that will flag the Hotel-Limo Desk to book a room. The Hotel-Limo Desk will then update the booking information in CCI. For more information, see the  QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document, which should answer 99 percent 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. Premium Pay for Reassignments This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q : I have experienced a Misconnect, Illegality, or Cancellation (MIC) on my sequence. I am a Lineholder, and Crew Tracking is returning me to base on what was originally a day off. Am I entitled to Premium for working on my scheduled day off? A: If your sequence contains Replacement Flying that complies with JCBA Section 4.C.2.c.(2) – returning you to base on the first available flight(s), either direct or connecting – you would not be entitled to additional Premium. However, if you were not returned on the first available flight(s), then you would qualify for Reassignment Premium (RA PREM). This RA PREM is based on the actual time flown or the scheduled deadhead time that resides outside the original Sequence Footprint (Section 15.N.3.). RO = first available flight(s), outside of the original Replacement Flying Window (RFW) AF = not the first available flight(s), outside of the original Replacement Flying Window (RFW) If you find the incorrect coding applied to the legs contained within your sequence, a call to Crew Tracking at the conclusion of the sequence should correct the situation. It may prove useful to have the alternative routing readily available when you make the call to Crew Tracking. Once the AF is applied, ensure that the RA PREM is added by PayComp; a Direct Connect reminder may be necessary. The RA PREM should be annotated on your schedule three to four days after the Direct Connect is submitted. Section 4.C.2.c.(2) c. Replacement Flying – Flying that is assigned / awarded by the Company to a pilot whose sequence, or portion thereof, has cancelled. (1) Replacement Flying Window – (i) The Sequence Footprint plus four (4) hours, or the end of the calendar day, whichever is later, or (ii) the Sequence Footprint, plus thirty (30) hours for Trans Oceanic sequences, including to/from Hawaii, U.S. to South of the Equator. (2) The Replacement Flying Window may be extended beyond C.2.c.(1) above if the pilot flies or is deadheaded on the first available flight(s) to base. The "first available flight(s) to base" is the flight(s) that arrives at the base the earliest. The flight(s) may be direct or indirect. Section 4.C.3.a.(6) (6) Premium pay provisions shall apply for any reassignment during replacement flying that result in a pilot flying beyond the Sequence Footprint (of the originally cancelled sequence). Section 15.N.3. 3. In addition to 2. above, when a pilot is reassigned to flying that resides outside of the originally scheduled sequence footprint that pilot shall also receive a premium of: a. pay, no credit, at a rate of one-half (50 percent) times the pilot's hourly base pay rate for that time flown outside of the footprint of the pilot's regularly scheduled sequence footprint. b. Any additional flight time pay and credit associated with paragraphs E., F. or G that was generated as a result of the reassignment outside the original sequence footprint does not qualify for the premium described in a. above. Eye Health and Laser Strikes This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee. Lasers are pointed at thousands of aircraft each year, and each one can temporarily incapacitate pilots. Nearly 9,500 laser strikes were reported to the FAA in 2022; in the first quarter of 2023, more than 2,500 incidents were reported. Click here for a list of helpful resources that can provide a thorough understanding of the effects of laser strikes. Bill Prioritizes Passenger Safety in Evacuations This is a new message from the APA Government Affairs Committee. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) recently reintroduced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act , a piece of legislation that APA supports. This bill would ensure the FAA does more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors, and children in its emergency evacuation standards. The FAA’s current standards require that passengers – regardless of age or ability – be able to evacuate aircraft within 90 seconds, but recent simulation tests failed to adequately take into account whether a flight is full or mostly empty, has passengers with mobility issues, or many other real-life conditions that Americans deal with every time they fly. An identical companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.). “As professional pilots, safety will always be our highest priority, and we strongly support the common-sense recommendation that the FAA reevaluate transport-category aircraft evacuation standards,” APA President CA Ed Sicher said in a press release issued by Sen. Duckworth’s office. “The realities of commercial air travel today – including widely differing passenger ages and physical abilities, language barriers, seat pods blocking access across aisles, and ever-shrinking seat size and pitch – all come into play when an evacuation becomes necessary. We applaud Senator Duckworth, Senator Baldwin, and Representative Cohen for taking the lead on this critical safety issue.” Join Us for YOUnion 101 on June 14 This is a repeated message from the APA Compass Project. APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Wednesday, June 14. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newest pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to register . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 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 . Bidding Alert – Join Us at Oshkosh This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. APA will be at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for seven days next month: July 24-30. Many of your elected officials and national committees will be in attendance. Come gain insight and perspectives directly from those making it happen. And be sure to bring your family, as there will be plenty of snacks during our nightly happy hours. Fini Flight Offers In-Flight Restart for Retiring Pilots This is a repeated message from the APA Family Awareness Committee. CA Jim Acree’s family attended his Fini Flight party at DFW on May 27. See more photos on our Facebook page. Fini Flight meets our pilots returning home from one of their last sequences at American Airlines before retiring. We gather at the arrival gate with our feature display, a custom cake, and music upon request. We guarantee photographic memories of the event, with Fini Flight “data recorder” volunteers capturing aircraft arrival, cockpit smiles, crew, and family. Our signature ceremony wraps retiring families in first-class blankets of reassurance that the day, rather than an engine failure, is an in-flight restart. Our message is that your only true “farewell” is to Crew Scheduling. Your APA family wishes you well, but hopes you’ll stick around a while! Bring your whole family to a retirement dinner. Keep your Wingman magnet up in case you or your family needs help. Keep watching for Family Awareness emails in case you can attend another event. In just five months, Fini Flight has grown from a pilot project in ORD to up and running in BOS, DCA, DFW, LGA, MIA, PHX, SAN, and SNA. CLT, LAX, ONT, and PHL are coming next. Still, we cannot yet accommodate all requested Fini Flight events because we do not have enough volunteers. Help us send off our retiring pilots with more than a pack of Biscoff-brand cookies. Fini Flight volunteers set up a display, cut cake, take pictures, and visit with the retiring pilot’s family. Events typically last around 30 minutes. Pilots, retirees, Grey Eagles members, and family members are helping us. Do you have a friend retiring soon? Have you been asked to be the FO on a Fini Flight? Let us help you! Contact Fini Flight. Sign up here or email us at finiflight@alliedpilots.org . Pigs of the Week 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 February, the left engine thrust reverser on B737 aircraft 3FN has been written up 11 times, and its PSEU (Proximity Switch Electronics Unit) has been written up seven times. The aircraft has been out of service 11 times combined for these issues, and it most recently returned to service on June 6. Since February, B787 aircraft 8AJ has been written up 22 times for R1 door air leak/noise and and has been out of service four times. This was most recently signed off on June 4. In the last month, the aft lavatory smoke detector on A319 aircraft 840 has been written up 11 times and has been out of service five times. It most recently returned to service on June 7. 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 casual dinner on June 6: Bradley Aldous, Colin Apt, Dario Bastardo Chirinos, Mackenzie Bauman, Kurt Bohlken, Katrina Boshears, Sean Caldwell, Alejandro Carbo Sopo, Matthew Case, Arnaud Crouzet, Robert Curtis, Caleb De Sha, Edward Duff, Ryan Dunn, Christopher Eves, David Fickle, Alexander Fulton, John Garrido, Jason Gonzalez, Rolando Guerra, Joshuah Hanson, Nathan Henshey, Scott Hirtzinger, Christopher Lavelle II, Justin Lee, Jonathan Long, Lourival Lopes Ferreira Neto, Nicholas Mattingly, Stephen Mindek, Alexander Moore, Hai Nguyen, Andres Nieto, Jeffery Nketiah, John Novales, Maxwell Oliver, Clement Quinones, Christopher Reicks, Daniel Richardson, Gustavo Rueda Carreno, Hernan Salazar, Brandon Schmidt, Michael Schubert, Phillip Shea, Royi Sher, Matthew Shula, Jonathan Skelton, Joshua Smith, Ntungwe Sobe, Caroline Spotts, Caleb Strahm, Lauren Sutherland, Tushar Thakkar, John Travis Vaughan, Austin Worth, Ramsey Yassin, and Salah Edien Yususuf Husin Abdallah. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On June 7, 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: Kevin Abel, Ej Abood, Stephen Antolik, Charles Bault, Joshua Bossard, Jeffrey Calchera, Brian Chase, Bernadette Cooney, Carlos Delaguardia, Willis Emery, John Eveges III, Thomas Gabik, Matthew Glade, Brad Guthrie, Christina Hadley, Micah Hannigan, Scott Higginbotham, Christopher Horton, Chad Hotkowski, Michael Inman, Peter Kaliniak, Mark Liljequist, John Lockard II, Gary Lynch, Jason Miller, Chris Miyasato, Michael Nall, Daniel O’Neil, Michael Obryan, Jason Pettis, Ryan Reed, William Smith, John Snead Jr., Kenneth Wells, Melvin White Jr., and Roger Yeshnik. Congratulations to Newly Upgraded Captains This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We would like to recognize and congratulate these pilots who upgraded to captain last month. They are listed by their post-upgrade base and equipment. CLT 737: Jason Miller DCA 737: Thomas Arkwright DCA 320: Ryan Dorris, John Eveges III, Justin Greenway, Cassandra Johnson, Christopher Mickey, and Bryan Swenson DFW 320: Chris Miyasato and Robert Nowinski LGA 777: Todd Wissing LGA 737: Jearohan Cordice, Aaron Crossland, Max Forschler, Tracy Gary, Alex Golembiewski, Matthew MacCarthy, Steven Shields, Frederick Strathearn, and Jacob Tucker LGA 320: Michael Bermensolo, Victor Bird, Gregory Carroll, Jonathan Fowler, Christopher Horton, Christopher Jarvis, Nick Maywand, Alexander Richards, and Christopher Schwamberger MIA 777: Brus Messinger MIA 737: Neal Baylor, Jeremy Benavidez, Brian Chase, Randall Gamer, Santiago Giraldo, Anthony Glazek, Christopher Kent, Collin Lachapelle, Sean Leffner, Wroten McQuirter, Mitchel Platt, Scott Prahl, Marshall Pulliam, Ryan Reed, Neal Smith, Anthony Staley, and William Zink MIA 320: Charles Bault, Joshua Bossard, John Dwyer, Will Emery, Christina Hadley, Jeffrey Hicks, Peter Kaliniak, Mac McGilvray, and Thomas Wheeler ORD 787: Jeff Doran, Daniel Galvez, and Thomas Kittler PHL 320: Benjamin Baker, Trey Burnham, Christian Garber, Joseph Greentree, Brad Guthrie, Aubrey Harris, Tim Hegedus, Bryant Jasperson, Edward Jefarsky, William Leahy, Erik Lofgren, Benjamin Lyndaker, Michael Lysko, Eugene MacDonald, and Daniel StClair PHX 320: Thomas Gabik Domicile Events CA Mike Miller, FO Nick Silva, FO Jason Gustin, CA Jon Sherrell, CA Steve Pacheco, CA Andrea Hoover, FO Melissa Monahan, and FO Ryan Mauldin More than 600 pilots and guests gathered at Globe Life Field on Wednesday to watch the Texas Rangers play the St. Louis Cardinals. See more photos on our Instagram account. Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: Boston Red Sox game on June 28 DCA: Concourse Conversations on June 15; West Virginia Brunch on June 16; Domicile Meeting on July 14; Baltimore Orioles game on July 17 LAX: Domicile Meeting on June 21 PHL: Philadelphia Phillies game on June 20; Domicile Meeting on June 23; Retirement Dinner on June 23 PHX: Concourse Conversations on July 20; Arizona Diamondbacks game on July 24 Domicile Elections PHL and PHX pilots will elect a Chair and a Vice Chair to represent each domicile on the APA Board of Directors for a two-year term starting on Nov. 1. The electronic submission for nomination process is now open, and it will close at 0001 Central on June 30. Pilots whose names have been submitted have until 0001 Central on July 7 to complete the Willingness to Serve and Conflict of Interest forms. The results of the electronic submissions will be certified at 1000 Central on July 7. If you have any questions regarding the nomination process, please call the APA Elections Department at 817-302-2175. Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Flight Time/Duty Time Committee: 2023 Summer Fatigue Guide  Secretary-Treasurer: Make Sure We Can Reach You Benefits Department: Are You Missing Out on APA’s Benefit Plans? Information Hotline: APA Board Convenes Special Meeting Press Release: Existing Experience Requirements for First Officers “Must Be Maintained” Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Silver Dots Are You Willing to Serve? Each of these national committees or subcommittees has the indicated number of vacancies: Aeromedical Committee (1) Critical Incident Response Program (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (4) Captain’s Authority Committee (4) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (6) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Hotel Committee (2) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (3) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (8) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) Uniform (1 female) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the National Committee Volunteer Portal . Professional Standards FAQs How does management or an employee submit an issue to Professional Standards? Committee volunteers are identified for each domicile on AlliedPilots.org and on each domicile’s APA bulletin board. Management is furnished contact information for every domicile and national deputy, and they may approach a committee volunteer with an issue. Emails, text messages, and detailed phone messages are to be avoided, as the information is not confidential and may not be protected. Telephone contact and face-to-face meetings are encouraged, as confidentiality is paramount to the success of the program. You can reach your domicile Professional Standards committee via our phone tree: 817-402-2181. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest

Allied Pilots Association: Existing Experience Requirements for First Officers “Must Be Maintained”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Capt. Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481 / Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250 Allied Pilots Association: Existing Experience Requirements for First Officers “Must Be Maintained” FORT WORTH, Texas (June 6, 2023) – The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, emphasized the necessity of maintaining the current minimum flight experience requirements for pilots before being eligible for hiring by a Part 121 passenger airline in the United States. “As Congress once again considers the question of First Officer qualifications, the answer should be obvious by now: The existing requirements have greatly improved the safety record of U.S. airlines, and they must be maintained,” said APA President Capt. Ed Sicher. “All commercial aviation stakeholders must be full participants in any discussion about changing the minimum requirements. Rest assured that APA will not tolerate any clandestine effort to dilute this time-tested requirement. “And likewise rest assured that when APA is at the table, we will make our position clear: There is no substitute for actual experience, and the standards must be preserved for the safety of our crews and the traveling public,” Capt. Sicher said. “We are steadfast and uncompromising with our duty to ensure a safe operation.” 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 15,000 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.
Press Releases

APA News Digest: June 2, 2023

APA News Digest June 2, 2023 Editor’s note: Some links in this message will work best if you log in to AlliedPilots.org before clicking them. In This Edition ... Hotel Committee: New Version of Hotel Survey Added to APA Mobile APA Board of Directors Adjourns Special Meeting “Mother Nature Has Not Even Come Up to Bat Yet” Compass Project: Join Us for YOUnion 101 on June 14 Compass Project: Announcing New Family Navigation Leadership Contract Compliance Committee: Can I be Reassigned Above VMAX or IMAX? Aeromedical Committee: Our Recommended Reading List Medical Advisors: VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure Maintenance and Technical Analysis Committee: Pigs of the Week Membership Committee: APA Welcomes New Pilots Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class Membership Committee: Gone West Domicile Events Week in Review Are You Willing to Serve? Professional Standards FAQ If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles Pilot Job Fairs and Future Pilot Seminars New Version of Hotel Survey Added to APA Mobile This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee. Coinciding with the launch of Web 2.0 , we have worked with APA IT to develop and release a new version of the Hotel Survey within the APA Mobile app. You will find this survey in your mobile inbox after your layover. The previous survey based on green, yellow, and red ratings worked for six years, but we have outgrown the limited amount of data it provided. Restrictions from the previous survey allowed pilots to report only one problem with a hotel. The new survey is robust, with a sliding scale for multiple categories. To keep the new survey simple, we collect feedback without using any drop-down menus nor endless question looping. Everything is at your fingertips to quickly critique your layover. The new survey is a quick five pages. Pages 1 and 2 give a quick overview of your layover with a sliding scale. Slide left if you had issues in a specific category; slide right if your experience was better than average in a category. Page 3 allows you select any issues in categories such as Room Wait, Safety/Security, Housekeeping, Insect, or Fatigue. This page also has a feedback option so you can provide food or activity suggestions for the Hotel Webpages. Pages 4 and 5 ask you to select one answer for your transportation TO the hotel and one answer for your transportation FROM the hotel. If you have any questions or problems with the new Hotel Survey, please email hotel.chair@alliedpilots.org . A sincere “thank you” to all pilots who participate, so we can continue to improve your layovers. APA Board of Directors Adjourns Special Meeting The APA Board of Directors reconvened its meeting at 0900 today and spent the morning in closed session. Before adjourning at 1240, the Board voted to approve the following: A motion to convene a Governance and Reform Caucus at APA headquarters on Aug. 22-24 to create resolutions for consideration during the Board’s regularly scheduled fall meeting. A motion to cancel the June and July special Board meetings. This motion acknowledges that the Board will convene following the Negotiating Committee’s delivery of a proposed Tentative Agreement. (By policy, the Board meets during the second week of each month during Section 6 bargaining.) A motion to waive policy and schedule the August special Board meeting for Aug. 1-3. The Board also applauded Accounting Department staffer Lori Harwell, after APA President CA Ed Sicher announced she had been promoted to the position of Senior Pilot Leave Administrator. Lori Harwell and CA Ed Sicher In accordance with R2016-11, we are providing a synopsis reflecting all main motions and resolutions that the Board addressed today. In accordance with R2017-37 Rev 1, video footage of the open portions of the Board meeting will soon be posted here . “Mother Nature Has Not Even Come Up to Bat Yet” APA Communications Committee Chair CA Dennis Tajer appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Tuesday morning to debrief how American and the airline industry fared over the Memorial Day weekend: “We did not see any of these cancellations under clear skies, like we used to, but we can’t get cocky, because we won but one series – using a baseball metaphor – but see, Mother Nature has not even come up to bat yet.” CA Tajer reiterated those sentiments in a subsequent Airline Weekly article about a good week for American and CEO Robert Isom. That article says a new pilot contract, while costly, should benefit the airline. “The contract will allow him to utilize the airplanes he has and the airplanes he wants to get,” CA Tajer said. “The combine for harvesting new revenue in the airline industry is airplanes.” Join Us for YOUnion 101 on June 14 This is a new message from the APA Compass Project. APA Vice President CA Chris Torres and the Compass Project’s Member Engagement Team will host a “YOUnion 101” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Wednesday, June 14. This meeting focuses on all aspects of APA membership. While it is geared toward our newest pilots, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to register . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 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 . Announcing New Family Navigation Leadership This is a new message from the APA Compass Project The Compass Project’s Family Navigation Team is excited to welcome new leadership this June. FO Kailey Gonzalez will be taking over the Family Navigation Team Lead position. She is the mom of an almost 2-year-old boy and is married to FO Ryan Currie, a fellow AA pilot. She is passionate about helping our pilot parents succeed in this season of family growth and improving the lives of our pilot families. She recently joined American in May of 2022 and has a great understanding of the needs of our future pilots. FO Gonzalez is joined by our new FMLA Baby Bonding Lead, CA Marc Needham, who is equally passionate about helping our pilot parents and has a special calling for our pilots going through the adoption process. He has twins, a boy and girl, and lives in the New York area. He is well-versed in New York State’s Paid Family Leave policy and is looking forward to supporting our pilot parents and helping them get the most out of their baby bonding leave. We at the Compass Project are looking forward to seeing their fresh ideas unfold that will greatly benefit the next generation of pilots coming through the doors of American Airlines. Can I be Reassigned Above VMAX or IMAX? This is the latest in a series of Q box-sizing: border-box;"> Q: Can I be reassigned above VMAX or IMAX? A: Yes. The contractual language in Section 15.N provides both the ability for the assignment to occur and the subsequent required steps for the exceedance. A reassignment above one of the contractual limitations entitles a pilot to premium for the value of the exceedance and requires a paid, no credit removal from future flying (15.N.4). This removal must be from flying at the beginning or end of a future sequence (15.N.5.b). For current month flying, the removal must be accomplished within 24 hours of the offending sequence’s conclusion (15.N.5.d). If a pilot has no other scheduled flying in the current month, Section 15.N.5.e contains additional provisions. Section 15.N 4. A pilot reassigned above the pilot’s Individual Monthly Maximum (IMAX) or the Company Limit on Voluntary Flying, if applicable, shall be paid at a rate of 1.5 times the pilot’s hourly base pay rate for time above the IMAX, or the Company Limit on Voluntary Flying, if applicable (which shall not be cumulative with the payment in Section 15.N.3). 5. A pilot who was reassigned above his IMAX or the Company Limit on Voluntary Flying, if applicable, will have his credited projection (PROJ) reduced to or below his IMAX or the Company Limit on Voluntary Flying, if applicable, in accordance with the following: a.Remove the pilot with pay, but no credit, from one or more whole sequences. b. Remove the pilot with pay, but no credit, from a portion of a sequence, provided that the removal must be from the beginning or end of the sequence, (i.e., no mid-sequence removals.) c. Following the completion of the reassignment, if the pilot has no other scheduled flying remaining in the current month, reduce the pilot’s PROJ in the following contractual month by following step 5.a. and/or 5.b. above. d. When reducing the pilot’s PROJ in the current month, such reduction shall occur within 24-hours of the conclusion (debrief) of the reassignment sequence. e. When reducing the pilot’s PROJ in the next month, such reduction shall occur within 24-hours of the conclusion (debrief) of the reassignment sequence or the 25th of the current month, whichever is later. 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 . Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don’t Have To It’s a seemingly undeniable truth that aging is inevitable. But what if everything we’ve been taught to believe about aging is wrong? What if we could choose our lifespan? In this book, Dr. David Sinclair, a leading authority on genetics and longevity, reveals a bold new theory for why we age. As he writes: “Aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable.” This eye-opening and provocative work takes us to the frontlines of research that is pushing the boundaries on our perceived scientific limitations, revealing incredible breakthroughs – many from Dr. Sinclair’s own lab at Harvard Medical School – that demonstrate how we can slow down, or even reverse, aging. The key is activating newly discovered vitality genes, the descendants of an ancient genetic survival circuit that is both the cause of aging and the key to reversing it. Recent experiments in genetic reprogramming suggest that we soon may not just be able to feel younger, but actually become younger. 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. VA Disability Opportunity for Disclosure This is a repeated message from the APA Medical Advisors. VA Disability Ratings have been a recent subject of concern for many pilots. Disability benefits and/or related medical conditions must be disclosed to the FAA. The FAA is seeking to reconcile any inaccuracy or failure to report on past medical applications by providing an opportunity for disclosure. All First-Class Airman Medical Certificate holders with unreported VA benefits must submit a new medical application and schedule an appointment with an AME when their current medical expires, or no later than July 31, 2023, whichever is earlier. Any questions regarding this should be directed to the APA Medical Advisors . Failure to submit an expedited reapplication and reexamination in accordance with the FAA’s timeline or failure to disclose all reasonably known information may result in legal enforcement action. Pigs of the Week 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. In the last three weeks, B737 aircraft 3AE has been written up 10 times and has been out of service seven times for cabin air temperature. It was most recently signed off on June 1 and is restricted to Class 1 and 2 maintenance stations. In the last month, B737 aircraft 3DH ’s antiskid has been written up seven times and has been out of service four times. At the time of this writing, one antiskid system channel remained on MEL. UPDATE: In the last month, A319 aircraft 746 has been written up seven times and been out of service eight times for airframe vibrations. It returned to service on June 2 after operating under a Special Flight Permit for a second time to a maintenance base for repairs. 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 casual dinner on May 30: Scott Ashby, Servet Atbas, Zachary Babar, Daniel Barker, Daniel Baron, Bradley Brigance, Daniel Brum, Constantin Cacoulidis, Adam Calka, Joseph Clark, Joseph D’Alessandro, Daniel Doerr, Gregory Duckworth, Ras Duhaney, Nathan Early, Anton Eloff, Mikhail Ferguson, Juan Fernandez Estrada, Luan Figueiras, Julio Cezar Filho Soares Bacelar, Samuel Finan, Jose Miguel Gayon-Gonzalez, Adam Gill, Lance Gower, Jordan Greene, Ashley Hall, Stephen Hames, Timothy Herman, James Hogge, Michael Hollenbush, Jesse Hooks, Oliver Jean, Stephen Joerger, Randolph Kinsey, Jordan Larkins, Jason Loewen, Joseph Maish, Kevin Martin, Cody Martz, Andrew Miilu, Joseph Morales, Schuyler Morales, Carlos Neira, Ignacio Perez Losada, Rube Quinones, Sean Reeves, Joseph Rivera, Ryan Blake Scheffer, Kenneth Steinhart, Steven Swan, Brandon Tesulov, Jason Thompson, Spencer Turek, Adam Turner, Jeffrey VanGuilder, Tom Vykulil, Matthew Wiggins, Timothy Williams, and John Wooten. APA Welcomes Captains’ Leadership Class This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. Click the image for a closer look. On May 31, 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: Joel Aupperlee, David Barbee, Jayson Cannon, Brandon Cowley, Art Cross, Mark Easton, John Eveges III, Shawn Gray, Kevin Honey, Matthew Lewis, Michael Lovell, Matthew MacCarthy, David McCarthy, David Olson, Albert Policano, Mathieu Richon, James Ward, Aaron Webb, Kenneth Wells, and Todd Wilson. Gone West This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee. We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of these pilots, whose deaths we learned of last month: Jeff Flack, 76, on March 23; Jim Gildea, 80, on March 28; Bryce Herndon, 87, on April 7; Harry Horan, 88, on April 9; Gary Croffut, 72, on April 16; Bill Shirley, 91, on April 18; John Prator, 72, on April 25; Ernie Johnson, 89, on April 26; James Latta, 73, on April 26; Michael Hoff, 62, on April 29; Duane Warning, 79, on May 1; Bill Dodd, 86, on May 3; Bob Hurley, 87, on May 7; Donald “Fro” Froehlicher, 90, on May 9; Ron Wortham, 91, on May 14; Bob Gill, 95, on May 15; and James Hayes, 87, on May 16. Domicile Events Get more details about these upcoming events at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar : BOS: Boston Red Sox game on June 28 DCA: Concourse Conversations on June 15; Baltimore Orioles game on July 17 DFW: Texas Rangers game on June 7 LAX: Retirement Dinner on June 3; Domicile Meeting on June 21 PHL: Philadelphia Phillies game on June 20; Domicile Meeting on June 23; Retirement Dinner on June 23 PHX: Concourse Conversations on July 20 Week in Review The following messages were sent since last week’s News Digest was published. Information Technology Steering Committee: Welcome to Web 2.0 Communications Committee: “Positive Rate” Episode 12: Agreement in Principle and the Path Ahead Communications Committee: We Remember American Airlines Flight 1420 Information Hotline: APA Board Votes Against Proceeding with APA-ALPA Merger Negotiations  Scheduling and Contract Compliance Committees: Attention: Reserves Transitioning to Lineholder Military Affairs Committee: Notice of Military Duty President: Memorial Day 2023 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 (1) Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3) Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (3) Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2) Project Wingman Subcommittee (4) Captain’s Authority Committee (4) Communications Committee (0) National Communications Network (6) Compass Project (6) Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1) Hotel Committee (2) Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee (1) Professional Standards Committee (1) Retirement ">Safety Committee (0) Air Traffic and Procedures Subcommittee (3) Environmental Sustainability in Aviation Subcommittee (2) Scheduling Committee (8) Training Committee (4) Checkmate (2 on 777 and 1 on 320) Uniform (1 female) If you would like to serve on one or more of these committees, visit the National Committee Volunteer Portal . Professional Standards FAQs What time frame can be expected when Professional Standards is working an issue? Professional Standards issues will normally be resolved within a few days. Due to scheduling complexities, some cases may take longer. The expectation is that committee volunteers will be as timely as possible and not delay the processing of any issue submitted to the PS committee. Most cases are resolved within two days. 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 Future text-decoration: underline; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; cursor: pointer; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank"> 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 . Connect with Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Contact Us: Phone - 817.302.2272 | Website - AlliedPilots.org
News Digest
first_page arrow_back arrow_forward last_page
  • View All Articles
  • Press Releases
  • News Digest
  • Public News
task_alt

Toasting