APA News Digest

June 20, 2025

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In This Edition ...

APA-ALPA Merger Negotiation Committee Elected

The APA Board of Directors conducted a special meeting this week, with most of the agenda devoted to determining the makeup of the APA-ALPA Merger Negotiation Committee. Here are some details about the committee’s four members:

FO Thomas Hickson (Chair)

  • Flies the 787 out of ORD
  • Hired by American in 2000; furloughed from 2005 to 2014
  • Other flying: Nippon Cargo, American Eagle, Continental Express
  • APA service: Strike and Tactical Operations Planning Committee, Membership Committee, National Communications Network, Compass Project

CA Jimmy Deragisch

  • Flies the A320 out of LAX
  • Hired by American in 2018
  • Other flying: Alaska, Virgin America, SkyWest
  • APA service: National Communications Network, Compass Project

CA Tom Duncan

  • Flies the A320 out of DFW
  • Hired by TWA in 1996 but furloughed in 2003; recalled to American in 2011
  • Other flying: American Eagle, Flagship
  • APA service: Legacy AA Pilots Seniority Integration Committee, Negotiating Committee, Scheduling Committee, APA-ALPA Merger Exploratory Committee

FO Nick Silva (Ex Officio)

  • Flies the A320 out of DFW
  • Hired by American in 2014
  • Other flying: U.S. Air Force
  • APA service: Economic and Financial Analysis Committee, Negotiating Committee, President

National Town Hall Recording Available for Viewing

Thanks to all the APA members who participated in our national town hall meeting on June 17. They were able to get their questions answered by the National Officers and volunteers from the Negotiating Committee, the Joint Implementation Action Committee, and the Scheduling Committee.

If you were not able to join the meeting live, you can watch a recording of it at AlliedPilots.org/Videos.

Positive Rate Episode 56: Government Affairs Committee

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with FO Brian Bell, Government Affairs Committee Chair, about how the committee represents our pilots’ interests on Capitol Hill. FO Bell encourages pilots who are interested in the committee’s efforts to contact him at bbell@alliedpilots.org and cites the importance of contributing to the APA Political Action Committee: “It’s your way to help me defend the profession.” He characterizes the Benton House, APA’s base of operations on Capitol Hill, as “one of the most useful tools in our toolkit” due to its proximity to the House and Senate office buildings. The property’s convenient location facilitates short-notice meetings with lawmakers and provides an ideal venue for relationship-building events.

Each episode of “Positive Rate” features APA subject-matter experts working on the membership’s behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts.

Overage and Pop-Up Market Hotels for July

This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee.

Below is the list of overage hotels and pop-up market hotels that will be utilized in July. We are pleased to report the list is smaller than normal, indicating our contracted hotels were able to take most of our scheduled layovers. If you are scheduled to stay at one of these properties, we recommend you review our article about non-contracted hotels.

  • HSV: The Element
  • LBB: Overton
  • LGA: DoubleTree
  • ONT: DoubleTree
  • PIT: Embassy Suites Downtown
  • SAV: AC Hotel Savannah Historic District
  • SDF: The Brown
  • SXM: JW Marriott
  • UVF: Marigot Bay

Retired Pilots Honored in Joint Ceremony

This is a new message from the APA Family Awareness Committee.

a group of 13 pilots in uniform under 'congratulations' ballons

Click the image for a closer look.

On June 11, APA and the ORD Flight Office cohosted a joint Fini Flight celebration for 13 pilots, many of whom retired on long-term disability. Chief Pilot Bill Sponsler and Grey Eagles Central Area Director Matt DiMarco thanked these pilots for their service to American Airlines and our passengers:

  • CA Rick Eyre
  • FO Pete Foran
  • CA Bill Gillette
  • FO Greg “Bulldog” Hataway
  • CA Alan Herlitzka
  • CA Dave Hofton
  • FO Laura Joyce-Hubbard
  • CA Kevin Little
  • FO Frank Perrino
  • CA Carlyle “Jai” Rampersad
  • CA Fred Roth
  • CA John Scott
  • CA John Walker

After the ceremony, a bagpiper led a group march from K20 to the Rotund, where the event finished with a group dinner.

Similar events are being planned in DFW, MIA, PHL, and PHX.  If you missed your Fini Flight, contact FO Tim Jackson (tjackson@alliedpilots.org) to bring your family to a group ceremony.

Make Plans to Join Us at Oshkosh

This is a repeated message from the APA Family Awareness Committee.

a group of pilots in matching Hawaiian shirts

Click the image for a closer look.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest aviation gathering, is scheduled for July 21-27. APA’s Family Awareness Committee will host gatherings on a daily basis. If you plan to attend any of these dinners or happy hours, please let us know via the RSVP links at AlliedPilots.org/Calendar.

(To see the Family Awareness events, you may need to adjust your preferences by clicking the gear icon at the top of the calendar. However, we have included direct links to each event below.)

Volunteers needed! If you are interested in volunteering a few hours from 1600 to 2000, we will reward you for your efforts:

  • If you agree to volunteer for one night, you will get a one-day pass to the airshow.
  • If you agree to volunteer for three or more nights, you will get a weeklong pass to the airshow.

If you are interested, please contact CA Jerry Gemma via jgemma@alliedpilots.org or 561-703-2219.

APA Welcomes Leadership Class

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

a group of pilots in a lobby

On June 18, 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: Scott Duchesne, Devin Longo, Robert Wefelmeyer, and Marc Werner.

APA Medical Minute – Cataract Surgery

In this encore edition of the APA Medical Minute, APA Medical Advisor Tina Smith is back with guidance regarding cataract surgery.

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

Domicile Elections

Pilots’ names can be submitted for nomination in this year’s PHL and PHX domicile elections until 0900 Central on July 1. Here’s how many pilots were officially seeking nomination for each position as of 1200 Central today:

  • PHL Chair: 1
  • PHL Vice Chair: 1
  • PHX Chair: 1
  • PHX Vice Chair: 3

PHL pilots will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent their domicile for a three-year term beginning on Nov. 1, while PHX pilots will elect a Chair and Vice Chair to represent their domicile for a one-year term starting on the same date. This is in accordance with the realignment of APA election cycles, as stipulated by R2024-12 Rev 1, “BOD Term Length and Limits,” and R2025-02 Rev 1, “Election Category Modifications.”

For more details, visit the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org.

Domicile Events

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

  • BOS: Boston Red Sox game on July 10
  • DCA:  Leesburg Executive Airport Pancake Breakfast & Fly-In on June 28; Washington Nationals game on July 22
  • DFW: Domicile Meeting on July 15; Texas Rangers game on Aug. 24
  • LAX: San Diego Lunch on July 8; Camarillo Lunch on July 9; Dana Point Lunch on July 10; Redondo Beach Lunch on July 15; Temecula Lunch on July 16; San Diego Padres game on July 28
  • LGA: New York Mets game on Aug. 31
  • MIA: Domicile Meeting on July 31
  • PHL: Philadelphia Phillies game on July 23

Week in Review

Here are some recent messages you may have missed:

Are You Willing to Serve?

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

  • Aeromedical Committee (0)
    • Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3)
    • Human Intervention Motivational Study Subcommittee (1)
    • Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2)
  • Captain’s Authority Committee (2)
  • Communications Committee (0)
    • National Communications Network (2)
  • Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (1)
  • Retirement and Benefits Committee (1)*
  • Training Committee (0)
    • Checkmate (1 on 777)

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

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

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

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. Our next cruise, a nine-night excursion across the southern Caribbean, launches Oct. 9.

Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar

The Future & Active Pilot Alliance’s next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for July 11 and 12 at DEN. Click here for more information.

Industry News

For more about what’s happening in the industry, be sure to visit the Industry News page on AlliedPilots.org.

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