APA News Digest

Sept. 5, 2025

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In This Edition ...

• Decades After 9/11, Secondary Barriers Begin Rolling Out
• 9/11 Observances: We Will Never Forget
• APA to Attend ALPA Air Safety Forum
• Aeromedical Committee: Study Focuses on Extreme Cabin Temperatures
• Safety Operations Subcommittee: Potential Clearance Hazard Inspected
• Compass Project Committee: Join Us For YOUnion 201 on Sept. 10
• Membership Committee: APA Welcomes Leadership Class
• Membership Committee: Gone West
• APA Medical Minute – Cardiac Calcium Score Update
• Domicile Elections
• Domicile Events
• Week in Review
• Are You Willing to Serve?
• Professional Standards FAQ
• If You’re 50, Join The Grey Eagles
• Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar

Decades After 9/11, Secondary Barriers Begin Rolling Out

Last week, Southwest Airlines flew its first 737 MAX with a secondary barrier preventing access to the flight deck. This development was the subject of a CBS News report featuring APA spokesperson CA Dennis Tajer, who said the industry is “crawling in the right direction.”

CA Tajer pointed out that the 9/11 attacks happened decades ago, yet these secondary barriers have been installed on only a handful of new airliners. He said every aircraft that carries passengers should have one, regardless of the plane’s age.

“I was out there flying during 9/11, and I saw all that happened,” CA Tajer said. “That is my yesterday. We cannot have my yesterday become everyone else’s tomorrow.”

American Airlines and United Airlines confirmed to CBS News that each airline’s fleet includes at least one aircraft with a secondary barrier. Alaska Airlines said it was expecting its first delivery of barrier-equipped planes in November. Delta Air Lines declined to comment on secondary barriers but said it “continually employs seen and unseen security measures to safeguard our global operation, customers, and people.”

9/11 Observances: We Will Never Forget

APA President FO Nick Silva, Secretary-Treasurer FO Philip Johnson, LGA Domicile Chair CA Mark Lokey, and LGA Domicile Vice Chair CA Jim Scanlan will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at 1400 Eastern on Sept. 10, at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York. The APA representatives will depart from the New York Marriott Downtown and walk to Ground Zero with a delegation from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. All APA members are welcome to join the APA and APFA representatives after the ceremony at nearby O’Hara’s Restaurant and Pub at 120 Cedar Street.

On Sept. 11, DFW Domicile Vice Chair FO Jason Gustin will participate in a ceremony at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial in Grapevine, Texas. The ceremony will begin at 0740 Central.

Other observances and related events:

• Boston: The BOS Domicile Officers and committee volunteers will join members of the APFA, CWA, and TWU for remembrance ceremonies on the morning of Sept. 11 at Logan. Meet-up will be in operations. The BOS Domicile encourages pilots to participate in full uniform.
• Sandy, Utah: Pilots and their families are invited to help place more than 3,000 American flags at the Sandy Healing Field at 1700 Mountain on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The United ALPA MEC is organizing this event and has invited APA to participate. The MEC requests summer uniforms with hats. Flag removal will begin at 1730 on Monday, Sept. 15, no uniforms necessary. If you plan to be on hand either day, please notify CA Dave Bernard, Dave.Bernard@alpa.org, or text 801-647-8335.
• Shanksville, Pa.: The Flight 93 National Memorial will host a public ceremony beginning at 0945 Eastern on Sept. 11.
• Yardley, Pa.: The Garden of Reflection 9/11 Memorial in suburban Philadelphia will host a public ceremony beginning at 0830 Eastern on Sept. 11.

We will never forget.

APA to Attend ALPA Air Safety Forum

Along with 9/11 observances, domicile events, and the commencement of Election Round voting in the PHL and PHX domiciles, next week’s agenda includes ALPA’s 69th Air Safety Forum in Chicago. A delegation comprised of members of the Aeromedical Committee, the Committee for the Armed Defense of the Cockpit, the Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee, the Safety Committee, and the Security Committee will attend on APA’s behalf. This year’s four-day forum is themed “Moving Forward Together.”

Study Focuses on Extreme Cabin Temperatures

This is a new message from the APA Aeromedical Committee.

Under the terms of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, the Secretary of Transportation was required to work with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a yearlong study on the effects of extreme cabin temperatures. This has led the academies to create a Committee on Health and Safety Impacts of Aircraft Cabin Temperatures, which has held a series of public meetings.

CA Rondeau Flynn, who serves as Aeromedical Committee Chair for both APA and the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations, was among a group of subject-matter experts who spoke during a public meeting on Aug. 21. CA Flynn outlined various policy considerations that could help mitigate threats related to extreme temperatures. Interested pilots can watch his presentation via YouTube.

Potential Clearance Hazard Inspected

This is a new message from the APA Safety Commmitte’s Safety Operations Subcommittee.

As part of the ongoing Ground Operations Safety Improvement Program (GOSIP), members of the Safety Operations Subcommittee recently inspected fencing at DFW, where new gates are being installed at Terminal C. FO Mitch Hanson and CA Gavin Tade joined Bill Ainsworth and Jay Sleeman from Transport Workers Union Local 513 to take a look at fencing near Gate C27 that may present a wingtip clearance hazard. Pilots should take extra care when using this gate.

Join Us For YOUnion 201 on Sept. 10

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

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

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

The next session of YOUnion 201 is scheduled for 1100 Central on Sept. 10 via Zoom.

Register in advance for this webinar.

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

Send your feedback to YOUnion@alliedpilots.org.

APA Welcomes Leadership Class

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

Click the image for a closer look.

On Sept. 3, the Membership Committee hosted a casual dinner for the following pilots who were in Fort Worth for American Airlines’ Professionalism, Leadership, and Mentoring class: Jeremiah Brown, Shawn Carlson, Godwin Cherry, Michael Chew, Michael Coloney, Ryan Ferris, Dhyaa Eldin Fouly, Richard Fournier Jr., Jarrod Howard, Tony Howard, Timothy Hurley Jr., Eghosa Isibor, Jeremiah Jones, Steven Jorgensen, Katherine Kernan, David Koellner, Jesse Leftwich, Dennis Leiva, Douglas Luallin, Mario Marquez, Wayne Patterson, Jose Perez Berrios, Aayush Pradhan, Omar Reslan, Roxanne Romah-Picard, John Schoppaul, Richard Southworth, Eric Spotts, Georgios Tagkalos, Ross Taylor, Christopher Whitmer, Christopher Will, and Russell Yaw.

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 in August: Millard Williams, 80, on March 30; Les Kitzman, 93, on May 24; Rich Kessmann, 82, on July 4; Bill Carter, 70, on July 6; Charlie Dixon, 86, on July 14; Keith Champion, 71, on July 18; Gil Geisz, 81, on July 19; Robert Welch, 93, on July 24; Dick Isely, 86, on July 26; Robert Manning, 80, on Aug. 13; and Pete Arnold, 90, on Aug. 14

APA Medical Minute – Cardiac Calcium Score Update

In this encore edition of APA Medical Minute, APA Medical Advisor Kathy Parr discusses a revision to the FAA’s policy regarding cardiac calcium scores.

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

Domicile Elections

The Election Round voting period for PHL and PHX will be open from 0900 Central on Sept. 9 until 0900 Central on Oct. 1. The deadline for receipt of mailed paper ballots is 1000 Central on Oct. 1. These pilots will be listed on the Election Round ballots:

PHL Chair
CA Paul DiOrio
CA Christopher Henshall

PHL Vice Chair
CA Eric Friedman
CA Brian Sweep

PHX Chair
CA Jeremy Ryder
CA Mitch Vasin

PHX Vice Chair
FO Jadan Joyner-Fields
CA John McIlvenna
FO Adrian Osio

These candidates’ resumes are posted on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org.

Domicile Events

The LAX Domicile Officers hosted a domicile meeting at Topgolf in El Segundo on Aug. 28.

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

• CLT: Domicile Meeting at Charlotte Knights game on Sept. 7
• DCA: DCA Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 10; Baltimore Orioles game on Sept. 24
• DFW: Retirement Party on Sept. 6; Concourse Conversations on Sept. 23
• LAX: San Diego Lunch on Sept. 9; Redondo Beach Lunch on Sept. 16; Temecula Lunch on Sept. 17
• MIA: Concourse Conversations on Sept. 19; IMAX Training on Sept. 24; Daytona Beach Meet-Up on Sept. 20; Retirement Dinner Cruise on Oct. 4; IMAX Training on Oct. 6; Domicile Meeting on Oct. 30
• ORD: Northern Illinois Air Show on Sept. 6
• PHX: Domicile Meeting on Sept. 24; Arizona Diamondbacks game on Sept. 24

Week in Review

Here are some recent messages you may have missed:

• President: Every Day is Labor Day
• Instructor-Evaluator Committee: Reimbursement for Training Expenses
• Joint Implementation Action Committee: Market Based Cash Balance Plan
• Membership Committee: Potential APA Members
• Safety Committee: Ops Advisory – Land and Hold Short Operations at ORD
• Scheduled Committee: March 2026 Vacancy Bid

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 Subcommittee (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

Can management continue with a traditional process after releasing a case to Professional Standards?

No. Once an issue has been released to Professional Standards, management will not pursue action against an employee for actions contained in the referral.

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 Sept. 19 and 20 near DFW. 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.