APA News Digest

Oct. 25, 2024

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In This Edition ...

Thank You For Tuning Into Town Hall

We appreciate all of the pilots who took time to watch or listen to Wednesday’s national town hall meeting featuring APA President FO Nick Silva, Vice President CA Chris Torres, and representatives of the Joint Implementation Action, Negotiating, and Scheduling committees, and thanks to those members who submitted questions in advance.

If you were not able to participate live, you can watch a recording of the meeting.

Domicile Runoffs End Next Week

Pilots based at CLT, LGA, and MIA have until 0001 Central on Oct. 30 to cast a ballot. Runoff Round voting opened on Oct. 8, with the following candidates still in contention:

CLT Chair
CA Heather Ducimo Boulanger
CA Erik DeWinne

LGA Vice Chair
CA David Hines
CA James Scanlan

MIA Chair
CA Thomas Copeland
CA Jay Wilhelm

You can learn about the candidates on the Elections page on AlliedPilots.org.

“When the Chips are Down and You Don’t Know Where to Go”

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

After DFW-based CA Stuart Egerton and his wife got the diagnosis – their son would be born with achondroplasia dwarfism – he knew his family would need support, so he reached out to APA’s Project Wingman. “It’s a great resource to have when the chips are down and you don’t know where to go and need help,” he says in a new video. “They can find the resources quickly.”

When the unexpected happens, APA can help through Project Wingman, the Compass Project, the Sudden Grief Response Program, our aeromedical team – including the APA Medical Advisors and the programs the Aeromedical Committee offers – and the many other peer support programs APA provides.

If you find yourself unsure where to turn, remember the resources that are available to you as a member of the APA family. We’re here for you, and we will provide the support you need to get through whatever you’re experiencing.

APA Participates in Conference of Pilot Unions

The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association hosted the International Conference of Pilot Unions in Dallas this week. One of the conference’s panels included APA President FO Nick Silva in conversation with (from right) SWAPA President CA Casey Murray, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots Vice President CA Paulette Gilbert, and Teamsters Local 2750 President CA Yngve Paulsen. SWAPA Vice President CA Tom Nekouei (left) was the moderator.

Other panel discussions and breakout sessions included remarks from these APA volunteers:

  • FO Brian Bell, Retirement and Benefits Committee Chair
  • FO Steve England, Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee Chair
  • CA Rondeau Flynn, Aeromedical Committee Chair
  • CA Ryan Gertz, Scheduling Committee Deputy Chair-PBS
  • CA Andrea Hoover, Communications Committee Chair
  • CA Val Jester, Scope Committee Chair
  • CA Jeff Leisten, Aeromedical Committee Deputy Chair-Disabled Pilots Awareness
  • CA Harvey Meek, Government Affairs Committee Chair
  • CA Steve Pacheco, Membership Committee Chair
  • FO Chelsea “CJ” Page, Scheduling Committee Chair
  • FO Adam Rutherford, Negotating Committee Chair
  • CA Gavin Tade, Safety Committee Deputy Chair-Safety Operations
  • CA Dennis Tajer, Investor Relations Committee Chair
  • CA Ann Marie Tazzar, Training Committee Chair

Positive Rate Episode 32: Christmas Epaulets

red and green epaulets on a pilot's shoulder

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Tim Knutson about how the Christmas Epaulets tradition began.

Each episode of “Positive Rate” features various APA leaders and the 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.

We welcome your feedback on this format. If you have a question or comment, please send it to Communications Director Gregg Overman via goverman@alliedpilots.org.

American Reports Net Loss on Record Revenue

This is a new message from the APA Investor Relations Committee.

This week, AAL management released financial results for the third quarter and guidance for the fourth quarter. Here a few stats from the report:

  • Record third-quarter revenue of $13.6 billion.
  • Net loss of $149 million.
  • Excluding special items, a pre-tax profit of $271 million, generating a per-tax margin of 2.0%.
  • The net special items were $354 million, “which principally included one-time charges resulting from the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement with the company’s mainline flight attendants.”  
  • American continued to strengthen its balance sheet in the third quarter by reducing total debt by approximately $360 million. The company is more than $13 billion toward its goal of reducing total debt by $15 billion by the end of 2025.
  • The company ended the third quarter with $11.8 billion of total available liquidity.
  • Fourth-quarter capacity plan: +1% to +3%.

After previously citing an expected annual revenue loss of $1.5 billion due to the failed corporate sales and distribution strategy, CEO Robert Isom reported these updates to revenue damage and the status of loyalty and premium revenue:

  • “American’s corporate and agency flown revenue share bottomed at 11% below our historical share. Since then, our share of indirect bookings has started to recover, and we estimate we are currently at 7% below historical levels, and we expect to see continued improvement in the months ahead.”
  • “Premium revenue increased by approximately 8% year-over-year on 3% more capacity. Paid load factor in our premium cabins remains historically high and was up more than 4 points year-over-year with strength in both domestic and international.”
  • “Loyalty revenues were up approximately 5% year-over-year, with AAdvantage members responsible for 72% of premium cabin revenue. Spending on our co-branded credit cards was up approximately 7% year-over-year in the third quarter, highlighting the value of American’s loyalty program today and moving forward.”

Raymond James airlines analyst Savanthi Syth provided investors with the following overview of comparative results:

Overage Hotels for November

This is a new message from the APA Hotel Committee.

Below is the list of overage hotels that will be utilized in November. If you are scheduled to stay at one of these properties, we recommend you review our article about non-contracted hotels.

  • BED: Archer Burlington
  • BGI: Courtyard Bridgeton
  • BTR: Hotel Indigo Baton Rouge
  • CHO: Graduate by Hilton Charlottesville
  • CLE: Crowne Plaza Playhouse
  • COU: Capital Plaza City View
  • CZM: Wyndham Cozumel Hotel and Resort
  • EZE: Park Tower and Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel
  • GRU: Sheraton Sao Paulo WTC Hotel
  • LBB: Overton and Staybridge Suites
  • LNK: Graduate by Hilton Lincoln
  • MHK: Courtyard Aggieville
  • MRY: Embassy Suites Monterey Bay Seaside
  • OAX: City Centro, Fiesta Inn, and Grand Fiesta
  • PGV: Courtyard Marriott Greenville
  • PVD: Hilton Providence
  • SDF: The Brown
  • TPA: Epicurean Hotel
  • UVF: Marigot Bay
  • XNA: Hyatt Place

For more information, check out the QRH – Quick Reference Hotels document. This resource answers 99 percent of all hotel, transportation, and layover questions while providing helpful solutions. Suggestion: Download this QRH document to your AA iPad for easy access in the future.

Focus on Broken Tow Bars Continues

This is a new message from the APA Safety Committee.

Broken tow bars cost millions of dollars’ worth of damage to aircraft and ground equipment, and they also disrupt the operation by causing flight delays and cancellations. APA and the Transport Workers Union continue to collaborate on ways to mitigate the risk of safety hazards associated with broken tow bars during push back.

CA Gavin Tade, Deputy Chair of the APA Safety Committee, recently traveled to Miami International Airport to conduct push back of aircraft along with CA Lee Thompson, Chair of the MIA Domicile Safety Committee, and Joseph Rodriguez, Chair of the TWU Local 568 Safety Committee.

Join Us for YOUnion 301 on Nov. 13

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

The Compass Project and APA Vice President CA Chris Torres will host a “YOUnion 301” meeting via Zoom at 1100 Central on Nov. 13. This “Captains’ Development Seminar” is intended to help new captains and soon-to-be captains understand their authorities, APA support, and safety trends within our airline.

If you register now, you will receive reminder emails in advance of the meeting.

Click here to register for the Nov. 13 meeting.

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 Oct. 6, the weather radar on B737 aircraft 3FY has been written up nine times – including one air-interrupt – and has been on MEL and out of service four times. It was most recently signed off on Oct. 25 and was restricted to class 1 or 2 maintenance stations.

APA Welcomes Leadership Class

This is a new message from the APA Membership Committee.

a group of pilots in a lobby

Click the image for a closer look.

On Oct. 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: Stephen Abrams, Steve Abrams, Jay Andrews, William Arner III, Erick Izzeppi Artola, Michael Basileo, Robert Bey, Jason Bullard, Jordan Bullock, Blake Burdick, Jason Burkett, Jeromy Byrd, Arturo Coronel Jr., David Cruz, William D’Onofrio, Rondal Davis, Lucas Faddis, Kenneth Gilkes, Thompson Haigh, Ian Henry, David Hong, Tellys Hunter, Ryan Lacher, Kyle Lindsay, Jose Altuve Lozada, Patrick Monahan, Donald Nin, Michael O’Malley, Brian OConnell, Joe Penate, Rhaneawrys Pepen, Shahrukh Rais, Hiram Rivera Jr., Flemming Rix, Mitchell Rosnick, Phillip Smith, Alex Smither, Lucas St. Laurent, Jay Stevens, Emilio Urena, Keith Weaver, and Matthew Winkler.

APA Medical Minute – Post-Vaccine Downtimes

In the latest edition of the APA Medical Minute, APA Medical Advisor Tina Smith discusses the amount of time you will be grounded after receiving certain vaccinations.

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

Domicile Events

a group of pilots in a hotel ballroom

Click the image for a closer look.

These pilots were among the honorees at the PHL Retirement Party on Oct. 19. You can see more photos on APA’s Facebook page.

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

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)
    • Critical Incident Response Program Subcommittee (1)
    • Disabled Pilot Awareness Subcommittee (3)
    • Human Intervention Motivation Study Subcommittee (1)
    • Pilot Occupational Health Subcommittee (2)
    • Project Wingman Subcommittee (2)
  • Captain’s Authority Committee (2)
  • Communications Committee (0)
    • National Communications Network (2)
  • Economic and Financial Analysis Committee (1)
  • Grey Eagles Liaison Committee (2)
  • Information Technology Steering Committee (1)
  • Professional Standards Committee (1)
  • Training Committee (4)
    • Checkmate (1 on 777)

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

Annual Enrollment Opens on Oct. 28

American Airlines has established a My Enrollment website where you and your family can review your benefits options. That website also features an Events tab that lists dozens of in-person roadshows plus several virtual sessions that have already begun.

American Airlines’ Annual Enrollment runs from Oct. 28 through Nov. 11. Don’t miss your deadline, and be sure to double check your elections, your beneficiary information, and your mailing address.

You can also call the Benefits Service Center at 888-860-6178 for enrollment information.

  • Benefits Service Center regular hours: 0800 to 1700 Central, Monday through Friday
  • Benefits Service Center extended hours: 0800 to 2000 Central, Nov. 8–10

Look for the Imputed Income Option when enrolling, and be sure to click the option that is best for you.

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 & Active Pilot Advisors’ next Pilot Job Fair and Future Pilot Seminar are scheduled for Nov. 22 at PHX. 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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