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An Important Message from Your APA Leadership
Fellow APA Pilots,
The following message from your APA National Officers and Board of Directors concerns a
subject vital to APA’s role as your representative. We realize the message is a lengthy one,
however we feel strongly that when we call our members to action, they deserve to know the
facts. We encourage you to print this message (click here to open PDF print-friendly
document) and spread the message to every pilot you fly with. The results of elections all
around the country have signaled your desire for a more active union, and we are asking
YOU to be an integral part of that more active union.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Over the last two years, Flight Department management has grown increasingly aggressive in its
dealings with our pilots. More than 200 pilots have been forced to divulge sensitive medical
information in order to avoid having contractually earned sick leave go unpaid. More than a dozen
pilots have had thousands of dollars taken from them and are currently enduring the painfully slow
grievance process in the hope an arbitrator will restore their contractual right to paid sick leave.
Pilots on long-term disability have been subjected to intense reviews and are being pressured to
return to flying even though they do not qualify for an FAA Class 1 medical. Chief Pilots have
become pawns of a Human Resources department that views pilots as habitual abusers of sick
leave and other benefits.
Nowhere has this trend been more pronounced than in the MIA domicile. MIA pilots have been kept
informed of the actions of their chief pilots through regular communication from the MIA domicile
officers, but we feel it is time for the rest of you to know the assault on your contract underway in
MIA, and in fact, all across the system.
The Chief Pilots in MIA have grown increasingly bold in their deliberate refusal to abide by the
basic protections afforded to pilots by Section 21 of the contract. Investigative hearings are
scheduled by Flight Office decree (rather than by mutual agreement - Section 21.B.6), and Chief
Pilots attempt to intimidate and silence union representatives (including APA attorneys) during
disciplinary hearings. Chiefs refuse to answer basic questions about charges, ignore the clear
provisions of arbitration rulings, refuse to listen to or consider facts and evidence submitted by
union representatives, and refuse to provide written details of policies for which pilots are being
disciplined – all violations of every pilot’s right to full representation during any disciplinary
investigation. Your elected representatives in MIA have fought hard against these violations to the
point where the Flight Office is now attempting to counsel pilots over the telephone without
providing notice or opportunity for union representation.
The MIA domicile officers have faced an avalanche of hearings that have become increasingly
hostile. During one hearing last fall, the MIA Chief Pilot became so enraged at the determined
defense being waged on behalf of an MIA pilot that the Chief hurled his water bottle across the
room at the MIA domicile officers. This act of violence would most certainly have resulted in the
immediate termination of any line pilot, yet that Chief continues to enjoy the perks and pay of his
management position.
The Flight Office persecutions have extended to the safety and training arenas – and therefore
affect every pilot at American Airlines.
Your Training Committee and National Officers have sent several messages over the last few
weeks informing you of AA’s move to schedule 757/767 pilots for their R-9 check ride and R-18 in
the only simulator configured with the new Flat Panel Display System. These pilots are given no
ground school or other exposure to this new system (which completely replaces the entire flight
instrument panel) prior to the check ride. We have informed pilots of their longstanding right to be
trained to proficiency before putting their license at risk.
Two weeks ago, the MIA Domicile Chairman attempted to exercise that right. Deciding at the
conclusion of the two hour RAD portion of the R-9 that he was not sufficiently proficient in using the
new display to take the LOFT, the MIA Chairman requested additional training. The Training
Manager sent the Chairman home with a commitment to schedule additional training.
Last week, the MIA APA Chairman was informed by letter from the MIA Chief Pilot that he was
being directed to attend another check ride in the FPDS equipped simulator (with no additional
training) and that he would be on UNPAID status until that check ride was complete. The letter from
the Chief Pilot concluded the following statement, “Failure to report and participate in all scheduled
training activities will be considered a violation of American Airlines Rules and Regulations Rule 7,
insubordination, and will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.” American Airlines has
always been a 'Train to Proficiency' Airline -- this has just changed.
Let’s be clear about this. AA management is threatening to fire one of your elected union
representatives and is holding him in unpaid status for refusing to risk his license based his
assessment of his proficiency with a completely new flight instrument package that he had only
seen for the first time at the beginning of that simulator session. This can only be characterized as a
direct assault on your union leadership, one which demands a response from the membership.
Ladies and gentlemen, we need your immediate action. You are the last line of defense
where safety is concerned. We ask every pilot, in each bid status, to request additional
training if you feel the slightest bit unprepared, request additional training and postpone
your check ride until adequately trained. This may involve a sacrifice. You may have to come
back to DFW to complete your training. However, allowing AA to use financial pressure to
intimidate pilots from requesting additional training, especially when that pressure is applied to an
elected union official, is an action all pilots must vehemently oppose. We are asking you to do what
is right -- and not necessarily what is easy.
When AA management establishes an appropriate training program for 757/767 pilots to include
training on the new flat-panel simulator and re-commits to a no-fault “train to proficiency” approach
to training, we will let you know. Until then, continue to support your APA leadership through your
actions and send management the message that safety cannot be eroded through threats and
financial intimidation.
As always, thank you for your support.
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