If true about any settlement talks, perhaps they're considering the ramifications of a loss in the preliminary arbitration ?

That's a crapshoot and should that occur, they're SOL. On the other hand, the inclusion of West pilots on USAPA's committee would at least guarantee them some participation in the process. Seems like a dicey concept though considering the polar opposite positions on the Nic. Perhaps AOL has come to terms that inclusion or not, a pure Nic based final ISL isn't likely anyway ?