Maybe you're new to the airlines and don't understand how the RLA works and what a union can and cannot say. Nobody bidding a higher status and no straight time pickup is an unrealistic utopian idea, so I don't even know why you're even mentioning it unless you're that clueless to reality.

APA highlighted the poor pay and working conditions of being a LCA for a reason. Nobody is advocating current LCA to quit (job action) but rather think twice about taking the position that management is desperate to fill. You can't run an airline without check airmen and yet you cannot force anyone to be one either. We all respect our great check airmen at American as it has consistently been a point of pride among us. That being said, I sure as hell wouldn't want to be known as someone who was hired as a LCA in late 2021/2022 though that's for damn sure!

There's 14,000 pilots at this company so I'm sure they will find a few forward leaners to take the position and justify it with whatever excuse floats their boat.

 

We have a name for them at United. Marvin Mainliner. “Hey Captain, it’s 90 degrees back here. Could you not be a Marvin Mainliner and cool it down by running the Apu”

 

And that there alone is why you'll never get a job action. Too many pilots want/need the money and don't want to risk losing their job/going to jail for contempt of court. (Every United, American, Delta, US Air, etc. lawsuit by the company has always resulted in a company win.) Work or quit. Thats your only option. The APA is the most ineffective leadership we've ever had, run by a union s**b of a president. There is no unity here and the only way now to jump seniority is through being a CKA. So if you want to secure your position be a CKA.

 

Serious question, has an uncoordinated effort ever been made at any airline even remotely the size of AA to not pick up straight time, let alone premium? I’m no fan of APA but I don’t think this is a Union problem more of a human nature problem. Seems APA’s hands are tied in what they can ask of their pilots so when a situation that can give us a huge amount of leverage arises (like the LCA issue) they have to tread carefully. Personally I would have liked to have seen my email bombarded with that letter detailing the poor working conditions on a daily basis as opposed to bs issues like 5g, etc.

 

so when you get a line check or go in for training do you ask the check airmen when he was hired as a check airmen?

 

Not an APA apologist, but the BoD just rejected a band-aid LOA 20-0. I guess that’s not unity, or something.

Can you cite ways to “jump seniority” at any other airline, whatever that means?

 

I've been a dues paying member in good standing for first ALPA, and then APA for upwards of 30 years, with some volunteer work thrown in there as well. So I think I've got a handle on what they can say, and what they wont.

They didn't say "don't take a CKA job", because they cant. They just pointed out all the reasons someone might want to reconsider. You could write the same email about bidding a junior ca seat.

I'm sure all the people that apply are aware of the working conditions, and weigh that with what the job would mean for their situation. They aren't flying struck work, or crossing a line, like some would allude. So all the "name tag", "huge ego" and "I'd hate to be known as a late 21 early 22 CKA" make everyone saying that seem like a petulant child.

The CKA are us, they are APA represented, and as you pointed out, an asset to the rest of us. I'm sure the new CKA's will do a great job as well. I'd rather have someone who wants to be there doing the job. We will be getting trained and checked by these people for the rest of our careers, probably best not to ostracize them.

If everyone is so worried about the new CKA's effect on our perceived leverage (and I'll bet it's not as great as we want it to be) I'd say take a look at your own contributions, before you ask them to carry all the water. I don't fly extra, haven't for a long time, it's against my religion to work on my days off. Everyone is free however to do whatever works in their specific situation, including anyone who wants to apply for a check airman job.



I'm curious as well how that conversation would go.

 

No I don’t make a point to ask them, however are you going to tell me yours or someone else’s background hasn’t come up when sitting next to each other for hours on end? Now you’ve got me curious as to how honest you’re going to be about your answer!

 

Hire date might come up but I’ve never asked anyone what’s your check airmen hire date. I’m not, have never been and have no insterest in being a check pilot fwiw. What reason do I have to not be honest about my background?

 

The only reward that should matter is what's on your paycheck. All this "I love to help people" is such copium and the paycheck reward isn't there anymore so you really have to start questioning the judgement of anyone who still wants to do that crap job.

Also anyone who still willingly signs up now is the same kind of person that picks up extra flying during a furlough. For once don't be selfish in your careers. Will never get a new contract with management collaborators.