ironspud

American Airlines threatens pilots

I love the smell of $45 Million in the morning.

eaglefly

You seem to imply a giddiness that the APA could be fined. Problem is, AA pilots are not doing anything wrong. AA pilots have been instructed by the VP of Flight to fly "aggressively safe" for months so as to ensure stressful conditions don't negatively impact safety. AA pilots are complying with that directive to the letter, especially now that AA pilots are under intense scrutiny from the FAA and explicit threat from management. Additionally, AA pilots are not doing anyone elses job, but only theirs and as dilligently as possible as their certificates may be on the line. Since they aren't being fairly compensated for their own duties, I think that expecting them to accomplish others is an unreasonable demand.

I would think one of the things they'd have to do, is make a request of the FAA that they approve pilots to look the other way on valid mechanical discrepancies, conducting themselves in that area subjectively or operate airborne with lessor margins in the interest of keeping the airline "on-time" ?

All this is, is another ill-timed dumping of gas on an aleady blazing inferno and has alienated even more pilots against them. IMO, the UCC better get control of these people before this place turns into Eastern. Of course, with Lorenzo's old guard in the box seats calling many of the plays, I wonder if thats the plan ?

Mike77X

Dallas Morning News has published the letter

eaglefly

I thought judge Lane said the RLA isn't applicable in Chapter 11 ?

Is this a case of ignorance or making up the rules as you see fit ?

LittleBoyBlew

Time to document EVERYTHING!! Back it up with pictures. Time stamp all responses and include name & position of individual responding to call. Judges and attorneys LOVE paper work. Time to flood them with some..

ForeverFO

Was the "Let's get together and talk" between company and APA simply an opportunity to deliver a threat? *** is going on? Or is AMR so incompetent that the timing of the threat letter and the "Let's get together" thing is a simple accident?

PBSG

Not an AA guy - but who the f is the VP of 'People' to tell someone how fast to taxi and what to write up or what not to write up. I swear I see more of these management types trying to control everything with the airline they work for. If he/she is so knowledgeable then grab a wrench and start doing MX yourself.

Props to the AA folks for doing a great and safe job!

jabone

It's me again. So I mentioned previously that I am EXPLT. I usually earn that status by flying segments (min is 100). I have been averaging about 140 per year for the past 7 years. So I go up and down alot, but usually not too far.

This past two weeks I have been on 8 AA flights. Of those 8 seven have had MX issues. Over the past 9 months I can only think of one other MX issue. In a nutshell, first 8+ months MX <1% of my flights, last two weeks MX > 87% of my flights.

Granted I ride on alot of MD 8x type planes and some are pretty old. Just like my old car, it needs a little more care than the new one. And trust me I am ok with breaking down on the freeway - not so much at 35K feet, that is not my point.

But why all of a sudden this huge rash of MX issues? I can't believe that the "pilots [sic] look[ed] the other way on valid mechanical discrepancies, conducting themselves in that area subjectively" over the first 8+ months.

I can't believe that the mechanics have decided to become lazy.

And I can't believe that the FAA would allow these planes to fly if it was known that in the 9th month of 2012 there was a huge chance that they would just fall out of the air.

So what was it?
The pilots looking the other way for the first 8+ months?
The mechanics stopped working hard in the 9th month?
Something else?

I know from talking to others that they are experiencing the same MX issues.

aa73

Eaglefly... disregard ironspud. He's a disgruntled Ex TWA pilot who defines himself based on the misfortunes of APA, AA, and anything that has to do with who wronged him. He is just as cheerful on fi.com as well. Not at all representative of 99% of the fine Ex TWA folks I know.

Mike77X

Following APA's meeting Tom Hoban said this

Excerpt: