APA Sues American Airlines over Training Practices

Comments from American Airlines, Allied Pilots Association

American’s Head of Flight Operations, Lyle Hogg, said in a letter to check pilots that the carrier expects to add up to 180 pilots per month through the end of the year. Line pilots can volunteer to serve as “seat fillers” for the final simulator exam to free up check pilots to conduct the evaluations, according to Hogg, to help speed up the training pipeline.

“This unilateral action by American Airlines management degrades the training experience and risks long-term damage to the airline’s safety culture,” APA President Eric Ferguson said in announcing the suit, adding that if the AA’s training resources weren’t under severe duress, management “wouldn’t have taken this unilateral, reckless, and unlawful action to fill these simulator sessions in a manner that is not contemplated by our collective bargaining agreement.”

The airline retorted that the request for volunteers is in no way jeopardizing safety and that it may be a career opportunity for line pilots. An airline representative notes that the initiative is meant to allow line pilots to support the flight training simulator program, which is good for our pilots and provides even more training capacity to support continued growth.”

The airline added, “The pilots volunteering are highly qualified and experienced, and are responsible for the safety of our customers and fellow crew members every day.”

To Volunteer on Not to Volunteer

The airline’s effort may come to a halt before it can get off the ground. APA has bluntly made its position in a letter to its members, saying it is “directing pilots not to volunteer for these special assignments.”

The letter adds that “Management’s effort to divide the pilot group by offering that work to ‘volunteer’ line pilots will not be tolerated, nor will it succeed.”

The union exercised its right to begin negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement early in 2019. AA and APA have since been embroiled in contract talks. The contract became formally amendable in 2020.

Staffing Shortages Woes

Due to a shortage of qualified instructors, Southwest Airlines (WN) said earlier this year that it would restrict pilot hiring. Moreover, many US regional airlines, as well as Alaska Airlines (AS) and JetBlue Airways (B6), are experiencing pilot and overall personnel shortages.