Positive Rate Episode 68: Lessons Learned

Over the coming months, we will be highlighting APA's Section 6 leadership. This episode features our President, Captain Nick Silva, who served as a member of our Economic & Financial Analysis team during the last contract effort and has used those experiences to help shape APA.

APA President Captain Nick Silva and Jamie Baker – Senior Analyst, U.S. Airlines and Aircraft Leasing for J.P. Morgan in New York City – continue their discussion of American Airlines' financial performance, the structure of the airline, the potential for industry consolidation, activist investor interest, and other timely topics.

APA President Captain Nick Silva and Jamie Baker – Senior Analyst, U.S. Airlines and Aircraft Leasing for J.P. Morgan in New York City – begin a two-part discussion of American Airlines' financial performance, the structure of the airline, the potential for industry consolidation, activist investor interest, and other timely topics.

Communications Committee Chair CA Andy Fierro discusses lessons learned with Negotiating Committee Chair CA Adam Rutherford and DCA Domicile Chair CA Chris Wachter, who chaired the Negotiating Committee when the 2023 contract was ratified. Their conversation focuses on APA's efforts to become a more adaptive, collaborative, and – most importantly – aligned institution.

Investor Relations Committee Chair CA Dennis Tajer addresses APA's ongoing outreach with Wall Street and how his committee, and APA's broader efforts, serve to amplify the issues we face at American for investors and analysts.

Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Captain's Authority Committee Chair CA Carl Jackson about how his committee monitors and documents instances of pilot pushing by gate agents and customer service managers. If you need help during a challenging situation, call the Captain's Authority Hotline: 817-302-2338. If you want to tell the committee about an incident after the fact, fill out a Captain's Authority Threats form on AlliedPilots.org. CA Jackson stressed that his committee welcomes contributions from First Officers.

APA Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Cody Lasker and FO Mike Roman about how the National Communications Network (NCN) facilitates face-to-face conversations throughout the system so union leadership can hear directly from line pilots and vice versa. They also discuss how pilots can become NCN volunteers, which CA Lasker describes as a "a very low-threat, high-reward commitment." APA's goal is for 10 percent of the membership to serve as NCN volunteers as part of preparations for upcoming contract negotiations.

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan speaks with LGA CA Matt Sheehan, who serves on the board of the charitable organization Above the Clouds. The organization's stated mission: “Above the Clouds delivers joy and hope through the wonder of flight to children and teens who have a serious illness or disability, are underserved and/or are facing other diversity.” During the APA Board of Directors' summer meeting, CA Sheehan asked the Board to consider sponsoring “Wings of Legacy,” an Oct. 5 fundraising event the charity hosts in Quincy, Mass., for a scholarship honoring the life of CA David Willey, a U.S. Navy veteran who also flew for Cape Air, Southern Air Transport, and New England Air. Earlier in his career, CA Sheehan also worked for Cape Air and cited CA Willey's mentorship as a major influence in his life. The Board subsequently approved a motion authorizing a $3,000 donation to the Wings of Legacy event. Each episode of “Positive Rate” features APA subject-matter experts working on the membership's behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts.

Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with FO Connor Denton, Information Technology Steering Committee Chair, about the continuing evolution of the APA Pilot app. FO Denton highlights the app's extensive functionality and notes the union will be rolling out the next iteration, APA Pilot 3.0, in the coming months. The new version will reflect member feedback with what he terms a "calendar-based feel" and feature production versions of various features now in beta testing.

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Bridget Van Scoy, Safety Committee Deputy Chair-Smoke Odor and Fumes Subcommittee, about the ongoing collaboration between APA and American Airlines to identify root causes of smoke, odor, and fume events, reduce their frequency, and effect change at the OEM level. CA Van Scoy also addresses what to do if you experience one of these events. Each episode of “Positive Rate” features APA subject-matter experts working on the membership's behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts.