7.12.14 – (LAA) – LIRR Strike?, PVD Reminder, A321S Certification, FAA Audits, eManual, FA Fatigue, Hotel, Health, EAP Updates

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LIRR Strike?, PVD Reminder, A321S Certification, FAA Audits, eManual, FA Fatigue, Hotel, Health, EAP Updates

July 12, 2014

 

PVD Allotment Reminder – [email protected]
Please remember, when requesting PVDs for a multi-day trip, each calendar day will use one PVD. For example, if a three-day sequence arrives past midnight on the 4^th day, 4 PVDs will be used. The exception to this rule is a turn around that touches two days; it will use only one PVD.
 
Reserve Clarifications – [email protected]
When you are calling the tape and have been assigned a 24-hr release for the next day, you remain available until 1900 that evening and, assuming you do not receive an assignment, are considered released until 2359 on the subsequent day.
 
If Crew Schedule called you during your home base rest for an assignment and you did not answer the phone, you are not obligated to respond to messages left. Crew schedule will have to place another call at the conclusion of your rest for an assignment.
 
A321 Cert, FAA Audits, eManual – [email protected]
A321 Certification
On Wednesday July 9, 2014, American Airlines successfully passed the planned ditching exercise on our new delivery of the A321S aircraft required for the FAA certification approval. APFA would like to thank each Airbus qualified member who volunteered to be in the Flight Attendant participant pool, especially the four DFW Flight Attendants who were selected by the FAA as the cabin crew for the planned ditching exercise;

• Steven Kornman
• Jane Orr
• Chadwick Reed
• Jorge Stenner

The FAA gave high praise for the performance of every one of the Flight Attendants, which is a testimony to the level of dedication and professionalism our members display on a daily basis as safety professionals.

FAA Audits
The FAA will be conducting manual and carry on baggage compliance in DCA next week, Monday July 14th through Thursday July 17th. Flight Attendants flying into and out of DCA should be prepared to encounter an FAA Cabin Safety Inspector (CSI) and answer questions regarding the eManual, carry on baggage compliance and present their (paper) manuals for inspection. Flight Attendants who fail to present an up to date (paper) manual may be issued a Letter Of Warning by the FAA. Please check to ensure your manual is in compliance prior to boarding an aircraft as a working crew member. Latest manual revision and bulletin requirements can be found on the Flight Service web site under the manual link.
 
eManual
American Airlines has received approval from the FAA to proceed with the final stage of approval for the Flight Attendant eManual on our Samsung tablets. AA will be submitting a letter requesting final approval to the FAA and our FAA CMO has 30 days to respond. If approval is granted, Flight Service is predicting a possible September cutover date from the current paper manual to the eManual on our tablets. Further communication will be provided by APFA and Flight Service to ensure all Flight Attendants are properly briefed and prepared for the transition from the paper manual to the eManual. Please refer to official communication from APFA and/or Flight Service for the facts on our eManual.
 
Until the FAA has granted final approval in this last phase of the approval process, the paper manual is still required by the FAA and the tablet is required by AA. Flight Attendants should have both the manual and the tablet with them as working crew members and while deadheading on assigned flights.
 

APFA continues to work with lawmakers on Flight Attendant fatigue and other issues that are important to our members. APFA friend and supporter Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) (then a member of the US House) introduced language for consideration in the 2012 FAA Reauthorization Bill, the “Airline First Responder Workplace Fairness Act,” which called on the FAA to address fatigue issues for Flight Attendants who are first responders on board the aircraft. The amendment was voted down by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and not included in the final FAA Reauthorization bill. Currently, pilots and air traffic controllers participate in the Fatigue Risk Management Program which monitors safety concerns as a result of fatigue. APFA believes Flight Attendants should be included in the program as well.

With passenger demand for non-stop service to destinations around the world, American Airlines is at the forefront of ultra long-haul flying. These routes bring increased challenges for working crew members on a variety of issues, including crew rest and layover. APFA will continue to work with lawmakers on behalf of Flight Attendants.
 
Hotel Updates – [email protected]
CNF– Earlier this week, the company notified us of a hotel pick up change at Belo Horizonte due to a bridge collapse on the way to the CNF airport. This will affect the crew on flight 991 . The departure time from the hotel will be at 0720 for the remainder of the week. The company will re-evaluate this change to determine the progress made on the highway and repairs.
 
SAT – We have received numerous reports relating to noise and other issues resulting from the construction at the long layover hotel.The company is in the process of securing a temporary relocation hotel until we are positive that all of our concerns have been resolved. We will provide more information on the temporary relocation as soon as we receive it. 
 
Please be respectful of the no-smoking policies at all of our hotels. An individual crewmember could be responsible for paying a $250 cleaning fee if it is discovered that s/he has been smoking in the room or on an adjoining patio. Additionally, the room being pulled from service becomes an issue not only for the hotel but for us as well. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
 
Payflex – [email protected]
We continue to receive calls from Flight Attendants who have taken a bid Leave for 30 days or less and receive a bill from payflex. The payflex bill is for two months of unsubsidized benefits because they aren’t aware that you are only taking a 30-day bid Leave. If your Leave is 30 days or less, you are not required to submit a payment to payflex. Deductions will be taken out when you return to work and should only be what your current deductions were prior to the Leave. If you go on another Leave and the consecutive Leaves are more than 30 days, you will be responsible to pay the unsubsidized rates. Please be cognizant of the duration of your Leave.  If you have any questions contact Employee Services 1-800-477-2000 or the APFA Health Department.

Prescription Meds – [email protected]
We often receive calls about which type of prescription medications are prohibited for Flight Attendants to take while on duty. Currently, there is no list of medications published by the DOT/FAA that Flight Attendants are prohibited from taking while on duty. Whether AA medical will allow a Flight Attendant to fly on a medication is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

AA Medical reserves the right, even with a valid prescription, to determine whether or not a Flight Attendant may take a prescription medication while flying, as it may interfere with their ability to perform their safety sensitive job. 

Medical does not post a list of prohibited medications because that list changes frequently. Also, one employee may be able to fly with a medication, but not be able to fly with it when the doctor adds another prescription that, when combined, may impact their ability to perform safety-related functions. 

In general, AA medical looks at the following things when determining whether a Flight Attendant can perform their job while taking a medication:
 
Diagnosis

• Type and dosage of medication
• Length of time on the medication
• Other medications being taken 
• Is the medication doing what it is intended to do
• Are there any negative side effects that may interfere with the Flight Attendant’s job

When in doubt, make a confidential call to your APFA EAP desk at 1-817-540-0108, ext. 8701 or email us at [email protected].

Long Island Railroad Strike?
A possible LIRR Strike could occur as early as Sunday July 20, 2014. MTA officials are making alternate plans to cover the Monday commute. Needless to say, this could potentially create a transportation crisis to our Flight Attendants, especially those who commute to Manhattan or for those trying to cover EWR trips.
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REMINDERS!

Vacation Trade Bulletin Board at APFA.org
If you would like to trade your 2014-2015 vacation, APFA offers an electronic bulletin board at www.apfa.org to post your trade requests. Click here and follow instructions to post your requested VC trades.

APFA “Flyer” iPhone App
APFA’s Flyer App, Version 5 is available for download from APFA’s website. To download the app, click here.

APFA Website Update
If you’re an APFA member / pre-merger AA Flight Attendant, and don’t yet have access to APFA’s website, go to www.www.apfa.org and click on “Create An Account” under the Log In Form from the main page. Once you fill out the form, a verification email will be sent to you. Click on the specified link within the email, and you will gain immediate access to the members-only portion of APFA.org. Get to know it!

Staffing
Do you have a report concerning staffing-related issue and would like to submit data to APFA? Please email all details to [email protected]. This email is a no-response email. It is strictly used to collect data. If you have a scheduling or staffing question or issue, please email [email protected].

Share Your Photos
We continue to receive some great pictures from our members both on and off the plane. Please remember that in order for the photos to be useable, they must include the names and employee numbers of all Flight Attendants, as well as contact information (if available). Otherwise, the photos are unusable.

Photos may be incorporated in future APFA web and print projects, including upcoming issues of Skyword, press releases, our APFA New Hire guide and a welcome booklet for our future members from pre-merger US Airways. Please email your hi-res photos to: [email protected].

If you are emailing several high-resolution photos, please limit your photos to 3 per email as our server will block files over a certain size.

If you prefer to mail a hard copy, send to:
APFA Communications
1004 W. Euless Blvd.
Euless, TX, 76040

Photos must:

• Be the sole property of the sender. By sending in photos, you are giving APFA permission to use them in APFA communications.
• Contain the name(s), employee number(s) (if you can obtain your coworker’s employee number easily), email and phone number of each person in the photo in order to obtain permission to publish.
• Be tasteful in content.

AmericanAirlines + US Airways 
“On Our Way”

Leslie Mayo
APFA National Communications Chair