5.22.15b – (LUS) Code 59, Trading Premium Paid Positions

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May 22, 2015

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LUS

• Code 59 (Ready for Departure/Brake Release)
• Trading Premium Paid Positions

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Code 59 (Ready for Departure/Brake Release)
Code 59, also known as Ready for Departure (RFD) delay, is an ATC delay that prohibits pushback from a gate due to ramp, radio, or airport congestion or deicing delays. The following flow charts were created to help you understand each of the two types of delays and assist in determining which one you might qualify for.

The first scenario covers ATC delays. Should an ATC delay be absorbed at the gate, the Captain will establish an RFD time when the aircraft and crew would have been ready for departure. The key to this is that the ‘crew must have been ready for departure’ – if the aircraft is not in place, Flight Attendants have not arrived from a connecting flight or the flight deck crew is not ready for departure then the Captain cannot establish a RFD time. However, if the aircraft and full flight crew is ready at the scheduled departure time and ATC assigns a delay the Captain may establish a RFD time based on the originally scheduled departure time.

The second scenario covers delays at the gate once the aircraft is ready for pushback. In order to claim payment for any delay, everything must be ready for an immediate pushback. This includes all doors closed, jetway pulled and tug driver in place. The ACARS units on US aircraft differ from those on AA aircraft and therefore what establishes the OUT time for pay also differs. The ACARS units on US aircraft will capture the OUT time once all doors are closed and the parking brake is released. If this time is not captured accurately or you have a delay at the gate in excess of 10 minutes, follow the second flow chart and if you meet all the criteria then the Captain will file a claim for a Ramp Delay.

If you are held at the gate for deice sequencing your ramp delay begins at the time you would have been ready for pushback. This also applies even if Company personnel request that you keep the passenger door open during the delay.

Code 59 / Brake Release Claim Form – To be completed by the Captain

Until the ACARS units can be harmonized throughout the AA and US fleets, Pilots should contact their respective Chief Pilot’s office to file a claim rather than sending an ACARS message as the AA pilots do. Pilots will need to provide the information requested on the above claim form for proper filing of a RFD claim. Pilots have been reminded to include Flight Attendants names and CATCREW numbers of the bottom of the form.
 

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Trading Premium Paid Positions

In order to be paid properly for trading into a premium paid positions after you have checked-in for a flight, be sure to notify the Pilots of the position trade.

Here are some helpful guidelines:

Aircraft with New ACARS Automation

The Pilots can refer to the “AOC MISC” page in the ACARS Changes bulletin. Only one position change can be entered at a time – and the position change will only cover a single flight segment. The same entry must be repeated prior to each flight leg segment.

Pilot procedures:

1. Select the “AOC MISC” screen
2. In 1L under MISC CODE, type 86
3. In 2L under DATA, type in the premium position Flight Attendant’s employee number preceded by the premium position designator.
4. The position number can be located on the flight release in the crew verification section. Leading zeroes need to be included so that the number entered contains the premium designator followed by a six (6) digit employee number. (For example: If a Flight Attendant with employee number 023456 swaps into the “A” position, enter code “A023456”.
5. Select SEND
6. Repeat steps 1. through 5. above for additional premium pay swaps.
    

Aircraft without ACARS Automation

If the aircraft is not equipped with the new ACARS software, a (manual) PE-80 Form should be submitted to Crew Pay Compensation by the Pilot.

If you did not inform the captain of the premium paid swap or ACARs failed to properly submit the swap, you will need to submit a PE-80 Form, found on Wings, to Crew Pay Compensation.

To verify that a premium position trade was completed, check Menu Option # 3 in CATCREW. Be sure to check the column to the right of the Base Column, as seen in the screenshot below. Verify the A, B, or E premium position is properly noted.

Jaimie McNeice
APFA Scheduling Chair
[email protected]