3.09.18 – (LAA/LUS) – Interim VP/Washington DC Fly-in/Know Your Legalities/Upcoming Retirement Seminars/Uniform Reaction Report Count

• Why Hasn’t An Interim Vice President Been Appointed?

• D.C. Fly-in to Lobby Capitol Hill

• Know Your Legalities

• Upcoming APFA Retirement Seminars

• Uniform Reaction Report Count

Why Hasn’t An Interim Vice President Been Appointed?

In accordance with the APFA Constitution, an interim National Vice President shall be appointed by the Board of Directors (BOD) to serve until the result of the National Officer re-run election is known. Following last week’s conclusion of the APFA Convention in Charlotte, the BOD expressed the need for more time to deliberate about potential appointments.

A special BOD teleconference will take place early next week, at which time the BOD will select and appoint someone to serve as interim APFA National Vice President until the National Officer re-run election has concluded. A Special Hotline will be issued to announce the appointment.

D.C. Fly-in to Lobby Capitol Hill

APFA Government Affairs is hosting a member fly-in to Washington, D.C. on April 24th & 25th to discuss important cabin safety issues with members of Congress and their staff. We have a range of serious safety issues before us, including, but not limited to, cabin air quality, air rage, and cabin air temperatures. Members of Congress are frequent fliers, and they need to hear directly from Flight Attendants who are tasked, as safety professionals, with keeping the cabin safe.

APFA members who have attended lobby days in the past will tell you what a rewarding experience it is, so we hope you will consider joining us in April. 

If you decide to participate in the fly-in, you will be on a team with other APFA members who will visit 3-4 offices of Congressional members who represent areas where we have bases, or who serve on important oversight committees. Participants will be provided with background material and key talking points to ensure confidence while speaking to these important topics.

The fly-in is a two-day event with team members arriving in D.C. on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 24th for a short training and introduction to the next day’s activities. APFA will provide the hotel. On Wednesday, April 25th, we will divide into teams and have meetings with targeted members of Congress and staff. We are looking for 40 APFA members to participate in our fly-in! If you are interested in attending, send an email to [email protected] and plan to bid accordingly.

Dates: Tuesday April 24^th and Wednesday April 25^th

Cabin Safety Issues:

• toxic fumes (1-3 fume events/day at APFA)
• seat size/air rage
• cabin temperature
• lithium batteries
• emotional support animals
• sexual harassment
• reiterate NO knives and NO voice calls on planes

Logistics:

• attend on days off
• D2 travel to fly in
• hotel provided by APFA
• transportation fares in DC provided by APFA
• evening reception, continental breakfast, boxed lunch provided by AFPA

Tentative Schedule (subject to change)

These issues matter, and your participation makes a difference. We are excited to take on Capitol Hill with you!

In Unity,

Allie Malis
APFA Government Affairs Representative
[email protected]

Know Your Legalities

With all the recent weather delays and cancellations, it is more important than ever to know your legalities.

24-Hours Off in any 7 Consecutive Calendar Days 

Federal Aviation Regulations state that a Flight Attendant must be relieved from all duty for a period of at least 24 consecutive hours in any 7 consecutive calendar days. This 24-hour rest period cannot be waived by the Flight Attendant or the Company. It may be at a layover station or at home base and must be prospective.* The 24 hours may be a rolling 24-hour period. Deadheading back to base may be accomplished on the 7th day but must be followed by 24 hours free from all duty.

*The default for PBS Flight Attendants is for this required rest to be at home base. At the Flight Attendant’s option, this rest may be obtained while on a layover.

35-Hour Limitation in 7 Days

Reserve Flight Attendants may not be scheduled to fly more than 35 block hours in any 7 consecutive days. Only actual hours flown are included in the calculation. If a Flight Attendant starts a legal sequence, but subsequently within such sequence exceeds the 35 in 7 limitation, s(he) will remain legal to complete the trip. ETB/OE hours will not count toward the calculation. This limitation may be waived by the Flight Attendant.

Renee Mayer
APFA National Scheduling Chair
[email protected]

Upcoming APFA Retirement Seminars

These popular and informative briefings cover a wide range of topics, including:

• 401(k)
• Pensions
• Retiree Travel
• Medicare

The APFA Retirement Handout, “Good Slide!”, is distributed to each participant. The handout follows the slide show presentation, and also contains checklists and contact information to make sure you get everything you have coming to you. The handout is updated throughout the year, and the most current version is always on the website.

You should attend your first Retirement Seminar no later than 10 years before you think you will retire, but it’s never too early to attend one of these meetings!

LAA Flight Attendants can pull a pension estimate by visiting the Pension Service Center on Jetnet.

LUS Flight Attendants can request a pension estimate in the mail by calling the PBGC at (800)400-7242.

Guests (such as spouses) are also welcome to attend. Be advised that for seminars located within the secure side of the terminals, you will need to go thru TSA screening.

For any seminar located within the secure side of the terminal, you can also request a gate pass for your guest from the ticket counter. Feel free to contact our department for further instructions or assistance.

All members, regardless of their base or seniority, are welcome to attend any seminar.

Ron Harris
APFA National Retirement Specialist
[email protected]

Daylight Saving Time (DST) Begins This Weekend

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins for most of the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and Bahamas on Sunday, March 11, at 2:00 AM.

Exceptions include Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation, which observes DST), Hawaii, and the overseas territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.

DST will begin in Europe on Sunday, March 25th, at 1:00 AM.

DST for the U.S. ends at 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 4, 2018.

Uniform Reaction Report Count