8.14.19 – Weekly Scoop

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

 

9/11 Memorial & Museum Honors Flight Crew Members

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will once again mark National Aviation Week
(August 19-25, 2019) by providing free access to active and retired flight crew members.  The museum will offer visitors flight crew-themed programming and and will facilitate tribute activities in honor of the flight crew members killed on 9/11 and the commitment of the men and women who continue to keep airline passengers safe today.

-Jennifer Brissette, APFA National Archivist, [email protected]

SMS Text Notifications Are Here!

Join the SMS  (Short Message System) text notification service to get urgent and important updates from APFA. Multiple groups are available to opt in to, such as PBS bidding reminders, base specific messages from APFA National Leadership as well as your local Base Leadership. More groups will be added as the system evolves.

Example:

This is an optional service and does not replace the APFA hotlines. In addition, this new service will not replace or terminate the text reminders that are sent out from the Contract and Scheduling Departments, nor will it change how members can text an APFA representative as a Live Chat option.

Click Here for sign-up instructions, and more information.

-Robin Charbonneau, APFA National Communications Chair, [email protected]

Prescription Medications…Is There a List?

We really do not have such a list. What you would need to do is coordinate with your physician and communicate the safety sensitive nature of our job to ensure any prescribed medications would not impair your ability to successfully complete daily tasks and tasks required in an emergency setting.

When flying with prescription medication, you should always keep your medication in its original container with your name clearly on the label. Your prescription should also not be more than 6 months old as far as expiration.

Drug testing consists of a 5 panel drug test regimen. The 5 panel regimen: Marijuana, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Opiates and Phenylcyclidine (PCP). In the event any prescription medication may trigger a positive test in any one of these categories such as amphetamines, you would contact the MRO (Medical Review Officer) and either fax or email a copy of your prescription to verify that you are under a physician’s care to be on this medication.

For further questions please contact your National APFA EAP Reps at (817) 540-0108 ext. 8701

-Abby Alconcher, APFA National EAP Specialist, [email protected]

DOT Clarifies Rules on Service and Emotional Support Animals

Late last week, the Department of Transportation clarified the rules regarding service and emotional support animals in the cabin. The guidance included:

• Airlines can prevent an animal from flying if it determines that the specific animal poses a threat.
• Airlines can require documentation related to an animal’s training, behavior, and vaccination.
• Airlines can require people traveling with emotional support animals to go through lobby check-in.
• Airlines can deny boarding to an animal that is too large or too heavy but cannot categorically ban animals over a certain weight.
• Airlines can ban service animals younger than four months.
• Airlines can require passengers with animals on flights eight hours or longer to provide documentation that it can relieve itself in a way that doesn’t create a health or sanitation issue on a flight. Airlines cannot automatically prohibit service animals on flights of eight or more hours.
• Airlines are not required to accept exotic animals, including snakes, ferrets, sugar gliders, spiders, rodents and reptiles.
• Airlines are not required to transport emotional or psychiatric support animals unless the passenger provides medical documentation of their need.
• Airlines cannot ban certain breeds of service animals.
• Airlines cannot limit the number of service animals on a flight.
• Travelers can bring up to three service animals on a flight.
• Travelers who plan to travel with emotional support animals must give airlines advance notice.

APFA submitted official comments to the DOT on this rulemaking in 2018. This has been a controversial issue and their guidance has some positive enforcements as well as shortcomings.

APFA will continue to be outspoken about ensuring a safe cabin experience for all passengers and crew.

– Allie Malis, APFA National Government Affairs Representative, [email protected]

September Hotel Allocations

Check out the Hotel page for the latest September Hotel Allocations before bids close for the latest hotel information!

Information is published and updated as soon as the allocations are provided by the company.

Current list of September’s allocations:

AUS, BCN, BOS, CDG, CLT, CUN,DCA, DEN, EWR, DCA, FCO, IAD, JAX, JFK, LAX, LGA, LHR, MIA, MCI, MCO, MSP, ORD, PDX, PVD, RDU, SAT, SEA, SFO, SLC, SJU, TPA

– Julia Simpson, APFA National Hotel Chair, [email protected]

Social Security Disability Benefits

If you receive MetLife LTD (Long Term Disability) benefits you are required to apply for Social Security Disability within 6 months of when the MetLife LTD claim is approved.

If you do not have MetLife LTD coverage you may also apply for Social Security Disability.

SSD eligibility is normally based on 12 months of continuous disability.

Contact your local Social Security office or log on to the Social Security website for more information.  (www.ssa.gov/disabilityssi)