2.09.23 – Facts About Cabin LOSA

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Facts About Cabin LOSA

A company communication detailing the Cabin Line Operation Safety Audit (LOSA) for Flight Attendants was released earlier this week. The communication raised many questions. APFA Leadership has heard your concerns and has committed to working internally with the Board of Directors (BOD) to review the program to satisfy upcoming FAA requirements.

While we work through the program with the BOD, here are some key facts about the LOSA program.

Why is this happening now?

Currently, Flight Attendants are subject to Quality Assurance Rides (QARs), also known as a check ride, which are conducted by a Flight Service Manager (FSM) or a Federal Aviation (FAA) Inspector. The FAA has informed American Airlines that QARs are no longer sufficient to satisfy the audit requirement in order to comply with the Safety Management System required of 121 operators.

From the FAA website:

“The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will soon require through regulation that 121 operators implement a Safety Management System (SMS). The SMS will require that you have reactive, proactive, and predictive hazard identification processes in place. LOSA will meet the predictive hazard identification process requirement.”

Together with APFA’s current Cabin ASAP program, Cabin LOSA will ensure we satisfy the three hazard identification processes in place by the FAA.

I’ve read a lot of opinions on the LOSA program – what are the facts?

Knowing that the QAR program will no longer satisfy FAA requirements, APFA has taken steps to protect Flight Attendants and satisfy upcoming FAA requirements:

• Cabin LOSA observations are voluntary to the crew being observed (unlike current check rides). Should any member of a crew decline to have their flight observed by a trained Cabin LOSA observer, the observers will not board the flight, and there are no negative repercussions.
• The LOSA program will be non-punitive and is not a check ride.
• The program is de-identified and confidential; the information gathered is purely safety-related. De-identified means names, employee numbers, and flight numbers will never be recorded by observers.
• Cabin LOSA Observers will be your peers, fellow Flight Attendants, and not members of management.
• Observers will never take a jumpseat from a commuter or non-revving Flight Attendant; jumpseaters will always have priority.
• Cabin LOSA observers will not interfere with the working crew and their duties.

Is LOSA a new program within the industry?

• LOSA is not new to American Airlines or the airline industry.

• American Airlines Pilots, in cooperation with the Allied Pilots Association (APA), have had their own LOSA observation program for over a decade.
• American Airlines Dispatchers, represented by Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 514, have a LOSA program.
• Flight Attendants at United Airlines have a LOSA program. Alaska Airlines has recently begun a Cabin LOSA, with full support of their Union.

I have more questions. Whom may I contact?If you have questions about this new program, email [email protected], and we will direct you to our APFA Cabin LOSA Program Coordinator.

Our focus is on bargaining a contract that we deserve. That is our number one priority.

In Solidarity,

Andrew Rhinehart
APFA National Safety & Security Department Interim Chair
[email protected]