8.11.23 – CQ: Final Targeted Training and Special Tracking

CQ: Final Targeted Training
and Special Tracking

Friday, August 11,  2023

Since June of this year, we have noticed a significant rise in Flight Attendants failing to pass their Continuing Qualification (CQ) training. This hotline aims to help you understand the process if you are ever unsuccessful at CQ and remind you that APFA Safety and Security is here to support you throughout all aspects of your flight attendant duties, including your annual CQ training.

Failure to pass CQ will result in an “unsatisfactory” rating from the inflight training department. This rating will automatically place you in a program known as Final Targeted Training. For clarity, during your annual CQ, you are allowed FOUR attempts to pass a drill, a task, or a scenario with a “satisfactory” rating. The first two attempts will be conducted by the same instructor, the third with a different instructor, and the fourth by an inflight training manager. If you receive an unsatisfactory rating after a fourth attempt, the training manager will release you from CQ, and your Flight Attendant qualifications will be expired. The training department will inform the APFA Safety and Security team of the situation, and one of our reps will contact you as soon as possible.

Final Targeted Training:

At this stage, the training department will schedule you to return to the training center within ten days, or at an agreed-upon date, to attend a Final Targeted Training session. The session will consist of TWO attempts to complete the failed drill(s), task(s), or scenario(s) with a “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” rating. You must complete the training session with either a “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” rating. If you choose to end the session once the training has officially begun, management will view that as an “unsatisfactory” rating. Your qualifications are re-instated if you earn a “satisfactory” rating upon completion of the training session.

Any Flight Attendant placed into the Final Targeted Training program will have the full support of the APFA, led by the Safety and Security team. If you require their assistance, APFA base leadership, EAP representatives, and retirement specialists will be ready to help.

Special Tracking:

Following a “satisfactory” rating, the training department will place you into a program recently mandated by the FAA called Special Tracking. This program mirrors what has been in place for pilots for some time now. The Special Tracking program requires all Flight Attendants who pass their Final Targeted Training session to return within six months and perform whichever skill(s), drill(s), or task(s) they were initially unsuccessful in.

Any Flight Attendant who receives an unsatisfactory rating during Final Targeted Training or Special Tracking will be placed to permanent QI (Qualifications Inactive) status and ultimately released from the company. If a Flight Attendant is eligible for retirement after receiving an unsatisfactory rating, they can always choose to retire. For more information about retirement, please contact [email protected], 817-540-0108 ext. 8490.

Difficulties in life outside of work do happen. If you are struggling and need assistance, please get in touch with APFA EAP ([email protected], 833.214.2002), and consider rescheduling your CQ dates until you feel well enough to attend. If you are experiencing health issues that could affect your performance at CQ, you may wish to reschedule your CQ date until you are well or consider applying for medical leave. Click Here for Medical Leaves and Returns Information on Jetnet

To reschedule your CQ, fill out the Training Enrollment Request Form in Comply 365> AAFA>Training, or contact the Training Support Desk at (800) VIP-CREW (#,6,1).

If you are not feeling well and unable to attend CQ, it is possible to call out sick. Calling out SK for CQ is NOT a sick call and does not accrue a point. To call out sick for CQ, contact the Training Support Desk at 1(800)-VIP-CREW (#,6,1). Missing CQ is a missed assignment (MA) performance event. Flight Attendants can contact their FSM to request the removal of the MA.

CQ is NOT the place to be sick. Remember, if you’re not feeling well enough to work a trip, you’re not well enough to attend CQ. Contact the Operational Duty Manager (ODM) if sick at any point during CQ.

If you have any questions about this process or need to make us aware of any incidents or issues while attending CQ, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or 1-817-540-0108 EXT 1,4,1,1.

If you become injured while at CQ, file an IOD.

As Flight Attendants, we are ultimately responsible for ensuring we are fully prepared and ready to perform our duties. But that doesn’t mean we can’t ask for help if we need it. We all know how to study our WBTs and familiarize ourselves with the EFB/IFM. We understand the importance of practicing the drills and remembering to go slow and make loud, authoritative commands during CQ. If you are doing all those things and still feeling unprepared, please don’t hesitate to contact the APFA Safety and Security team ([email protected]) before attending CQ.

Final Targeted Training is a stressful and emotionally challenging situation. It should not be how any Flight Attendant ends their career. Our goal is to keep you informed, prepared, and aware that if you are ever unsuccessful at CQ and placed into Final Targeted Training, you will receive the full support of the APFA.

In Solidarity,

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