American Pilots File Grievance Over Work Schedule

Unionized captains and first officers claim airline practices put aircraft and flyers in jeopardy

Pilots and first officers of the Allied Pilots Association (ALPA) claim that American Airlines is putting flyers at risk by not honoring rest requirements for those in command of commercial aircraft. Union president Daniel F. Carey filed an emergency grievance with the airline’s Board of Adjustments, requesting a hearing on the state of fatigue among pilots.

In the grievance, the union accuses the airline of ignoring the Fatigue Risk Management System Memorandum of Understanding. In addition, the pilots allege the airline prevented members of “key corporate departments” from attending fatigue review committee meetings, as well as following the recommendations from the committee. As a result, the ALPA claims flyers and aircraft could be at risk from pilots flying under fatigued conditions.

“[T]hese violations are ongoing, relate directly to safety and pose a risk of massive, imminent, and irreparable harm and/or death of employees, passengers and on-the-ground personnel,” Carey wrote in his grievance, filed on March 1.

In order to fly safely, the union is requesting that the airline immediately return to the previous fatigue policy agreement while stopping the crew-scheduling team from threatening to take action against exhausted pilots. The airline has not publicly responded to the ALPA allegations.

This latest action marks the third time that the ALPA has spoken out against American. In 2017 alone, unionized flyers for the Fort Worth-based carrier claimed new uniform options continued to made flight attendants ill, followed by a vote of no confidence against airline chief executive Doug Parker.

[Photo: Shutterstock]