July 26, 2005

Rumors, Rumors and More Rumors
In recent weeks I have received a large number of phone calls and emails about the future of the DCA crew base. There are currently NO plans to close the DCA crew base. Let me say that again, there are no plans to close DCA as a crew base. I believe that some individuals have confused this with media reports about the pending closure of the Crystal City Headquarters when the merger is approved. The new corporate headquarters will be the America West location in Tempe, AZ. More often then not, the media confuses the two locations and just how different they are when it comes to the various employee groups. At some time in the future there may be a base closing but that is far in the future. DCA will continue to remain a focus city as it has for many years. When the Company looks at closing a base there are many factors that go into the decision, not the least of which is crew accommodation costs and the number of crew members who would have to RON to protect the operation of the station. If I hear of any word about the future of the DCA crew base, your LEC officers will be in immediate contact.

Weekend Flying Obligation
There still seems to be some confusion around the new weekend flying obligation. If you have a trip that works over Saturday, Sunday or both you have an obligation to fly those days. It does not mean that you can not use the AIL to trip improve. Example: If you have a trip that works both weekend days and use the AIL to pick up a 2 day trip on Friday touching Saturday you will automatically be place on the AIL for Sunday. You may leave a list of trips but if scheduling gets to your seniority and none of your choices are available you will be assigned a trip that remains open. The only protections you have are you cannot be assigned more than 35 hours in a 7 day period and must have 24 hours off in a 7 day period. I would ask that you please act carefully when trying to work around the weekend obligation. It does not matter if the bidsheet is restricted or not. The key focus needs to be on the word obligation.

Reverse Limos
It has come to our attention about a problem when scheduling reverse limos between IAD and DCA. If you schedule the limo during the early morning hours you may be denied the limo as it would create a legality problem going over 12 hours on duty depending on the trip due to the early hour of departure. Also realize that if the trip is scheduled for a long day on the same duty period as the reverse limo you may be denied the reversal as it creates a legality problem. My suggestion is that before hanging up with scheduling that you get the limo situation taken care as it might change your choice of trips. 

Cell Phones and Crew Member Fatigue
In a recent presentation to the US Airways MEC, Shane Larson (Director of Government Affairs, AFA-CWA) spelled out two growing issues that AFA is currently working on. As many of you know from media reports, there is a growing movement to allow cell phones on the aircraft inflight. I and other AFA members have had many discussions with members of Congress about our concerns over this issue. Not just from the fact that our work environment would become impossible, with passengers drawing us it arguments over other passengers conversations. It would also give terrorists another avenue of communication while inflight. The lines are being drawn and it will take all of us to communicate with our elected members and let them know how we feel about this issue. AFA is also currently working on an expanded study concerning crew member fatigue. With airlines working crew members to the limits of their contracts and FAR's, fatigue has become a regular occurrence on almost every trip. 135 members of Congress recently petitioned for an expansive study concerning this issue. Hopefully following this study we will have solid scientific proof of what we know to be true. At that point we can move with legislation to tighten the FAR's to hopefully avoid a serious accident that may cost lives.

Thank you 
I want to take this opportunity to thank an AFA volunteer to the Washington flight attendants. Annette Hill has been a volunteer for the Washington base for more than a decade for our Employee Assist Program. Throughout the years Annette has shown such dedication and professionalism. In the wake of September 11th, Annette and the other EAP volunteers had more than their share of calls to answer and return. I know that there are many flight attendants who have benefited from her years of experience and training. As a LEC officer, I know that this base would be lost without her. Please take a moment when you see Annette in the crew room or on the aircraft and thank her for her continued leadership and countless hours of her own time that she volunteers on our behalf. We are lucky to have her in the Washington base.

VFLR II
Due to a larger number of aircraft being returned then expected the Company as offered another Voluntary Furlough with Limited Recall. Unlike the original VFLR, the Company agreed to allow flight attendants who were originally ineligible that returned on December 2nd of last year to apply for this VFLR II. There were many difficult decisions that had to be made with a very limited amount of time in order to get the information out to the flight attendants. If you have any questions concerning the VFLR II, please feel free to call.

In Solidarity,

Alin Boswell
LEC President DCA