• FAA TO ENFORCE 24/7 REST FOR RESERVES AT US AIRWAYS
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Dear Members,

FAA TO ENFORCE 24/7 REST FOR RESERVES AT US AIRWAYS

The FAA has notified US Airways the Company is not in compliance with FAR section 121.467(b)(13)- 24-hour-in-7 day rest requirement. The cited section requires that a Flight Attendant be given a rest period of 24 consecutive hours during any seven (7) consecutive calendar days. Line holders have never been permitted to fly more than six (6) consecutive days without the required rest, however for decades US Airways has operated under the presumption that a reserve who is scheduled on duty, but who has not been given a "duty period assignment" (trip), is receiving a 24 consecutive hour break. In short, the FAA views a reserve duty day no differently than a trip assignment, and therefore, reserves will not be permitted to be on duty or fly for more than six (6) consecutive days without a 24 consecutive hour rest period. 

This issue has gone back and forth between the FAA, the AFA, other Flight Attendant unions and various airlines for over a decade. On September 12, 2006 the FAA met with the Company and AFA MEC President, Mike Flores and directed the Company to comply with the FAR "expeditiously". The FAA cited numerous complaints from US Airways Flight Attendants as a partial explanation for their focus on US Airways. Within the past two years the FAA has required other airlines, notably Northwest and American, to comply with the FAR.

The FAA directive is going to have repercussions for all Flight Attendants and the Company. At the onset, the ability for reserves to use the ETB as they have in the past may be seriously jeopardized; restrictions placed on ETB pick ups for reserves may also limit the pool line holders can drop into; split trips may increase and month to month transition of reserve lines will be affected. 

Our contract contains many provisions that are based on a different interpretation than the FAA is now going to require. Unfortunately, FAR language and interpretation supersede contract language. 

The Union and the Company are both fully aware of the impact this directive will have on many Flight Attendants and we have agreed to work together to try to limit that impact for both the short and long-term. In order to begin complying with the FAA directive the Company has built the October reserve lines to contain no more than six (6) consecutive days on duty. Reserve line construction is the first step in the compliance process and the Company will meet with the negotiating committee and the MEC Reserve Chairperson, Sherri Baker, on Monday September 18th to begin discussions for other interim solutions. 

The negotiating committee will also address the long-term impact of this directive as we negotiate the reserve section in the merged contract negotiation. 

The Union is committed to ALL of our members as we react to the FAA directive. We will update you again after the Monday meeting.

Thank you,

The US Airways Master Executive Council 
AFA-CWA

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AFA Local Numbers

Council 40 PIT 724-695-3329
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

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