An American Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner approaches for a touchdown on the Miami Worldwide Airport on December 10, 2021 in Miami, Florida.
Joe Raedle | Getty Photographs
The union that represents American Airlines‘ pilots sued the service in federal courtroom Thursday to dam a program that encourages aviators to assist with simulator coaching, an initiative launched because the service races so as to add employees and meet sturdy journey demand.
The Fort Value, Texas-based airline requested line pilots to come back into one in all American’s coaching facilities on their days off to take part in pilots’ simulator classes, which is generally dealt with by specially-trained examine pilots. A examine airman would nonetheless conduct the analysis.
“As demand continues to develop and we proceed to rent, we have to increase our pilot coaching capabilities to a traditionally unprecedented stage,” mentioned Lyle Hogg, vp of flight operations coaching, in a be aware to pilots.
However the Allied Pilots Affiliation argued in its go well with, filed in U.S. District Court docket for the Northern District of Texas, that it might represent a change in work guidelines, which might require negotiation with the union.
“Administration proper now could be making up guidelines as they go alongside,” mentioned Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the union, which represents some 14,000 American Airways pilots. “They’re in a disaster to get pilots via coaching. They’re underwater attempting to get as many pilots via as attainable.”
The lawsuit comes as American and different carriers are scrambling to rent as many pilots as attainable as passengers return in droves.
Correction: American Airways pilots have been requested to take part in simulator classes on their days off. A earlier model of this story mischaracterized the pilots’ position within the trainings.
