September 16, 1999 Hotline

  Sept. 16, 1999


Vacation Cancellations
Crew Resources has been asking pilots to voluntarily give up their vacations, in
compliance with the contract. However, the MEC urges pilots to refuse voluntary vacation
cancellations for a number of reasons. First, as a pilot, you have worked hard for your
vacation and you deserve the time off. Second, selling back your vacation does nothing but
help the company solve a long-term problem with a short-term answer. The company’s
staffing problems should not be solved by pilots giving up their vacations. The company
needs to determine other solutions to their problems. And third, selling back your
vacation will not help this pilot group collectively, but rather could hurt us when
Contract 2000 negotiations begin. So, I advise all pilots considering this, to seriously
think about the potential consequences of your actions.

System Board Executive Session

During the session, ALPA made a motion
to introduce additional, compelling information pertaining to the Ed Sherman case. Over
the company’s objections, the arbitrator agreed to hold a hearing on whether he
should accept the introduction of the new information. His final decision on the case is
expected before the end of the millenium. At that time, the case will be closed.

Compuserve 2000

CompuServe is still developing and
testing CompuServe 2000 to make sure it is compatible with the Airline Crew Forums and
home access software such as Maestro Home Access and SBS Track.

CompuServe is actively pursuing the
integration of Maestro with the Compuserve 2000 network and service, and it hopes to have
it available in the first quarter of 2000.

Meanwhile, if you want to continue
using Maestro Home Access or SBS Track, you should NOT sign up for CompuServe 2000.

We will let you know when CompuServe
2000 will work for our crewmembers.

New ALPA Message Boards

ALPA’s message board system
includes a message board just for America West pilots, as well as a message board where
you can interact and post messages with ALPA members at other airlines. Messages posted to
the ALPA forums are not edited or manipulated in any way.

To access the forums, go to
www.alpa.org, click on “members only,” and then log-in. You will use your ALPA
number and the same password that you use to log-in to the MEC web site at www.
awalpa.org. Once you have logged in, click on the “message boards” link at the
top of the page. You will find that ALPA’s message boards are extremely easy to use
and offer a number of options to pilots not available on the compuserve forums.

New SafetyNet

Local Council Meeting

I encourage all pilots in good standing
to attend.

United Way Campaign

Family Awareness Social Event

Our committed volunteer Frank Helton is
concerned that too few of you are signing up, so he is personally going to put a flyer in
every pilot mailbox. I tried to explain to Frank that pilots won’t commit to anything
until the last minute, but he didn’t take that well. Save Frank some back breaking
work. Call Sandi at the MEC office no later than October 6.

That ‘s the hotline for this week.
The next scheduled hotline update will be Thursday, September 23. Thanks for listening.

  • Vacation Cancellations
  • System Board Executive Session
  • Compuserve 2000
  • New ALPA Message Boards
  • New SafetyNet
  • Local Council Meeting
  • United Way Campaign
  • Family Awareness Social Event

  MEC Hotline
This is MEC Chairman Roger Cox with the MEC
hotline for Thursday, September 16, 1999. Tonight’s topics are:


The System Board held its Executive Session last Friday, September 10 in San Diego.
Anthony Sinicroppi was the arbitrator.


Many pilots have asked about whether or not they can use the new CompuServe 2000 software
package.


As a reminder, ALPA has replaced the Compuserve forums with an enhanced message board
system on the ALPA web site. Although the old America West forum is still available on
compuserve, ALPA has terminated its support of all of the Compuserve forums, and we
encourage pilots to begin using the new ALPA forums.


A new issue of SafetyNet concerning safe scheduling parameters has been distributed
to all pilot T4 mailboxes. Our Scheduling and Central Air Safety Committees revisit the
subject of safe schedule parameters and give examples of actual trip pairings which
violate those parameters. Remember, you are the final judge of your own fitness to fly.

A local council meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 29 from 6pm to 10pm, at the
Best Western Grace Inn in Ahwatukee. In addition to council business, a special tribute is
planned for Captain Frank Shine. Capt. Shine, who served as the MEC chairman from June 1,
1995 until February 29, 1996, is scheduled to retire on September 25. He has been an
America West pilot since January 1987.


America West has begun its 1999 United Way campaign. I encourage pilots to help meet our
goal of $513,000. Already, the company is half way there. Contribution forms are available
in the Chief Pilot’s office. You can make your contribution either as a one-time gift
with your check or cash attached to your contribution form, or as a payroll deduction over
the next year. Last year only a small minority of our pilots contributed to United Way. We
can do better. In fact, over 150 pilots have already signed up this year. For those of you
who contributed last year, remember, you must reauthorize your deduction each year. For
more information, contact the Chief Pilot’s office.

All members in good standing and their families are invited to our second Family Awareness
get-together on October 13 from 5pm to 9pm, at the Confederate Air Force Hangar at Mesa
Falcon Field. Refreshments will be served, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, and bratwurst.
Admission is free to pilots and their families.