APA Government Affairs Committee Chair FO Brian Bell talks about how the committee represents our pilots' interests on Capitol Hill. FO Bell cites the importance of contributing to the APA Political Action Committee, emphasizing that “it's your way to help me defend the profession.” He also characterizes the Benton House, APA's base of operations on Capitol Hill, as “one of the most useful tools in our toolkit” due to its proximity to the House and Senate office buildings.

Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Kevin Macelhaney, Aeromedical Committee Deputy Chair-Pilot Occupational Health, about the subcommittee's efforts to mitigate occupational hazards such as space weather, radiation, and fume events.

Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Aeromedical Committee Chair CA Rondeau Flynn about pilot mental health. CA Flynn details how APA's robust peer-support network helps our members navigate situations that can affect their mental health, and he emphasizes that mental health should be considered in the same light as physical health, with both existing along a spectrum.

Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Membership Committee Deputy Chair-Military Affairs Subcommittee CA Chris Krahulec and subcommittee member CA Josh Daneault about APA's support of its military pilots. The subcommittee's primary areas of focus: educate military pilots on their rights and responsibilities under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA); promote USERRA compliance by all parties, while ensuring adoption of any future changes in the statutes; ensure military members have the tools to properly interface with American Airlines on company requirements; and coordinate with the military affairs arms of other air carriers to address national issues. APA Military Affairs maintains a comprehensive, searchable manual on AlliedPilots.org for our military pilots.

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with Safety Committee Deputy Chair CA Casey Ronayne about how FOQA works to improve safety in two primary ways — through crew contacts to discuss variance events, and through aggregate data analysis to identify trends and emerging threats. CA Ronayne notes that unstable approaches, late configurations, and long landings are among the most common events the program addresses, and he emphasizes FOQA's non-punitive nature.

Each episode of “Positive Rate” features APA subject-matter experts working on the membership's behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download.

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Mike Madigan, Safety Committee Deputy Chair-Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). ASAP relies on voluntary self-disclosure of inadvertent violations and safety concerns and is nonpunitive. CA Madigan details ASAP's origins, the dramatic impact it has had on aviation safety, and the issues that pilots most frequently report.

In the latest episode of our “Positive Rate” podcast, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with FO Ken Hagan, Aeromedical Committee Deputy Chair-Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP). CIRP's mission is to lessen the psychological impact of on-the-job accidents and incidents on crewmembers and their families and to accelerate normal recovery from those events before harmful stress reactions damage job performance, careers, families, and health. FO Hagan details how the positive steps taken before and after a critical accident or incident will affect both short- and long-term physiological and psychological health.

Each episode of “Positive Rate” features APA subject-matter experts working on the membership's behalf. The podcast is available through popular streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can search for “Positive Rate” or “Allied Pilots Association” on your platform of choice to subscribe and download. Your first opportunity to listen will be via AlliedPilots.org/Podcasts.

Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with FO Pete Gillespie, Aeromedical Committee Deputy Chair-Project Wingman. FO Gillespie details the origins of Project Wingman and the vital role it plays in APA's peer-support network.

In this episode, Communications Committee Deputy Chair FO Melissa Monahan talks with CA Gavin Tade, who serves on the Safety Committee's Safety Operations Subcommittee. CA Tade enumerates the widely varying issues the subcommittee deals with such as tow bar breakages, the hazards that lithium batteries pose, aircraft damage through contact with catering and deicing trucks, and other operational concerns.