An American Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner approaches for a touchdown on the Miami World Airport on December 10, 2021 in Miami, Florida.
Joe Raedle | Getty Pictures
The union that represents American Airways’ pilots sued the service in federal court docket Thursday to dam a program that encourages aviators to assist with simulator coaching, an initiative introduced because the service races so as to add team of workers and meet robust commute call for.
The Fortress Price, Texas-based airline requested line pilots to come back into considered one of American’s coaching facilities on their days off to take part in pilots’ simulator periods, which is most often treated via specially-trained take a look at pilots. A take a look at airman would nonetheless habits the analysis.
“As call for continues to develop and we proceed to rent, we want to enlarge our pilot coaching features to a traditionally remarkable stage,” mentioned Lyle Hogg, vice chairman 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 Courtroom for the Northern District of Texas, that it will represent a transformation in paintings laws, which will require negotiation with the union.
“Control at this time is making up laws as they pass alongside,” mentioned Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the union, which represents some 14,000 American Airways pilots. “They are in a disaster to get pilots thru coaching. They are underwater seeking to get as many pilots thru as conceivable.”
The lawsuit comes as American and different carriers are scrambling to rent as many pilots as conceivable as passengers go back in droves.
Correction: American Airways pilots have been requested to take part in simulator periods on their days off. A prior model of this tale mischaracterized the pilots’ function within the trainings.