Allied Pilots Association Accuses American Airlines of Harassment Against Pilots Who Voice Safety Concerns.

Business Editors

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2002

The Allied Pilots Association (APA) strongly believes that American Airlines (NYSE: AMR) is discriminating against and harassing pilots who are critical of American's commitment to safety. The issues include American's safety record, pilot fatigue, security, regulatory compliance, and the unexplained crash of an Airbus A300.

Recently, several APA officials were subjected to "investigative hearings" convened by flight department managers who objected to the union representatives wearing of their pilot uniforms during media appearances.

"American's focus on our uniforms is nothing more than an attempt to intimidate our representatives and silence our safety concerns," said Captain John Darrah, APA President. "It will only serve to undermine prospects for an improved relationship with management."

American Airlines' pilots have a decades-long history of wearing their pilot uniforms in a wide variety of situations such as speaking with the news media, negotiating with management, lobbying elected officials, and attending other high-profile events such as weddings and funerals. In legal parlance, the effect of "past practice" overrides the applicability of any published rule unless APA and American Airlines agree to change the status quo during contract negotiations.

Captain Rich Rubin, a 22-year veteran of American Airlines and chairman of APA's Flight Time/Duty Time Committee, has been one of the airline's most vocal critics. Last summer, Captain Rubin filed a Whistleblower complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Labor (DOL). His complaint alleged that American was manipulating flight schedules to avoid an FAA requirement to add relief pilots on flights to Hawaii, and that he was receiving harassment and threats from American in retaliation for voicing concerns.

American Airlines agreed to a settlement on January 17, 2002 after the DOL concluded its investigation. The terms of the settlement required American to display copies of the FAA's Whistleblower Program poster on employee bulletin boards and to send Captain Rubin a letter that affirmed the rights of all of the carrier's pilots to voice safety concerns without repercussion.

On January 18, 2002, Captain Rubin and two other pilots protested outside the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington while the court considered an airline industry lawsuit to block strict rules on limiting a pilot's workday to 16 hours. Subsequently, Captain Rubin was instructed to attend an investigative hearing at the Miami flight office for appearing in uniform. He then received a formal notice that a Permanent Discussion Record marked DO NOT REMOVE was being placed in his personnel file.

Captain Sam Mayer is the Vice Chairman of the union's New York Domicile and Chairman of APA's Communications Committee. Last month Captain Mayer received a notice from American Airlines that a letter of discipline was being placed in his personnel file because he had appeared in uniform during a television interview about the crash of AA Flight 587.

"It is truly a sorry state of affairs when our pilots are being subject to discipline for speaking out about their very real safety concerns for our passengers and our crews," said Captain Mayer. "If American Airlines truly had the commitment to safety that they claim, their time would be better spent developing inspection methods for carbon fiber composites, instead of disciplining their pilots for appearing on television in uniform."

"Our voice concerning safety issues at American Airlines will not be silenced by discrimination, threats, or the unfair prosecution of our representatives," said Captain Darrah. "American Airlines should focus on fixing the problems, instead of attempting to silence the messengers."

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.