Rumor Control Update

December 24, 1999

[For those of you who have inquired about the Seniority Calculator at www.chipsplace.com, here is the story.... Yes, there was a calculator on this site that would return the number of pilots senior to you, each year, until your retirement date. The Seniority Calculator was a great application to approximate how you will progress up the seniority list as time goes by. Now the bad news.... This program used lots of date functions all of which have to know the current day and year. Silly me wrote the original program in Object Pascal several years ago using functions that will fail on 1/1/00. I am in the process of re-creating the code in Java (which I didn't know back then). This will take some time, but for now, I have included a list (below) of age 60 retirements through year 2035. If you want a "best case" only, just make the assumption that each pilot who retires each year is senior to you, and add up the numbers each year until your retirement date. Of course, this will not tell the absolute truth, because pilots junior to you are also listed in these numbers. When I finish the Seniority Calculator, it will give you the accurate number. ]

Because Trans States Airlines will not be operating in US Airways' western cities after December 28, management needed to find another code sharing partner in the west. Management would like to code share with American Eagle. This company operates the ATR-72 in a 64 seat configuration, but this turboprop is certificated for 72 seats. The US Airways pilot contract does not allow US Airways to code share with a carrier that flies aircraft certificated for more than 69 seats therefore, a waiver of the scope provisions in the US Airways contract will be required before this code sharing arrangement can begin.

The MEC's representatives recognize that feeder traffic is important to US Airways and are considering a special waiver for American Eagle operations only, which would conditionally allow US Airways to code share with American Eagle instead of Trans States. The conditions would limit the code share to turboprop aircraft in western states only, with an actual capacity of 69 or fewer seats.

As a quid pro quo, the MEC has specified several issues which are important to the pilot group. Discussions continue on this subject. Another MEC meeting may take place in early January to consider the outcome of those discussions.

MEC Chairman - Chris Beebe met with senior management recently to voice a number of concerns regarding several issues which are important to the pilot group. Captain Beebe was successful getting Management's attention and action has been taken in several areas. Here is a quick overview of many of the issues and some understandings reached:

Deadheading and Jumpseat

• Jumpseat for new hire pilots - may only travel on an A-1 priority and book one week prior using system. No more "P" priorities for to and from school.
• Deadheading Crews - agents will now pull seats in the emergency exit rows 20 minutes prior to departure so that deadheading crews will have emergency exit row seats available.
• Crew Movement - agents will receive a memo that crews deadheading home from training are must ride not just positive space.
• Jumpseat weight and balance - Management will review the policy for pilots from other airlines when aircraft is at max weight. Still under consideration by Management.

Crew Tracking

• Task Force - Management will form a pilot/management task force to reconsider the decision to remove field crew services personnel. Management has agreed to delay action for two months pending outcome of task force discussions.

Reserve Rules

• Reserve Rest Rules - Management has agreed to allow reserve pilots to bid for their PT rest periods based on seniority. Procedures being developed. Management agrees that rest period may only be moved one time in a 24 hour period. Will give 2 hours notice to move earlier and may only move rest period by 2 hours. ALPA and Management are developing a side-letter to frame agreement.

Scheduling

• Definition of "adequate coverage" - discussions will take place to determine a definition of "adequate coverage."
• Flight Operations Task Force - Management agreed to allow a pilot/management task force to study several issues and create recommendations. ALPA task force members will observe crew scheduling and management members will observe ALPA hotline. ALPA will review all crew scheduling training manuals. Task Force will study the ratio of "R" reserves to "S" reserves and develop recommendation for a ratio that will provide necessary crew coverage.
• Staffing Levels in Crew Scheduling - hiring underway.

Grievance

• Fly-now, Pay-later - Management has agreed to ALPA's position. Now, if a pilot flies the monthly maximum, the pilot will still be pay credited for any grievance settlements made in the pilot's favor.

More

• Other issues are being addressed as the quid pro quo for an American Eagle code sharing arrangement. A side-letter is in the works and will be available at a later date.

To infinity and beyond......

Here are age 60 retirements for the next 35 years. This includes pilots hired through November 8, 1999. Merry Christmas.

2000 = 121

2001 = 82

2002 = 113

2003 = 119

2004 = 134

2005 = 159

2006 = 228

2007 = 290

2008 = 206

2009 = 248

2010 = 199

2011 = 272

2012 = 277

2013 = 320

2014 = 305

2015 = 317

2016 = 304

2017 = 255

2018 = 277

2019 = 209

2020 = 230

2021 = 171

2022 = 163

2023 = 129

2024 = 114

2025 = 91

2026 = 86

2027 = 86

2028 = 98

2029 = 58

2030 = 49

2031 = 49

2032 = 50

2033 = 26

2034 = 13

2035 = 4