Spirit Airlines flight attendants file for federal mediation of talks

The latest manifestation of the ongoing poor relations between Spirit Airlines crew members and management: The flight attendants at Spirit Airlines are filing for federal mediation of their contract negotiations.  The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), which represents Spirit's cabin crew, will file their petition tomorrow with the National Mediation Board (NMB).

The present contract between Spirit and the flight attendants became amendable in November of 2007. Although union representatives and Spirit management have met several times since then, union officials say that the carrier's management "continues to come to the table without a single proposal." The union has requested a federal mediator  in order to obtain management's active participation in the negotiations process, as required by statute.

"After continued negotiations, little progress has been made and management continues to be disrespectful at the bargaining table," said Deborah Crowley, AFA-CWA Spirit President. "For the second time this year, airline management has come to the table unprepared and it is time that their stall tactics and inconsiderate behavior come to an end. We look forward to having the NMB appoint a mediator who will help move negotiations forward."

Video tribute to the crew of Colgan Air Flight 3407

This video memorializes the crew of Colgan Air Flight 3407, who perished along with 45 others when their aircraft crashed while on approach to Buffalo on February 12, 2009. Captain Marvin Renslow, First Officer Rebecca Shaw, Flight Attendant Matilda Quintero, and Flight Attendant Donna Prisco were working the flight; off-duty Captain Joseph Zuffoletto was a passenger. The video is a nice reminder that those five crew members were real people with real lives -- not just names on an accident report.



If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.

Hat tips to YouTube user tdonohue and Twitter user @FoxWhisperer.

RELATED: Click here to view all posts about Colgan Air Flt 3407 on Aircrew Buzz.

US Airways pilots want contract talks mediated

The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), which represents over 5,000 US Airways pilots, has proposed that USAPA and US Airways management "jointly seek a facilitator utilizing the services of the National Mediation Board to assist the parties in reaching an agreement." US Airways management and the pilots have been engaged in contract negotiations for more than three years.

"We are in the quagmire of a seemingly endless contract negotiation that has not served our pilots or our company well. It is long past time to end the stagnation," said USAPA President Steve Bradford.

The US Airways pilots entered contract negotiations with management in November 2005 under the terms of a Transition Agreement at the time of the US Airways and America West merger. Union leaders have said repeatedly that unresolved contract issues have created "confusion, inefficiencies and severe morale problems that carry over into the airline’s operation."

At the outset of the contract negotiations, US Airways pilots were represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). In April of 2008, the pilots voted to have USAPA replace ALPA as their collective bargaining unit.

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants have a tentative contract

Flight attendants and management at Hawaiian Airlines have reached a tentative agreement (TA) on a proposed new contract. The TA was announced yesterday by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), which represents Hawaiian flight attendants.

"In these challenging times, Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants need a
stable contract they can count on," said Sharon Soper, AFA-CWA Hawaiian President. "We are pleased that we could work collaboratively with Hawaiian's management team to quickly reach an agreement  that provides stability for our members and our company during these turbulent times. We feel that this tentative agreement reflects the needs and concerns the flight attendants have expressed. Our members will now evaluate whether this tentative
agreement and the associated changes are in their best interests and
vote accordingly."

According to the flight attendants' union, the proposed agreement would extend the current contract for two more years and includes improved wages and bonus compensation for Hawaiian Airlines cabin crew while providing some provisions to help the company maintain its operational excellence. The tentative agreement will be sent out for membership review and a voting schedule will be determined.

UPDATE Apr. 1, 2009: Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants ratify contract

Turkish Airlines identifies crew members who died in Flight TK 1951 accident

Three pilots and one flight attendant were among the nine fatalities in the crash of Turkish Airlines Flight TK 1951 at Amsterdam on February 25, 2009.  Turkish Airlines has officially identified the crew members who perished in the accident, as follows:

• Hasan Tahsin ARISAN - Pilot
• Olgay ÖZGÜR - Pilot
• Murat SEZER - Pilot
• Ulvi Murat ESKİN - Flight Attendant

Condolences to the families, flying partners, and friends of these Turkish Airlines crew members.

RELATED: Click here to view all posts about THY Flt 1951 on Aircrew Buzz.

Boeing employees among casualties in Turkish Airlines accident at Amsterdam

A short time ago, Boeing released the following statement to the media:

Boeing today received confirmation from the U.S. State Department that two Boeing employees have been identified as among the fatalities from this week's Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 accident in Amsterdam. Boeing extends its deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues. A third Boeing employee on Flight 1951 sustained injuries and remains hospitalized. The company is awaiting official notification about the condition of the fourth employee on the flight. Boeing remains committed to supporting the families of our employees through this very difficult time. Given the pending information, and at the request of some of the affected families, the specific condition of each employee on the airplane isn't being released by Boeing at this time.

"This is a very sad day for our company," Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues' families, friends and co-workers and with the families of everyone who was on the flight."

UPDATE Feb. 27, 2009: Today Boeing confirmed that a third employee who was a passenger on Flight TK 1951 has died. The company also named all four Boeing employees who were on board the accident aircraft:

...With the consent of the affected families, Boeing confirms the names and conditions of the four Boeing employees on Flight 1951. Three employees - Ronald A. Richey of Duvall, Wash., John Salman of Kent, Wash., and Ricky E. Wilson of Clinton, Wash. - died in the crash. One employee - Michael T. Hemmer of Federal Way, Wash. - was among the injured and remains hospitalized.

Condolences to the families, colleagues and friends of those who lost their lives in the accident. Best wishes to Mr. Hemmer for a speedy and complete recovery from his injuries.

Related:  Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 accident near Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam - AircrewBuzz.com, Feb. 25, 2009

410 American Airlines flight attendants face furloughs

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), the union representing cabin crew at American Airlines, has notified its membership that 410 of its most junior members are subject to furlough effective April 1, 2009. According to a message on the APFA Hotline, the union was told today by Lauri Curtis, American’s Vice President of Flight Service, that "despite the attempts over the last several months to accommodate the Flight Attendant manning overages caused by schedule reductions and reduced passenger loads, the company has been unable to sufficiently absorb the expected additional Flight Attendant headcount."

APFA said to its members, "We are extremely disappointed that the company has had to resort to this action, though are hopeful that through the contractual procedures of Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying proffers, and the re-offering of the Travel Separation Program, the overage will be reduced or eliminated through voluntary means and will thereby reduce, or eliminate, any layoffs."

The APFA leadership has been working with the airline on mitigation efforts ever since last summer when American first announced a need to reduce its flight attendant head count in conjunction with its planned capacity reduction.

The union says that Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying will be proffered again, in accordance with the contract between the flight attendants and the airline. In addition, the airline is renewing the offer of the Travel Separation Program to eligible flight attendants. The union leadership retains the hope that the number of potential furloughs can be significantly mitigated through the various voluntary methods.

On the subject of current furloughees, the APFA Hotline message goes on to say:

We know that, as uncomfortable the prospect of potential layoff is to our most junior members, it also further delays the hoped-for return to work of those presently furloughed. Recognizing this, and the ongoing uncertainty faced by our furloughees, the APFA Board of Directors has achieved and unanimously approved an extension of the recall rights of those currently furloughed Flight Attendants by an additional two years, and an offer to them of a special Travel Separation Program. These Flight Attendants will receive a letter from the Company soon with more information and instructions.

Meanwhile, contract talks between the APFA and American Airlines, which began in May of last year, are set to resume on March 10, mediated by the U.S. National Mediation Board.

UPDATE Mar. 11, 2009: American Airlines to furlough 323 flight attendants

Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 accident near Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam

A Turkish Airlines (THY) Boeing 737-800 aircraft (registration T-CJGE) crashed while on approach to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport this morning, February 25, 2009. THY Flight TK 1951 was arriving at Amsterdam on a scheduled passenger flight from Istanbul at the time of the accident. According to information provided by the airline, there were seven crew members and 127 passengers on board at the time of the accident.

Turkish Airlines confirms nine fatalities and 50 injured, although several news reports, quoting Dutch officials, have said approximately 80 were injured. Three crew members are said to be among the fatalities.

At the time of the accident, the aircraft was on final approach to runway 18R at Schiphol. It impacted an agricultural field approximately a mile short of the runway threshold. Eyewitnesses claimed that the aircraft hit tail first, but this has not been officially confirmed. News photos of the accident scene do, however, show very significant damage to the empennage. The fuselage of the aircraft reportedly split into three sections. There was no fire.

The Dutch Safety Board has confirmed that both the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Flight Data Recorder have been recovered from the accident aircraft.

A list of the names of the crew and passengers on Flight TK 1951 has been made available on the Turkish Airlines website.

More information about this accident will be posted on Aircrew Buzz as it becomes available.

[Photo Source]

UPDATE Feb. 26, 2009: Aviation news website FlightGlobal.com, quoting investigators from the Dutch Safety Board, is reporting that "none of the three cockpit personnel survived the accident." They were described as two pilots and an 'apprentice'.

Also reported: that approximately 10 minutes before impact, Dutch controllers instructed the 737 to proceed to the SPY navaid, around 12nm (22km) northeast of the runway and descend to 4,000ft ahead of an instrument landing system approach."

Approximately three minutes before the crash, "controllers told the crew to make a left turn, heading 210°, and cleared the flight for the approach to 18R, before instructing the pilots to contact the Schiphol tower frequency."

...the investigators have noted the apparent "very low forward speed" of the aircraft, and the fact that there are "hardly any tracks" in the field where the jet came to rest. The aircraft appears to have "hit with the tail" and left a "very short trail" of debris.

The number of those injured now stands at 86, with six of those in critical condition.

Related:

• Boeing employees among casualties in Turkish Airlines accident at Amsterdam - Feb. 26, 2009
• Turkish Airlines identifies crew members who died in Flight TK 1951 accident - Feb. 27, 2009
• Dutch Safety Board's preliminary report on the Turkish Airlines crash at Amsterdam - Mar. 4, 2009
• Boeing issues warning to B-737 operators, due to accident investigation findings - Mar. 4, 2009

Click here to view all posts about THY Flt 1951 on Aircrew Buzz.