Airline Division Reminds Members to follow "Best Practices"
In light of the recent discovery of a passenger who traveled by air to the U.S. and has contracted the Ebola virus, the Airline Division would like to remind all members to follow the guidelines set forth by the CDC.
While the risk remains very low, it is incumbent on each of us to always be vigilant to prevent the spread of any infectious disease. Following common sense guidelines such as those developed by the CDC, and being vigilant are always the best bet.
For information on the CDC guidelines, visit the following link:
http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/air/managing-sick-travelers/ebola-guidance-airlines.html#personnel
NetJets Technicians and Related Discussions Update
Negotiations resumed this week with the committee working internally and making electronic passes with management. The committee did a complete review of all Open and T/A’d articles to date, then worked on and passed an opening proposal on Article 16 (Holidays) and a counter proposal on Article 26 (Furlough and Recall) back to management. The Committee also worked on a draft counter proposal of Article 27 (Shifts and Days Off), while management made a counter proposal on Article 29 (Field Service).
The Union and the Company will be working to set dates for the next round of talk.
United Contacting Passengers Who Flew on Flights with Infected Passenger
United Airlines said Thursday it is notifying passengers who were on flights with a man later diagnosed with Ebola and telling them how to contact federal health officials.
Discussing a company conference call for employees, SFO Ground Safety Representative Ralph Ortiz reported that United said the following:
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reiterated on conference calls Thursday with United employees that the customer who flew on United on Sept. 20 and was later diagnosed with Ebola had not yet experienced any symptoms of Ebola and was not contagious when he flew. As a result, there was no risk of infection from the patient to crew, customers or anyone he encountered during his travels.
Dr. Joanna Regan, Quarantine Medical Officer with the CDC Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Global Migration Ebola Task Force, on Thursday spoke with and answered questions from crew members who worked those flights, as well as employees from other work groups, on an informational call the United Corporate Medical department arranged.
Dr. Regan said that testing would only be beneficial if a person had symptoms consistent with Ebola, such as a fever or severe headache, muscle pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising, and had exposure to someone with the disease or recently traveled to a region experiencing an Ebola outbreak.
She said that testing was not indicated for anyone on the United flights, which is why the CDC was not contacting customers, employees or anyone who might have been in contact with the patient before he began exhibiting symptoms on Sept. 24.
On Wednesday, United said that the CDC had informed us that the patient diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. said he flew part of his trip from West Africa to the U.S. on United. Based on what the patient told the CDC, United believes the patient flew Flight 951 from BRU (Brussels) to IAD and Flight 822 from IAD to DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) on Sept. 20.
United will support any concerned crew member or employee who worked on these flights. While we extended help with medical testing, we learned from Dr. Regan on Thursday that testing wouldn’t be available nor useful for someone who didn’t have relevant symptoms. She said the CDC has found the time between exposure and the beginning of symptoms averaged eight to 10 days, but could be as few as two days or as many as 21 days. United Corporate Medical Director Pat Baylis will work with crew members or employees who worked these flights who still have questions or want qualified medical consultation.
During the call, Dr. Regan referred to information on the CDC’s website, for airline crews, cleaning personnel and cargo personnel.”
http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/air/managing-sick-travelers/ebola-guidance-airlines.html#personnel
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
NextGen costs have risen, funding has been disputed in Congress and airlines have been calling to see benefits of their equipage. Federal Aviation Administration chief Michael Huerta said long-term planning is difficult because of Congressional budget disputes that furloughed controllers briefly in 2013. The Government Accountability Office and the Transportation Department's inspector general's office warned that NextGen is costing more than anticipated and taking longer to implement than expected.
On Tuesday, the Airbus A350 received type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. "The A350-900 is now ready to fly from the nest and be enjoyed by airlines and passengers," said Fabrice Brégier, the president and CEO of Airbus. The A350 is still awaiting certification by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Federal Aviation Administration will require airlines to replace cockpit displays on Boeing 737 and 777 aircraft. The FAA estimates the industrywide cost of the replacements at close to $14 million.
Airlines, Industry and Labor
Allegiant Travel Company president and chief operating officer Andrew C. Levy has resigned from the company and from the Allegiant board, the company said Wednesday.
American Airlines Group has filed a petition with the U.S. Transportation Department to take over a Delta Air Lines flight slot at Haneda airport in Tokyo. Delta is using the slot for Seattle-Haneda service, but American has proposed Los Angeles-Haneda service instead.
Health officials have repeatedly stated that there that there was "zero risk of transmission" of Ebola during the flights earlier this month of the first patient in the U.S. with the disease. Jean Medina, spokeswoman for the U.S. trade group Airlines for America, said Ebola "is only contagious if the person is experiencing active symptoms. There is no need for panic. There is virtually no risk to air travelers, no matter where you fly." Airlines have procedures in place to monitor and respond to potential health threats, including guidelines to help identify and treat ill travelers and to clean planes.
Airbus plans to outfit the A350 with lithium batteries starting in 2016. The A350 recently received certification for nickel-cadmium batteries from European safety regulators.
Seaborne Airlines and United Airlines have forged an interline deal that allows customers traveling on both airlines to do so with the purchase of a single ticket. The deal connects the airlines at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Federal Express announced it has donated $250,000 to a community college in West Memphis, Ark., for a training program in aviation maintenance technology. Mid-South Community College plans to build a new building, which will be called the FedEx Aviation Technology Center, for the program.