American Airlines pilots raise 'serious safety concerns' about cockpit protocol.

Story by Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, Jan. 6, 2023

The Allied Pilots Association (APA) union representing American Airlines pilots has raised concerns about new cockpit procedures the airline implemented Tuesday, saying pilots had not been given adequate time or training to learn them.

While pilots would normally receive formal in-person or online training on procedural updates of this kind, Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Captain Dennis Tajer told USA TODAY in an interview that they only received a training bulletin (or handout), along with updates to the operating manual – which he estimated comprised 100 pages of reading between them – and a short video with a general overview of the changes that he says was not specific to the aircraft American pilots fly. The updates are designed to streamline pilot operations across the airline's fleet, according to Tajer.

"American Airlines Flight Operations management is attempting to circumvent robust safety-related pilot training by unilaterally imposing operational changes via bulletin," leaders from the APA, which represents 15,000 American Airlines pilots, said in a post on its website Monday. "While APA does not oppose fleet harmonization, we are steadfast in our commitment that pilots must be properly trained BEFORE operating with passengers.