Did You Know?

Did you know that each pilot group under the Local 1224 umbrella operates under its own leadership and committee structure? Local 1224 offers a very effective template for 21 Air union representation that your leadership and pilot committees can plug into.

Did you know that under the Local 1224 umbrella, the airline group’s Executive Council is largely responsible for committee oversight, determines what Committees are needed, and what members will sit on each Committee. (Newsletter - 11/2023)

Did you know that 21 Air Pilot Committees, under the Executive Council’s oversight, have the freedom to set their own path, but they also have the opportunity to share resources and participate jointly with Committee members from our other air carriers to share ideas and solve common issues. Call it CrossTalk.

Did you know that as a group represented by Teamsters Local 1224, your Executive Council has the flexibility to retain third-party experts as needed to accomplish goals as required by your pilot group? Unlike other Unions where subject matter experts are assigned to each group? For example, when the ABX pilots want to use a subject matter expert, we are free to seek out use the expert of our choosing. On the contrary, IBT sent aviation experts to UPS in Louisville to assist with the MD-11 accident investigation.

Did you know that almost half of every dues dollar ($0.47 as of June 2025) is allocated specifically for our own pilot group’s representation as directed by the Executive Council? The remaining portion is allocated to general overhead expenses that are shared by every carrier represented by Teamsters Local 1224 used to fund per overhead such as offices, utilities, staff and per capita fees for memberships to various organizations. Here we add airline support staff as necessary.

Did you know that Teamsters Local 1224 was a founding member of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Association (CAPA), an association dedicated to professional pilots' interest in aviation safety and security issues. CAPA not only lobbies as a singular voice on Capitol Hill, but to U.S. regulatory agencies, and state and local jurisdictions where we collectively believe our interests are at stake.

Did you know that through strong leadership, expertise and participation in more than a dozen industry working groups and aviation rulemaking committees (ARCs), Teamsters Local 1224 continues to be a respected sought-after voice on Capitol Hill. We routinely meet with the FAA and TSA Administrators, the NTSB, and even the US Secretary of Transportation. Legislatively, we are on Capitol Hill every day that congress is in session and meet with hundreds of Congressmen and Senators every year.

When Republic Airways filed a Petition for Exemption from 14 C.F.R. § 61.160(a) with the FAA, Teamsters Local 1224 submitted a public comment opposing Republic Airways’ request to allow pilots to operate its aircraft with half the flight experience hours currently required. The FAA denied Republic’s request, citing Local 1224’s comment in its decision.

Local 1224 members are represented at CAPA by:

• Local 1224 President Joe Muckle, who is a CAPA board member;

• Local 1224 Safety Coordinator and ABX Safety Committee Chair Russ Leighton, who serves as CAPA’s Vice President and Director of Safety; and

• Horizon Air’s Safety Committee Chair Jon Dodd, who serves as CAPA’s Director of Training.

Through CAPA, Teamsters Local 1224 members have a seat and a voice on ARCs, boards and other working groups that have a direct impact on safety, training and security issues across our industry. The following is a glimpse of those specific to safety and training that have recently been formed, as well as others that were initiated years ago, but for which we continued work in some capacity during 2022. For those interested in a deeper dive, click the “Learn More” button, where provided below, to get a more comprehensive look at each.

CAST (Learn More):

• Commercial Aviation Safety Team

• Aims to reduce U.S. commercial fatality risk by 50% from 2010 to 2025, and work with international partners to reduce risk worldwide.

CAST Executive Committee:

• This is the governance committee for CAST.

• CAPA was recently awarded a seat on this committee. AEB (Learn More):

• ASIAS (Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing) Executive Board

• Has drawn together a variety of safety data and information sources, pioneering advanced analytical capabilities to provide safety teams with enhanced insight into operations.

IAT:

• Issues Analysis Team

JIMDAT (Learn More):

• Joint Implementation Measurement Data Analysis Team

• JIMDAT manages the CAST Safety Portfolio.

• Monitors implementation and effectiveness, recommends modifications and identifies emerging risks.

JIMDAT Fatigue Working Group:

• Newly formed working group. CAST has directed the FAA to take another look at fatigue. Best practices at passenger and cargo carriers will be examined.

• Russ Leighton to serve as SME Approach and Landing Misalignment Joint Safety Analysis and Implementation Team (Learn More):

• Formed to advance the understanding of factors influencing misaligned approaches and landings, and recommend mitigations.

First Officer Qualifications Aviation Rulemaking Committee (Learn More):

• First chartered in 2010 to develop recommendations regarding rulemaking on flight experience and training requirements prior to operating as a First Officer in a Part 121 air carrier operation.

Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FAR 117) (Learn More):

• We continue work with the FAA on legal interpretations.

FAA Pilot Records Database Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) (Learn More):

• Chaired by Russ Leighton

FAR Part 135 Flight & Duty Time Limitations & Rest Requirements Aviation Rulemaking Committee:

• The final report was submitted more than a year ago. Awaiting action from the FAA. Air Carrier Training ARC (Learn More):

• The ACT ARC provides a forum for the United States aviation community to discuss, prioritize, and provide recommendations to the FAA concerning operations conducted under parts 121, 135, and 142. ARAC 135/142 TSWG (Learn More):

• Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee

FAR 135/142 Training Standardization Working Group

• TSWG membership includes representatives from training centers, aircraft manufacturers, operators, and aviation industry organizations.

• The TSWG was tasked to develop and recommend part 135 standardized curricula for each aircraft or series of aircraft, which includes the maneuvers, procedures, and functions to be performed during training and checking.