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        You are here: Home / Archives for training

        Recurrent Training 2020 – Part 2

        January 23, 2020 20:00

        The Recurrent Training (RT) program for 2020 was unveiled with many significant changes: two days rather than one, verbatim drills, instructor vs. evaluator, the list goes on. Unfortunately, what we didn’t expect was how disorganized and unprepared Inflight Training management would be in delivering this new program. In our last communication about Recurrent Training (January 16, 2020), AFA informed Flight Attendants of the approved exceptions to the “verbatim” evacuation commands when management was unwilling to communicate. Why is management reluctant to be forthright and honest? Management should be held to the same standards they expect us to uphold.

        Communication from management to the Flight Attendants has been abysmal at best. The core value of “Deliver Performance” in the Company’s Service Framework says, “I’m accountable and responsible for the success of the operation.” This is followed by, “know and perform my role,” “execute operational timelines,” “use time and resources wisely” and “collaborate across roles to ensure the team’s success.” Management has missed the mark on each. The same value states, “I take initiative to provide accurate and timely information,” which management has failed to do since the chaos of RT 2020 started. Management can keep throwing apologies out, but there is no accountability and no repercussions for them despite the many consequences Flight Attendants have experienced as a result of management’s actions.

        Did you know that Instructors have been required to go through up to three different “calibration trainings” due to changing expectations, unclear standards and poor communication? Training materials are constantly being updated for Flight Attendants and Instructors sometimes after class begins, which could mean the difference between a successful or unsuccessful drill. Training management has also been unclear in their communications with base leadership and scheduling leadership, which has set those leadership groups up for being unable to help Flight Attendants or answer their questions.

        Failure rates for the drill evaluations in some locations have been as high as 45%. What is meant by a failure rate? You have two attempts at each evaluation to successfully complete the drill. If you do not pass those two attempts, then you are allowed to complete RT but immediately pulled off the line and your Known Crewmember (KCM) access and jumpseating privileges are revoked until you go through remediation training and successfully pass the drill. More information about remediation training and the associated “Special Track” training program will be shared in the next RT communication, which will be published by AFA tomorrow.

        We cannot continue RT 2020 on this track. With change there is understandably some stress attached. However, the level of stress added to both Flight Attendants and Instructors is out of control, and something needs to be done. Vice President of Inflight Ron Calvin and his team need to come together and make things right. This was their mess to begin with, and they are not meeting the same standards of near perfection they require from our workgroup. Management can and must do better.

        The MEC requested a meeting with management as soon as possible to discuss these failures, and we are hoping management will meet with us next Tuesday. We want management to acknowledge the poor development of RT 2020 drill evaluations, the abysmal execution of the program so far, and the lack of communication and lack of transparency that has caused so much angst amongst our group. What will be done to rectify this unacceptable situation?

        To be clear, the MEC takes issue with management in this debacle. We fully support our Instructors and their desire to provide a neutral, fair and supportive environment at each training location.

        Stay tuned for the next RT update tomorrow!

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Matt Cook, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

        Filed Under: Inflight Training Committee, Latest News Tagged With: 2020, recurrent training, RT, training

        July Newsletter

        July 18, 2018 13:30


        Transition Training


        Transition Training began last week.  Despite recent updates to the Cornerstone Training program, we are still receiving reports of technical difficulties with both the app and the desktop version.  If you experience trouble, go to https://support.afaalaska.org, and open a ticket.  We would encourage you to start early, to avoid problems.

        We are also aware it is taking longer than 4 hours to complete. Please make sure to include that in your trouble ticket above.

        The most important thing with any computer or IMD Training, screen shot or take a picture of the completion page. Do not rely on the program to register you as completed.  If it does not show you as completed, we need some sort of evidence to be able to manually process your completion.

        When taking the test remember it is open book and you can take it from your IMD or from a computer. To make the test easier to complete have your Manual, Ghost Manual and Study Guide open on one device and the test open in a separate device so you don’t have to switch back and forth. In the event that you fail the test, you will receive an email advising you that you have 7 days after class ends to retake a paper version.  You can take the paper version during lunch break at TT or schedule to take it at base.

        You can find the Ghost Manual on the Training Tab – Transition Training Resources – “Ghost Manual”

        The Ghost Manual is the combined manual we will be using starting next year.

        Practice your door drills, take a deep breath and go slow. The training is very hands on, try not to stress to much.

         


        CBT Training


        The most recent CBT training was due May 11, 2018.  There were 13 Flight Attendants issued discipline because of failure to complete the training.  Several of these disciplines have been rescinded after AFA was able to determine why the training had not been completed.  If you were issued discipline and have not responded to our attempts to reach you, or you have email or screen shots showing your technical difficulties with the program please contact San@afaalaska.org. There is a possibility of getting the discipline reversed.

         


        Required Items


        In a recent bulletin, Inflight Performance announced that forgotten required items will result in steps of discipline.  We are aware of several recent instances of expired badges, as well as reporting without an IMD.  Make certain that you have all required items before reporting to your flight.

         


        EAP Committee


        We recently posted openings for EAP representatives.  We were overwhelmed by the number of Flight Attendants who expressed interest.  We reviewed the applications and chose 3 flight attendants to join our EAP Committee. We will be looking again at the beginning of the year and will be contacting those who were not selected to gauge interest and open it to anyone interested to apply again including hopefully Flight Attendants on the Airbus side who will have been able to transfer into SAN.

         


        Supplemental Insurance


        Supplemental Insurance Enrollment, through National Group Protection, will take place during the week of 8/14-16, in SAN.  The premiums for these coverages can be payroll deducted.  If SAN isn’t a convenient location, drop into any base during scheduled visits.

        · Seattle                July 23rd—27th  

        · Anchorage         July 30th–August 1st

        · Los Angeles       August 6th—8th

        · San Diego          August 14th—16th

        · Portland              August 20th—22nd

        Accident Insurance

        Critical Illness Coverage

        Whole Life Insurance

        There are some benefit enhancements/upgrades this year, so please take the time to sit down with a benefit counselor and review your options.  This is also an excellent time to make sure you have filed for your annual health screening benefits, which are part of the accident and critical illness benefit plans.

        ·       Supplemental – these plans supplement any existing coverage

        ·       Voluntary – members choose to participate

        ·       Limited Underwriting – no medical or physical exams required

        ·       Family Coverage – available with all of the plans

        ·       Portable – members can continue coverage if they leave the company

        ·       Payroll Deduction – premiums are paid through payroll deduction

        If you have any questions regarding the upcoming enrollment, please contact National Group Protection (NGP) at 800-344-9016.

         


        Workers Comp Using Your Own Doctor


        Non California Residents

        Forms can be obtained from Base Management or from your Officers

        In the event you sustain an injury or illness related to your employment, you may be treated for such injury or illness by your personal medical doctor (M.D.), doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) or medical group if:

        • on the date of your work injury you have health care coverage for injuries or illnesses that are not work related;

        • the doctor is your regular physician, who shall be either a physician who has limited his or her practice of medicine to general practice or who is a board-certified or board-eligible internist, pediatrician, obstetrician-gynecologist, or family practitioner, and has previously directed your medical treatment, and retains your medical records;

        • your “personal physician” may be a medical group if it is a single corporation or partnership composed of licensed Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy, which operates an integrated multispecialty medical group providing comprehensive medical services predominantly for nonoccupational illnesses and injuries;

        • prior to the injury your doctor agrees to treat you for work injuries or illnesses;

        • prior to the injury you provided your employer the following in writing: (1) notice that you want your personal doctor to treat you for a work-related injury or illness, and (2) your personal doctor’s name and business address.

        Filed Under: Council 15 SAN Tagged With: CBT, EAP, July Newsletter, Required, supplemental, training, TT

        Introducing Your Inflight Training Committee

        January 25, 2018 17:00

        Your Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews last week for three positons for the new Inflight Training Committee: one chairperson position and two committee member positions. The MEC would like to thank the candidates who demonstrated willingness to represent our Flight Attendants. After thorough deliberation, the MEC has appointed Megan Brown to the chairperson position and Steven Vincent and Samuel Clifton to the committee member positions.

        About The Committee Members

        Megan Brown, Inflight Training Committee Chairperson

        Megan started her Flight Attendant career in 1991.  After Flight 261, she decided to get involved with the AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  She spent 10 years as the Local EAP Chair/Co-Chair for Council 19 in Seattle.  In 2004, she joined the inflight training department where she was an initial instructor and recurrent instructor, which she enjoyed.  In 2016, Megan stepped out of the classroom, but continued to support training by performing Probationary Observations and IOEs. She has recently stepped back into the classroom and hopes to support Flight Attendants’ training needs and concerns.

        Megan’s greatest accomplishment is her son, Zane.  When she’s not flying, she spends her time with her family.  She looks forward to learning and supporting her fellow coworkers in her work with AFA.

        Steven Vincent, Inflight Training Committee Member

        Steven attended initial training in June 1981.  He initially became involved with AFA just after probation, starting with involvement on the Safety Committee.  He also became the chairperson of the AFA International Aircraft Technical Committee immediately after probation. In this role he worked with Regulatory committees and Aircraft Manufactures. He also provided accident support for the International committee and the member airlines representing AFA Flight Attendants.

        In 1983, he joined the training department in preparation for the MD-80 aircraft arrival. He has worked on development and presenting training for the MD-80, 737-400 and Russian extended overwater flying for 727-200, MD-80 and support for ETOPS certification of the 737. He also has conducted Initial training since mid-80s.

        Previously, Steve participated in the development and implementation of merger training for pre-merger Jet America Flight Attendants. In Alaska/Virgin America merger, he has supported pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants by participating in the blending of emergency procedures, manuals and training for FAM revision cycle 4 in SFO.

        In this new role, Steve hopes to represent the entire membership as we merge to become one Flight Attendant group.

        Samuel Clifton, Inflight Training Committee Member

        Sam has been with Virgin America since May 2007 as an Inflight Team Leader and Inflight Instructor, mainly teaching recurrent training but has also taught several new hire training classes.

        Prior to working at Virgin America, Sam worked at American Trans Air (ATA) from 1989 through 2007.  While at ATA, he was a Flight Attendant and also taught recurrent training throughout the system.  He was an active member of AFA and served on the LEC Informational Committee during contract negotiations.

        From 1986-1989 Sam served in the United States Air Force as a C-5 Aircraft Crew Chief.

        Sam has always had the aviation bug!  When not working he enjoys being at home in the Bay Area taking his miniature Australian Shepherd for walks on the Bay Trail.  Something interesting about Sam is he has a small collection of vintage Barbies ranging from 1959-1968.

        He is extremely excited to be serving on the Inflight Training Committee and hopes to be a strong voice for his fellow instructors.

        About The Inflight Training Committee

        The Inflight Training Committee is an MEC-level committee responsible for working with management to advocate for Flight Attendant interests in all matters pertaining to Flight Attendant training programs and to represent the unique needs and interests of Flight Attendants who are involved in Flight Attendant Initial and/or Recurrent Training and training-related special projects.  Additional information about the Inflight Training Committee can be found at http://afaalaska.org/inflighttraining.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

        Filed Under: Inflight Training Committee, Latest News Tagged With: 2018, committee appointments, inflight training, inflight training committee, training

        CourseMill App/Recurrent Training 2017 Homestudy

        January 3, 2017 12:00

        Happy New Year to all! If you are a January 2017 Recurrent Training (RT) student, the new year may not feel quite so happy as it could be due to problems with downloading the now-infamous courses #2 and #5 on the CourseMill App. AFA has made numerous attempts to get clear direction from Inflight management regarding how to fix the app; unfortunately, they have failed to respond to many of our inquiries or else have given unsatisfactory responses the few times when they have actually gotten back to us. We know it has been the holidays and all, but seriously?!

        This is the fix management currently has posted in alerts on the Inflight Webpage under “Training”:

        “If you are having trouble downloading your 2017 Recurrent Training mobile courses 002 or 005, please try the following: 

        • Ensure you have good Wi-Fi connectivity
        • Delete the CourseMill app (Hold down icon and tap the “x”)
        • Reinstall the CourseMill app from the Apple App Store
        • Enter your activation code when you re-launch the app (the IT Help Desk or a member of inflight management can look up your activation code)
        • When it prompts you to download all of your courses again, select “No”. Then, click on course 002 and download it individually. Do the same with course 005
        • When downloading the courses, make sure the screen doesn’t turn off, by periodically touching it to keep it “awake”
        • Courses 002/005 may still crash, however if you try deleting and reinstalling the app again, you should be able to get through both courses
        • If you want to view previous courses you’ve already completed, you can then choose to download those courses as well; you won’t lose any saved information of previous courses you’ve already completed

        Thank you for your patience as we work on this issue.

        Inflight Training”

        AFA does not endorse the proposed fix, but we have some anecdotal reports that it has worked for some Flight Attendants. All the excessive time spent uninstalling, reinstalling and downloading is unacceptable. AFA presently has an open grievance regarding this issue, which we are attempting to arbitrate in February.

        We have been informed that any Flight Attendant who shows up to Recurrent Training without his or her 2017 RT electronic homestudy completed will be asked to leave class without pay. AFA will continue to advocate for Flight Attendants who are unable to complete training due to a CourseMill app failure.

        In the meantime, please email and/or call inflight Training management or the Mobile Help Desk to get your CourseMill app working.

        Lisa.McCarroll@alaskaair.com or 206-392-6251

        Jennifer.Sovey@alaskaair.com or 206-392-6491

        Amanda.Westendorf@alaskaair.com or 253-569-6977

        Psalm.Terry@alaskaair.com

        Ranjita.Prasad@alaskaair.com

        Mobile Help Desk: 1-877-238-1077, option 4 or support@enterprisemobile.com.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

        Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: 2017, CourseMill, recurrent, training

        Side Letter of Agreement CBA §30.E. [Trainers Performing Probationary Observation Flights or Initial Operating Experiences (IOEs)]

        May 9, 2016 12:00

        Your AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) and Alaska Airlines management have entered into a side letter of agreement that allows qualified Flight Attendant Trainers to certify Initial Operating Experiences (IOEs) for Flight Attendant trainees.

         

        A copy of the side letter of agreement (signatures pending) can be found by clicking here. You may also find the agreement on the “contract” page of the AFA Alaska website: http://afaalaska.org/contract.

         

        Previously only management employees holding a Flight Attendant-qualified FAA certificate could certify IOEs for trainees. This agreement modifies §CBA 30.E [Trainers Performing Probationary Observation Flights], which already provided for Trainers to conduct Probationary Observation Flights, and incorporates IOEs into that provision.

         

        This side letter of agreement was supported by our Flight Attendant Trainers and developed with input from that group. The major benefit of the agreement is that a larger pool of certifying personnel allows IOEs to be conducted during training. In the past, graduating trainees had to fly their IOEs immediately following graduation.

         

        In addition to being worried about flying their IOEs, trainees also had to be concerned with positioning themselves to their respective new domiciles prior to their start date. Depending on how closely the start date followed graduation, this may have been a stressfully short period of time. With IOEs finished prior to graduation, trainees can truly celebrate graduation without worrying about possibly flying the next morning. They can also focus exclusively on moving to their new domiciles.

         

        IOEs for Class 2016-01 begin today, so you may see some Flight Attendant Trainers out there certifying IOEs in the next couple days. Congratulations to the first graduating class of 2016 and thanks to our Flight Attendant Trainers for their continuing efforts to get our trainees out to the line!

         

        In solidarity,

         

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; LEC Presidents-elect Tim Green and Brice McGee

        AFA LOA 2016-05-03 Trainers Performing Probationary Observation Flights or IOEs PENDING

        Filed Under: Contract, Latest News Tagged With: 2016, ioe, new hires, sideletter, training

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