Yesterday I suggested that American’s pilots were engaged in a sick out because after new contract terms were imposed on pilots through the airline’s bankruptcy process, we started seeing lots of flight cancellations — over 5% on Sunday, again over 5% of the schedule on Monday, and already quite a few for today.

I didn’t even get into the really poor on-time percentage being logged by American’s flights, which weren’t unduly affected by weather.

It certainly seemed like something was ‘up’. Which was also confirmed in comments I was reading on the post and elsewhere, such as reports of 20-plus minute times to taxi, and planes even being beaten out by tugs moving faster than they were.

Sky Talk gets a comment from the airline’s pilots union:

“No one at APA has either sanctioned or supported any kind of ‘job action’ or sickout. It is illegal to do so,” said APA spokesman Tom Hoban. “That being said, you’ve got 8,000 pilots that are witnessing a handful of senior executives at AA that have chosen in a very deliberate manner to dismantle and destroy their profession. To say that the pilots at AA are not happy would be the understatement of a lifetime.”

The author calls that a “resounding no” but I read it as anything but — of course we’re not doing that because it would be illegal if we were, but of course there are lots of unhappy pilots and American would deserve it if we were doing that…

No, not a denial at all.

Meanwhile I saw a link in a post at TravelingBetter.com to a discussion by American pilots over at a pilot forum with a lot of ‘wink, wink, nudge nudge’ over how they’re slowing down the airline.

Here’s a sample of the comments (bolding is mine):

How is the operation running? Just wondering how the metal is moving over there.

A bit sluggish…4 canx today at DFW for lack of crews. Many delays and canx this week.

Did u see what the company is imposing? I dont blame AA pilots

Withholding of enthusiasm is not a job action. Neither is taking time off if one is unfit to fly. It is hard to run an operation when you crap all over your frontline employees.

And as always, the way to go is follow the FAR’s to the letter, as well as company rules… like giving T-storms 20 nm space, thorough pre-flights, conscientious write-ups, economical taxi and flight speeds, meticulous check list procedures, no-fault go-arounds, etc etc etc. Of course, fatigue is a hot-button topic w/NASA and the FAA. Got to wathc those mental health issues too. And it’s a good time to finally get that carpal tunnel surgery.

Well ya know sometimes you have to double check that flight plan. Especially on those RNAV departures. You don’t want to cause a potential mid air collision. Safety first.

Instead of DIRECT anywhere, just request “FLIGHT PLAN ROUTE”!

For you lawyer types, The burden of proof rests with the company to show a work slowdown is taking place?

I don’t see how a judge can “punish” the pilots any more than he already has…It’s not like they can send the Sheriff over to every pilots house and lead them to work in handcuffs. Whatever the cause, poor operational performance will force the hand of the creditors. What they decide to do remains to be seen, but I’d think a merger would provide more value than a fire sale.

Bloomberg reports that American is cutting capacity by 2% for the rest of September and October as a result.