Profit sharing, with payments equal to approximately 5.9% of their eligible 2010 annual wages.

In recognition of our 2010 profit, we will pay out profit sharing to eligible employees throughout the system on Feb. 14.

“Thanks to the contributions of everyone on the team, the new United is off to a strong start,” Jeff said. “We can all be proud of achieving profitability at both airline subsidiaries and our ability to share in the profit we all created. In 2011, we will work together toward our goal of achieving sustained profitability, which is the foundation for stable careers and greater opportunities at a successful company.”

Local leaders will hold celebrations with co-workers throughout the system on Valentine’s Day. At many locations, company officers will join in these “Working together: There’s money in it” events. Local leaders will provide co-workers with event details, including times and locations, soon.

As part of our 2010 year-end earnings announcement last week, the new United reported an aggregate, profit sharing accrual of $224 million, based on its combined full-year financial results. On Feb. 14, the United and Continental subsidiaries will distribute payouts calculated based on the separate 2010 UA and CO Profit Sharing plans and each separate subsidiary’s earnings. Eligible CO co-workers will receive approximately $71 million of profit sharing, with payments equal to approximately 3.9% of their eligible 2010 annual wages. Eligible UA co-workers will receive approximately $153 million of profit sharing, with payments equal to approximately 5.9% of their eligible 2010 annual wages.

Payments will be made via check or direct deposit, depending on a co-worker’s current payroll election. For Association of Flight Attendants-represented co-workers, the company will make the entire payout as an employer contribution to their 401(k) accounts.

For more on the UA Profit Sharing plan, co-workers may visit SkyNet’s Employee Services tab > Compensation > Profit Sharing.

For more on the CO 2010 Profit Sharing plan, co-workers may review Employee Bulletin No. 2 from February 2010 and the accompanying Q&A on Insidecoair > News and Information > Employee Bulletins.

Congratulations, and thank you for your contributions that made 2010 a banner year at the new United! We will announce details of the 2011 Profit Sharing plan for the new United soon.

Editorial: United with a heart?? $3,900 check on Valentines? Well that is normal for CAL they always handed out profit share checks on that day. Whereas old United they haven't made a profit and contractual they don't they have to pay before April 30th.
Maybe this is a "New United"
Jock

Negotiations Update

Because of the extreme weather in Chicago this week negotiations have been postponed and rescheduled for February 14th, 15th and 16th in Chicago.

Negotiations Update

This week in Chicago the Union and Company engaged in intense negotiations over the remaining open items. The parties made significant progress and have agreed to meet next week in an effort to make a final push to conclude negotiations.

Upcoming Negotiations:
Negotiations will continue February 1, 2011 in Chicago.


In attendance for the Union: Airline Division: David Bourne, Clacy Griswold, Ed Gleason, Paul Alves IBT Benefits Department: John Slatery and Hemant Berry. IBT Actuary: Jim Holland (Cheiron Inc.) Negotiating Team: Kevin Giegoldt, Javier Lectora, Harvey Wright, Dominic Gully, Larry Calhoun, Dion Cornelius, Bob Fisher, George Graham, Roger Apana, Romon Gonzalez, Ken Meidinger. Business Agents: John Hennelly, Dave Elmore, Dave Saucedo, Ralph Salzano, Rich Petrovsky, Paul Molenber, Peter Finn

In attendance for the Company: Doug McKeen, Mike Bonds, Jim Keenan, Joe Ferreira, Bob Madigan, Marcel Delhommeau, Gary Kaplan, Kathy Cassley, Paul Darrow, Mark Prpich, Anita Davis, Anil Khorana, Kellee Allain, Anuj Singhal, Clint Stephen, Darren Fehring, Lincoln Lounsbury, Sue Rowan (Towers)

The Cost of Outsourcing

WASHINGTON– The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a civil penalty of $1,025,000 against San Antonio Aerospace LP for violating the Department of Transportation’s Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing programs. The company was renamed ST Aerospace San Antonio in November 2009 and is a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Aerospace, Ltd.; however, the alleged violations occurred before the company changed its name.
FAA Press Release

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $170,000 civil penalty against Pemco World Air Services of Dothan, Ala., for allegedly failing to administer pre-employment drug tests to two individuals the company hired for safety-sensitive positions.
The FAA also cited Pemco for failing to carry out required follow-up drug or alcohol testing on eight individuals reinstated after completing return-to-duty training during 2008. In all, the company failed to carry out 24 required follow-up tests. Failing to administer the pre-employment and reinstatement tests are violations of Federal Aviation Regulations.
FAA Press Release

I post this because I was hoping that all of you watch the PBS story on "Flying Cheaper" I think everyone should watch this eighteen minute video. These are two companies that are doing our aircraft overhauls. Now the San Antonio Aerospace LP is not one of the places we have aircraft being repaired but is is the same company in Mobile Alabama ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering.

You can see the video here.

Thanks to Rick Young , Miles O'Brien and PBS for bringing this story out.
Jock

Charles Taylor "Master Mechanic" Award

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — 20 January, 2011 … TIMCO Aviation Services (“TIMCO”) is pleased to announce that the Federal Aviation (FAA) is awarding Co-CEO, President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Utecht the Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” award. The award is being given to Utecht in recognition of his 50 years of service in the advancement of the aircraft maintenance industry.

Utecht has had a long and distinguished career in aviation, and is well-regarded by his peers in the aerospace industry. Prior to joining TIMCO in 2005, he had retired from United Airlines after an impressive 39-year career. Culminating in the role of Senior Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering, Ron was responsible for all of United’s worldwide maintenance and engineering operations and had oversight of more than 16,000 employees around the world.

AMT Online

FAA proposes $359,000 in Civil Penalties Against SkyWest Airlines

SEATTLE – The FAA has proposed $359,000 in civil penalties against SkyWest Airlines, Inc., of St. George, Utah, for alleged violations of Federal Aviation Regulations.

The FAA proposed a penalty of $220,000 for alleged failure to document heavy checked bags, motorized mobility aids and a heavy shipment carried in the cargo compartment of the company’s passenger aircraft. As a result, the company operated the aircraft on five flights between April 21 and May 25, 2010 with incorrect weight and balance data. The FAA alleges the violations occurred because the carrier’s employees failed to follow required procedures for documenting cargo carried on revenue passenger flights.

The other two proposed civil penalties are for allegedly operating two Bombardier Regional Jet aircraft when they were not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

In the first case, a proposed civil penalty of $70,500, the FAA alleges SkyWest employees failed to follow the company’s Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) and the Bombardier maintenance and inspection manual during five attempts by mechanics to correct an avionics system cooling problem on one aircraft. SkyWest operated the aircraft on at least five revenue passenger flights between July 15 and 21, 2009 when it was not in compliance

In the second case, the FAA is proposing a civil penalty of $68,500, alleging SkyWest operated another Bombardier jet on eight revenue passenger flights between May 30 and June 1, 2010 when it was not in compliance with regulations. The FAA alleges SkyWest mechanics failed to follow procedures required in the airline’s CAMP when replacing the right air conditioning pack’s pressure-regulating and shutoff valve.

IBT Joins With TWU to Applaud Request for Oversight of MRO’s

In a letter to Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL), Chairman of the House Aviation Sub Committee, the Teamsters have joined with the TWU in recognizing the Congressman’s call for follow up review by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) oversight of repair stations.
“In the last ten years, there has been a tremendous surge in the outsourcing of aircraft maintenance work to contractors both within the United States and increasingly abroad. At the same time the number of maintenance employees per aircraft by the largest U.S. airlines has declined precipitously. These facilities provide safety – critical repairs on U.S. aircraft.
The regulatory environment has simply not kept pace with these rapid changes in a manner sufficient to ensure the continued preeminence of the safety record of the U.S. airline industry,” the letter said. “Especially, with respect to maintenance performed at non-certified repair facilities, by unlicensed mechanics, in facilities where FAA inspectors lack ready access or do not send inspectors at the same rate and in facilities that do not have the same security and drug and alcohol testing standards as in-house domestic facilities. These discrepancies could threaten the safety of passengers and crew on U.S. domestic flights, as well as non-flying members of the public.”
“It is our collective view, that in order to pre-empt serious incidents, accidents or terror attacks, the FAA should adopt a single standard of safety principle, applicable to all repair stations and mechanics performing work on U.S. aircraft, whether operated by airlines or contractors in the United States or abroad. Together, the IBT and TWU represent the majority of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT’s) at the largest U.S. carriers. As such, we have a vested stake and keen interest in this audit and its findings. We would appreciate the opportunity to participate or assist in this process if requested,” it concluded.