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The Grapevine 2019 Issue 2
Jun 13, 2019

THE GRAPEVINE
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF AMFA — JUNE 2019
In this Issue
  • AMFA-SWA Sign CBA
  • 2019 Officer of the Year
  • Alaska Airlines Seattle and Anchorage Teams Take Top Honors at Aerospace Maintenance Competition
  • 2019 AMFA Scholarship Recipients
  • Hook, Line and Sinker
  • Norway CHC Helicopter Rescue
  • Have You Downloaded the AMFA App?
AMFA-SWA Sign CBA
After more than six years of negotiations, the AMFA-Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership voted to ratify its new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The parties met on Wednesday, June 12 in Dallas to officially sign the CBA. 
 
AMFA National would like to extend our gratitude to all those who contributed over the last six-plus years in reaching this agreement.
Thank you to former AMFA-SWA Airline Representatives and Officers as their commitment and dedication played important roles in paving the road for these negotiations: Jack Coonrod, Nino DiMaggio, Matt Townsend, Shane Flachman, Mike Nelson, Mike Young, Bob Cramer, Kern Morris, and Fred Bishop. 
Thank you to the current Negotiation Committee as their dedication and tenacity brought negotiations to a successful conclusion: Earl Clark, Will Abbott, Dan Burgess, Craig Hamlet, Wayne Lampley, Ken Patrick, Lucas Middlebrook, and Peter Manikowski.
And last, but certainly not least, thank you to our membership for standing unified and engaged through this process. Thank you!
2019 Officer of the Year – Craig Hamlet
By Scott King, National Safety and Standards Director
The last several years have been full of numerous challenges for AMFA. Among those challenges was the negotiating of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between AMFA and Southwest Airlines (SWA) , that lasted approximately 6 ½ years.
Craig Hamlet has been directly involved with the AMFA-SWA CBA negotiations since he took office as the Airline Representative (ALR) for Local 11 in January 2016. Prior to being elected to the ALR position, he was the Outsource Liaison Representative (OLR) for AMFA, overseeing the work that is outsourced at SWA. Craig pioneered the OLR position and developed many of the processes that are still used today for reviewing the work packages that are outsourced by SWA. The time he served as OLR has greatly benefited the AMFA membership; that knowledge and experience has been valuable in the negotiating process. Protecting the membership by identifying and fighting against transgressions is what keeps Craig motivated to stay active in representing AMFA members.
Craig is from Kansas City, MO, later moving to the Dallas, TX, suburb of Duncanville, where he graduated high school. After attending A&P school at Love Field, he worked for Dalfort Aviation for 10 years, holding positions to include Mechanic, Quality Control (QC) inspector, QC Lead and QC Supervisor. He has held his A&P license for approximately 28 years and has almost 17 years with SWA. Craig’s ideal vacation is being “lost” in the mountains without any electronic communication devices. Some of his hobbies include playing guitar, offroading in his Jeep, and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Craig for over five years. He is a humble and loyal AMFA representative. We are fortunate to have him as a part of our team.
Alaska Airlines Seattle and Anchorage Teams Take Top Honors at Aerospace Maintenance Competition
At the Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC) in Atlanta, Ga., April 8-11, 2019, Alaska’s Seattle and Anchorage maintenance and engineering teams took some of the top honors against other airline maintenance technicians from around the world.
“We all worked extremely hard this year and it paid off,” said Marty Knox, Seattle team captain. “I’m very proud of Alaska Airlines for showing our pride and skills in a highly competitive environment, especially since this year was the largest turnout in AMC history with 84 teams.”
Team Anchorage took fourth place overall in the commercial airline category and placed in the top three for eight individual events, including first for safety wiring, Safe-T-Cable and paint and wing sealant.
Team Seattle won third overall and placed in the top three for seven individual events, including first for external power receptacle, power troubleshooting and leading edge & panel sealing.
Team Anchorage included: Thomas Cook, Jake Farren, Tyrone Ferguson, Cody James, Brian Kohl, Kevin Reddick, Steve Wixon, and Nicholas McKay (team captain).
Team Seattle included: Ryan Collins, Chris Dancik, Mike Flowers, Marty Hitt, Daniel Lukyanov, Vishal Prasad, Brandon Statfield, and Marty Knox (team captain).

Judges included: Roger Bailey, Seattle technical services specialist; Bob Long, Seattle technician; Gregory McDonald, Seattle line inspector trainer, quality control; Ken Pitt, Seattle engineer.
“Our technicians are top professionals in this industry and incorporate safety into everything they do. I’m proud that it showed,” said Constance von Muehlen, Alaska Airlines senior vice president of maintenance and engineering. “This event is a great way to display the hard work, skill, and teamwork our technicians apply to what we do every day.”
2019 AMFA National Scholarship Recipients
By Jay Johnson, National Secretary/Treasurer
2019 Scholarship Recipient Scott Pearce
Scott Pearce (right) with National Secretary/Treasurer Jay Johnson
Scott Pearce (right) with National Secretary/Treasurer Jay Johnson was one of two recipients of the 2019 AMFA Scholarship. Pearce is attending Hallmark University in San Antonio, TX.
AMFA National awarded two scholarships for 2019. Each applicant had to be currently enrolled in a school to gain their Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license, had to be a U.S. Citizen, and were required to submit an application including a 500-word essay “What does safety in the air begins with quality maintenance on the ground mean to me."

After careful review and consideration, the National Executive Council chose Forrest Key from South Seattle Community College in Seattle, WA, and Scott Pearce from Hallmark University in San Antonio, TX, as the recipients of the AMFA Scholarship for 2019.
National Officers presented Forrest and Scott with a plaque and $2500 scholarship at their respective school in May 2019, and they were also announced during the Aerospace Maintenance Competition in Atlanta.
Forrest Key (center) is flanked by AMFA National Officers Brett Oestreich, National Executive Director and Jay Johnson, National Secretary/Treasurer.
2019 AMFA Scholarship Recipient Forrest Key
Forrest Key (center) is flanked by AMFA National Officers Brett Oestreich, National Director and Jay Johnson, National Secretary/Treasurer.
Forrest Key graduates in 2019 and worked at Alaska Airlines as a Technician’s Helper while attending school. Forrest was on the South Seattle Community College Honors and Dean’s list. He has an Associate of Applied Science Services from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Firefighter II IFSA, and Emergency Medical Technician Services Certification.
Forrest states, “After hearing stories of Alaska Airlines flight 261 and how absolutely critical it is that aircraft mechanics do their job with unwavering integrity. To me, it is impossible for there to be safety in the air without quality maintenance on the ground."
Scott Pearce is set to graduate 2020 and is on the Hallmark University Dean’s list with a 4.0 grade average, has a perfect attendance award and is a Member of Student Origination XBA.
Scott believes, “We all have the ideas of safety and a 'do your best' attitude taught in our childhood. These attributes should be carried into our lives as adults and into our careers, specifically in aviation because in this field there is so very much resting on our shoulders. Always consider what the product you are working on or inspecting is designed to do and who will be relying on your quality work so they may arrive safely to their destination.”
 
Congratulations to this year’s recipients, and thank you to all who submitted applications. It is inspiring to get a glimpse at the passion and quality of the next generation of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians.
Hook, Line, and Sinker
By Jay Johnson, National Secretary/Treasurer
The AMFA National Executive Counsel (NEC) sponsored a boat at the 19th Annual Hook, Line, and Sinker fishing tournament put on by Southwest Airlines AMTs in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on May 13-17, 2019. All proceeds go the Ronald McDonald House in Tampa.
 
The AMFA NEC gave away all the slots on the sponsored boat to its membership for membership appreciation.
Mark Zabranski from Local 11, Jack Mills from Local 4, Shane Massy and Daniel Escobar from Local 18, and Michael Hurlbert and Steve Wixon from Local 32 were chosen to fish on the AMFA sponsored boat.
 
Fourteen boats fished on Tuesday with a banquet on Wednesday and 16 boats fished on Wednesday with a banquet on Thursday. Awards were given for the Biggest Dolphin, Biggest King Fish, and "What the hell is that?" (Meaning the longest whatever fish caught regardless of species).
 
The AMFA boat fished on Wednesday, May 15, and Steve Wixon won 1st place, Biggest King Fish at 18lbs. Daniel Escobar won 2nd place Biggest, King Fish at 15.7lbs, and Scott King won 2nd place, "What the hell is that?" with a 7 ft Hammerhead Shark.
Norway CHC Helicopter Rescue
By Louie Key, AEI Secretary of the Americas
I would like to share a very interesting and exciting story with you, one that involves great professionalism and courage during “treacherous conditions.” You likely saw in the media the Viking Ocean Cruises’ ship – the Viking Sky – experiencing engine trouble off the coast of Norway starting on Saturday afternoon, March 23, 2019, and the subsequent evacuation. As the crippled ship drifted toward a rocky coastline, the crew was able to deploy its anchor and issue a mayday distress call. The ship suffered damage and was taking on water and everything onboard (passengers, furniture, fixtures, etc.) was being dangerously tossed about in violent seas. There were injured passengers onboard and conditions were deteriorating rapidly. The decision was made to evacuate via helicopter as the seas were too rough for a marine based mission, the injured first, and then the rest of the passengers.
One of our AEI Affiliates, Norsk Helikopteransattes Forbund (NHF), represents the engineers who maintain the helicopters that service the off-shore oil rigs in the North Atlantic Sea. And one of our members from NHF, Mr. Tommy Olsen, is one of those engineers. It just so happens that Tommy is also a member of their emergency medivac and search and rescue team and serves as a hoist operator on the Sikorsky S-92A aircraft. During this event, his crew was called into action by the Norwegian National Rescue Service and immediately deployed from their platform. During their challenging mission that ran through the night, his crew hoisted 59 souls from the tossing ship and transported them to safety.
As Tommy expressed it to me, “This is exactly what we train for. The operation was conducted safely, just as we practiced in our training missions.” 
Tommy is being far too humble, no doubt conducting a precarious and precise rescue operation in adverse conditions is anything but routine. I’m proud to know that we are affiliated with such dedicated and courageous professionals!
If you are interested in further details of this amazing heroic event, please visit the following links to the story: CBS News, CNN, Fox, Norwegian media, and BBC. CHC Helicopters has released this statement on the event.
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There’s an App for That
AMFA has a mobile device app for its members. Available for both Android and Apple tablets and phones, the app is a quick link to the latest news and information from your Union. With built in GrievTrac access, the app also gives our contract representatives private access to file grievances on behalf of our members.
In addition to being a great tool to get Association news, the AMFA app is a quick and easy way for members to access their AMFA Number. The AMFA app is only available for download from the AMFA National Website; it is not found on iTunes.
If you are unable to download the AMFA App and do not have your AMFA Number, please register with the AMFA National Website and/or request a replacement membership card today. Your AMFA Number is required to participate in Association elections, referenda, surveys, and conference calls.
If you encounter problems registering with the site or downloading the app, contact the AMFA National Office for assistance.
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