ARTICLE 6 – RECOGNITION AND SCOPE

Pursuant to the National Mediation Board’s May 19, 2015 certification in NMB Case No. R-7422, the Company recognizes the Airline Mechanic and Related Employees Association TWU/IAM (the “Association”) as the exclusive and sole collective bargaining agent with respect to rates of pay, rules, and working conditions for employees of American Airlines, Inc. within the United States, its territories and possessions, covered under this Agreement as described in Classifications, Article 7.

1. Except as otherwise provided for in this Article, all aircraft maintenance work, facilities maintenance work, and ground service equipment maintenance work on aircraft, ground equipment, and facilities performed for the Company is recognized as covered work under this Agreement and shall be performed by employees on the Association master seniority list(s). The Company agrees that the work described in Classifications, Article 7 and the following described work, wherever performed, comes within the jurisdiction of the Association, and is covered by this Agreement, including but not limited to:

1. 1. The making, assembling, erecting, dismantling, and repairing of all machinery, mechanical equipment, engines and motors of all description, including all work involved in dismantling, overhauling, repairing, fabricating, assembling, welding, touch up painting, shot peening and erecting, testing, inspecting all parts of airplanes, airplane engines, avionics equipment, electrical system, heating system, hydraulic systems, radios, components, de-fueling, oiling, replenishing hydraulic and other fluids, accessories, furnishings and equipment and machine tool work in connection therewith, including all maintenance, construction and inspection work in and around all shops, hangars, buildings, and including the servicing, cleaning and polishing of airplanes and parts thereof, and the servicing and handling of all ground equipment performed in and about Company maintenance shops, maintenance bases, aircraft base maintenance bases, and line service/maintenance stations; and
   2. The servicing, maintaining, and repairing of tools and equipment, including hand tools, power tools, machine tools, and mobile equipment provided by the Company for the use of employees covered by this Agreement in the performance of their work and, when assigned by the Company, those tools and equipment provided by the Company for the use of employees not covered by this Agreement, including such work as fabricating, repairing, assembling, disassembling, testing, inspecting, fueling, oiling, and cleaning; and
   3. The servicing, maintaining, and repairing of ground radio equipment (except on-the-job service, repairs, and installation of ground radios), including such work as fabricating, repairing, assembling, disassembling, testing, and inspecting.

2. Except as otherwise provided for in this Article, the scope of work for Aircraft Maintenance Planners, Senior Aircraft Maintenance Planners, Quality Assurance Auditors, Senior Quality Assurance Auditors, Technical Documentation Specialists, Senior Technical Documentation Specialists, and Senior Bill of Work/EO/AD Planners is as described in Article 7 (Classifications).

3. When ground equipment fueling is not subcontracted, it will not be deemed a violation of the Agreement for a Company employee to fuel the equipment he is operating. There shall be no increase of the subcontracting of such fueling work beyond what exists at DOR.

4. It is understood that the Company reserves the right to continue to return to the manufacturer or its authorized agent, parts and subassemblies for repair or replacement that cannot be repaired on the property due to lack of equipment or because of warranty.

Outsourcing of Aircraft, Engine and Component Base Maintenance

5. At a minimum, the Company will perform base maintenance work in CLT, PIT, TULE and DWH, except for the exclusions provided in this section. As to PIT, the Company will continue to perform base maintenance work at PIT for five (5) years from DOR, provided that the number of Base Aviation Maintenance Group employees (consisting of Crew Chief and Tech Crew Chief Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Inspectors, Overhaul Support Mechanics, Crew Chief Cleaners and Cleaners) at PIT is fifty (50) or more. If at any time during the five-year period following DOR the number of Base Aviation Maintenance Group employees at PIT drops below fifty (50) employees, the Company may discontinue all base maintenance work at PIT. In addition, at any time after five (5) years from DOR, the Company may discontinue all base maintenance work at PIT regardless of the number of Base Aviation Maintenance Group employees at PIT.

   DWH will be considered a hybrid base maintenance station with the following conditions: (1) DWH-based aircraft overhaul and direct support shop employees as described in Section F of this Article will continue to be applied to the Base minimum headcount and outsourcing cap formula set forth in Section F of this Article; (2) the Company may schedule up to twenty-five thousand (25,000) Man Hours of scheduled line maintenance work to be performed at DWH on an annual basis which will not apply to the Base Maintenance insourced man-hours as described in Section F of this Article.

6. Company base maintenance employees will perform at least fifty (50%) percent or greater of all aircraft overhaul and modification base maintenance work, inclusive of narrow and wide-body aircraft, as follows: On an annualized basis, for every billable hour of work by aircraft base maintenance vendors performing Company overhaul and modification base maintenance work; modification work; scheduled drop-in maintenance; and any drop-in maintenance relating to fuselage damage or any other damage, there will be an equal or greater number of paid hours to Company base maintenance employees. This includes Crew Chief and Tech Crew Chief Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Inspectors, Overhaul Support Mechanics, Crew Chief Cleaners and Cleaners assigned to base maintenance in aircraft overhaul, modification and direct support shops as set forth in Section I of this Article below.

1. 1. In making this calculation:

      1. Livery work may be outsourced and the vendor’s billable hours do not count as overhaul and modification base maintenance work, but other work performed by the vendor during the livery visit may be outsourced and the billable hours for such other work count as overhaul and modification base maintenance work.
      2. Warranty work may be performed by the OEM or its contract agent and the vendor’s billable hours do not count as overhaul and modification base maintenance work.
      3. Aircraft lease return maintenance visits may be outsourced and the vendor’s billable hours will count as overhaul and modification base maintenance work.
      4. Aircraft line maintenance work performed by base maintenance employees, including phase checks and lower level checks above a transit/daily check (e.g., A & B checks, service checks (SC), periodic service checks (PS) or an equivalent check by another name, and any unscheduled drop-in maintenance), will not count as overhaul and modification base maintenance work.
   2. If the vendor billed hours in any calendar year exceed fifty (50%) percent of the total combined vendor billed hours and the Company overhaul and modification base maintenance paid hours, such deficit hours will be added to the subsequent calendar year required Company overhaul and modification base maintenance paid hours.

   3. The Company shall maintain a systemwide minimum headcount of two thousand six hundred (2,600) active base maintenance employees (which includes Crew Chief and Tech Crew Chief Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Inspectors, Overhaul Support Mechanics, Crew Chief Cleaners and Cleaners) assigned to base maintenance in aircraft overhaul, modification and direct support shops (as set forth in Section I of this Article) across its active maintenance bases.

7. The Company may elect to insource or outsource the maintenance, repair, servicing, overhaul, inspection or modification of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units (APUs). The Company, however, will continue to insource the work to be performed on the JT8D-200, CF6-80C2, CFM56-7B, and CFM56-5B engine types and the 131-9B, 36-280/DHF, and 331-500 APUs consistent with current practices as of DOR for as long as the Company continues to use such engines and APUs.

8. The Company may elect to insource or outsource the maintenance, repair, servicing, overhaul, inspection or modification of aircraft components; the servicing, maintaining, and repairing of tools and equipment; and the servicing, maintaining, and repairing of ground radio equipment. The Company, however, shall maintain a minimum headcount (excluding those employees working in Section I below) of active component shop employees equal to at least twenty percent (20%) of the active employees across the system who are working in the aircraft overhaul, modification and direct support shops as set forth below in Section I In making this calculation, the Company shall include Crew Chief and Tech Crew Chief Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Inspectors, Overhaul Support Mechanics, Crew Chief Cleaner, and Cleaner employees working in aircraft overhaul, modification and such shops listed below in Section I of this minimum required group of active component shop employees, however, at least forty percent (40%) will be Aviation Maintenance Technicians.

9. In making the calculation provided for in Section H of this Article:

1. 1. The headcount included for aircraft overhaul and modification will be those employees assigned to the aircraft overhaul, modification and special visit docks at all maintenance bases.

   2. The headcount included for aircraft overhaul direct support shops will be those employees assigned to the following shops wherever located, including but not limited to TULE (these shop names are effective July 2018 and any change will be communicated to the Association prior to inclusion in the calculation methodology):

• • • Plastics
    • Composite Repair Center
    • Paint and Fiberglass
    • Lavatory & Galley
    • Seats
    • Floorboard
    • Cleaning
    • Exteriors (Structures, Flight Controls, Thrust Reversers)
    • Hose, Tube & Cable
    • Duct
    • Interior (Sidewalls, Reveals, Shells)
    • Manufacturing
    • AO Mill

Line Maintenance

10. The Company, at a minimum, will maintain 26-line maintenance stations, staffed on all three basic shifts, and will utilize line maintenance AMTs covered by this Agreement at the following stations: BOS, CLT, DCA, DFW, JFK, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD, PHL, PHX, SFO, and STL and at least thirteen (13) other stations as determined by the Company. The Company may transfer or assign non-powered work performed by Line Maintenance to GSE at these locations where applicable. The Company agrees it will not close any of the thirteen (13) named stations above, unless all mainline flying ceases permanently at such station. In the event of the closure of any such named station, the Company shall, in consultation with the Association, designate an additional station for coverage by this Article J Prior to closing or opening any other station covered by this Section J, the Company will meet and confer with the Association.

1. 1. At locations covered by this Section J and any other line maintenance location where the Company utilizes AMTs, when an out of service aircraft is in need of towing to an aircraft maintenance hangar or other non-terminal location for purposes of maintenance, such towing will be performed by AMTs, including brake riding and connecting ground power and ground start units at the hangar.

1. 2. Any aircraft to be moved from the gate or terminal area to the hangar area or hangar hardstand, for aircraft maintenance purposes, shall have an AMT in the cockpit riding brakes, unless an AMT is unavailable.

1. 3.  All other towing, including brake riding, may be performed by any qualified Association member as directed by the Company.

11. Scheduled line maintenance work will not be performed at locations not covered by Section J above; however, unscheduled aircraft maintenance required to immediately return an aircraft to service may be performed by a vendor at locations not covered by Section J.

12. Scheduled line maintenance work may be performed while an aircraft is in a scheduled heavy Base Maintenance check or at a Company facility during a scheduled aircraft modification visit.  Only time sensitive open items required to place an aircraft back into service during the duration of any aircraft modification can be completed at non-Company locations.

13. At locations in Hawaii, a vendor may perform ETOPS checks as required and may perform MEL/NEF applications and required clearances.

14. The following work may be performed by employees covered by this Agreement or a vendor:

1. 1. Automated operating software and/or content uploads and/or downloads associated with inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) or other aircraft systems with similar capabilities may be accomplished from a remote location; provided that when the aircraft logbook must have a documented record of such work, an AMT covered under this agreement shall perform the documentation task.

1. 2. Line maintenance warranty work may be performed by the OEM at an outsourced facility or by Association represented employees on the American Airlines property. If the warranty terms require the OEM to perform such work on American Airlines property, the Company will assign an appropriate number of AMTs, covered by this Agreement to provide support.

1. 3. Repair of fuel tank leaks and other out of service conditions that require fuel tank entry in line maintenance facilities may be outsourced to a vendor; provided, however if outsourced to a vendor, the vendor must provide its own tools and equipment. Employees covered under this Agreement will not be required to assist the vendor in any fuel tank repair or parts build-up.

15. Aircraft cleaning at line maintenance stations, including exterior cleaning/washing of aircraft, may be performed by employees covered by this Agreement or a vendor. In Line Maintenance Stations where this work is being performed by employees covered under this agreement on DOR, such work will continue to be performed until such employees transfer or leave the Company.

16. At all international locations, the Company may use vendors or other non-management Company employees to perform scheduled line maintenance work, subject to the following limitations:

1. Such maintenance will be scheduled in conjunction with the scheduled ground time in the course of revenue passenger flying;

2. The Company will not ferry aircraft to an international location for the purpose of performing scheduled line maintenance work; and

3. The percentage of annual scheduled international line maintenance work shall not exceed eleven percent (11%) in years one (1) through three (3) following DOR and twelve percent (12%) in all future years.

The calculation of the percentage of outsourced work shall be measured as follows:

1. 1. Association headcount x 2,080 x 0.11 (Years 1-3) or 0.12 (Years 4+) = Permitted International Outsourced Hours.

   2. For purposes of this calculation:

      “Association headcount” shall include Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Crew Chief- Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Technical Crew Chief-Aviation Maintenance Technicians, and Inspectors only working in Line Maintenance.“Permitted International Outsourced Hours” shall include the international Company and vendor man hours (equivalent of domestic Aviation Maintenance Technician, Crew Chief- Aviation Maintenance Technician, Technical Crew Chief-Aviation Maintenance Technician, and Inspectors only working in Line Maintenance). If the percentage of outsourced work in any year exceeds the allowable percentage under this provision, the resulting number of manhours by which the Company exceeds the allowable percentage shall be deducted from the following year’s allowable total number of manhours.  If an overage occurs in consecutive years, two times the number of deficit manhours that occurred in the consecutive year shall be deducted from the following year’s allowable total number of manhours.

Facilities Maintenance:

Scope of Facilities Maintenance Work at Airport Terminals

Q. The scope of work to be performed by employees covered by this Agreement at the BOS, DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, and ORD Line Station airport terminals is maintaining, repairing, and servicing of bag systems, carousels, jet bridges, pre-conditioned air, and KVA units to the extent that the Company maintains control of such operational equipment. All other plant maintenance work at the terminal will be as determined by the Company.

Scope of Facilities Maintenance Work at Maintenance Bases

R. The scope of work to be performed by employees covered by this Agreement at the CLT, DWH, PIT and TULE base locations is maintaining, repairing, and servicing hangar infrastructure and docking, machinery, powerplants, and wastewater to the extent that the Company maintains control of such facilities and equipment. The Company will assign skill specific work based upon the needs of service to employees covered by this Agreement or the Company may utilize a vendor to perform this work. Skill specific work may include work performed by carpenters, plumbers, and electricians, and electronics, lock and key, HVAC, millwright, stationary operating engineer, hazardous waste, wastewater treatment, and welding. The assignment of skill specific work is based upon trade, however, nothing precludes Plant Maintenance employees from assisting another trade to meet the needs of the Company. The Company may outsource concrete, fencing, painting and major carpentry projects at TULE.

The Company retains the right to outsource non-routine work or in such cases where the existing skills, facilities or equipment are not sufficient.

Scope of Facilities Maintenance Work at Airport Hangars

S. The scope of work to be performed by employees covered by this Agreement at CLT, DFW, JFK, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD, PHL, and PHX hangars is maintaining, repairing, and servicing hangar infrastructure and docking, machinery, and powerplants to the extent that the Company maintains control of such facilities and equipment.

Scope of Facilities Maintenance Work at Other Locations

T. At any location not listed above in sections Q, R and S of this Article, or with respect to any work not described, the scope of work for Facilities Maintenance will be determined by the Company. Such work may be performed by Facilities Maintenance employees covered by this Agreement or by vendors.

Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Maintenance

U. In BOS, CLT, DFW, DWH, JFK, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD, PHL, PIT, PHX, SFO and TULE, all ground support equipment maintenance will be performed by employees covered by this Agreement. The Company will retain the necessary manpower, equipment, tooling, facilities and other resources in these locations in order to continue to perform such GSE maintenance. The scope of work covered by the terms of this Agreement, however, does not include major overhaul or repair of engines/transmissions or painting of the equipment, or any other work for which the Company lacks the equipment, skills or facilities.

The Company shall not use vendors to perform major overhaul or repair of engines/transmissions or painting of equipment at any of the named fourteen (14) GSE station locations except that GSE warranty work may be performed by the OEM at such locations. The Company does not intend, however, to permanently staff vendors at such locations. If warranty work is performed by the OEM at any of the named fourteen (14) GSE station locations, the Company will assign an appropriate number of GSE Mechanic(s) covered by this Agreement to provide support.

If the Company ceases mainline flying at any of the fourteen (14) named stations, the Company shall, in consultation with the Association, designate an additional station for coverage under this Article.

V. In locations other than listed in paragraph U above, ground support equipment maintenance may be performed by GSE employees covered by this Agreement or by a vendor.

Miscellaneous

W. The Company, no later than February 15th of each year, will provide to the Association and/or the Association’s advisor, documentation necessary to verify the Company’s compliance with the outsourcing provisions of this Article. This documentation shall include a summary of the previous calendar year’s base maintenance paid hours and vendor airframe base maintenance billed hours, and on an ongoing basis (no later than six (6) weeks following the end of the month), a summary of the previous month’s base maintenance vendor’s billable hours including tail numbers of the aircraft. No later than forty-five (45) days following the end of each quarter, the Company shall also provide the Association a summary of AMT labor hours for both the Association represented AMTs as well as for the international scheduled line maintenance work, whether performed by a Company employee or vendor. In addition, no later than forty-five (45) days following the end of each quarter, the Company shall also provide the Association a summary of the monthly scheduled line maintenance work performed at DWH, measured in manhours.

X. The time limit for grievances under this Article will be one-hundred and twenty (120) days from the date that the Union discovers or reasonably should have discovered the claimed violation.

Y. A review committee consisting of equal numbers of Company and Association representatives, with a maximum of four (4) members each, shall meet at least quarterly for the purpose of discussing the Company’s current practice and future plan for contracting aircraft, GSE and Facility maintenance work.

Z. The Company may return to the manufacturer or its authorized agent, parts and subassemblies for repair or replacement that are under warranty.

AA. The work to be performed by employees covered by this Agreement does not include related indirect work performed by employees such as supervisors, management specialists, managers, analysts, professional employees, flight crews, dispatchers, office and clerical employees, agents, clerks, production assistants, staff assistants, and skycaps.

BB. If a Technical Document Specialist project arises that requires immediate or time sensitive attention, the Company will meet with the Union to discuss how the project will be handled, which may include contracting out some or all of the project depending on the manpower and time required to complete the project. No Technical Document Specialists can be reduced during the time any work is contracted out. It is not the intent of the Company to circumvent the scope of work or not properly staff the position(s) to avoid performing covered work under normal circumstances. This provision is only to be utilized during a situation that may arise that is unforeseen or is not capable of being performed with existing staff that requires immediate or time sensitive attention.

CC. Supervisory personnel may perform Quality Assurance work when required to meet the needs of service when Quality Assurance Auditors are not immediately available to perform such duties or to evaluate the initial scope and details of a non-conformance issue or as needed for urgent or sensitive high-level events.

DD. Supervisory personnel may perform Planner/Technical Documentation work when required to meet the needs of service when Planner/Technical Documentation Specialists are not immediately available to perform such duties.

EE. The types of maintenance audits being conducted by Quality Assurance Auditors as of DOR will continue to be accomplished by Quality Assurance Auditors. The types of audits being conducted by other Company employees and/or vendors as of DOR may continue to be accomplished by other Company employees and/or vendors.

FF. Bill of Works/Decks for vendor heavy maintenance overhaul will continue to be built by Base Maintenance Planners.

GG. When an aircraft that is owned and/or operated by American Airlines, Inc. is engaged in a charter flight off the Company system, the Company shall not schedule maintenance at locations where the Company does not have AMTs covered by this Agreement and major problems shall be handled by sending Association represented employees covered by this Agreement from an appropriate field trip list unless prohibited by local laws.

Job Protection

HH. System Job Protection

1. 1. For the life of this Agreement, no active employee or employee on a Company approved leave of absence who is covered by this Agreement and whose name appears on the Association master seniority list(s) on the date of ratification of this Agreement will be laid off to the street provided the employee exercises his seniority to the fullest extent in accordance with Article 12 – Recall.
   2. This provision does not guarantee Crew Chiefs protection to the Crew Chief classification but does provide protection to the basic classification.
   3. System job protection shall not apply in circumstances where the Company’s non-compliance is caused in substantial part by conditions beyond the Company’s control. Conditions beyond the Company’s control shall include, but not be limited to: (1) an act of God; (2) a strike by any other Company employee group or the employees of a commuter air carrier operating pursuant to an authorized codeshare arrangement with the Company; (3) a national emergency; (4) involuntary revocation of the Company’s operating certificate(s); (5) grounding of a substantial number of the Company’s aircraft; (6) a reduction in the Company’s operation resulting from a decrease in available fuel supply caused by either governmental action or by commercial suppliers being unable to meet the Company’s demands; and (7) the unavailability of aircraft scheduled for delivery. Item number (7) may only be triggered if the delay of delivery of aircraft adversely impacts the operation such that the Company is required to reduce flying, necessitating a reduction in force. The duration of any reduction in flying will be a consideration before any reduction in force under this section.

II. Station Job Protection

1. 1. For the life of this Agreement, the Company will provide station job protection to all employees covered by this Agreement whose name appears on the Association master seniority list(s) and who are active or on a Company approved leave of absence as of the date of ratification of this Agreement. Station job protection will apply to the station and basic classification that the employee holds on the date of ratification of the Agreement or in a station where an employee transfers, bids or bumps into and there is an more junior station protected employee, in the same classification, working in an active position on the station seniority list.

   2. This provision does not guarantee Crew Chiefs station protection to the Crew Chief classification but does provide station protection to their basic classification.

   3. Station job protection will not apply in the event that all scheduled American Airlines, Inc. flight operations cease at a station for a period of not less than one (1) year from the cessation of flights. Station job protection shall also not apply in circumstances where the Company’s non-compliance is caused in substantial part by conditions beyond the Company’s control as set forth above in Section HH (3) above.

1.  

Station Closing Due to Ceasing All Flight Operations

JJ. If a station is closed due to cessation of all flight operations that is not due to circumstances beyond the Company’s control as defined in Paragraph HH c. above, and during the one (1) year period thereafter, the Company re-commences flight operations it shall re-staff such station with employees covered by this Agreement, and the following process will apply. Employees who had station protection at that station at the time of closing shall be offered on a one-time basis, the first opportunity to fill covered positions in classification seniority order. If an employee offered such a position accepts and is returned to work at that station during the one (1) year period, such employee shall have his original station protection reinstated.  If an employee offered such a position declines, such employee will remain in the status and location the employee occupies at that time and any future openings at the station will be filled using the Recall and Filling of Vacancies articles in this Agreement (Articles 12 and 9). If a station is re-opened more than one (1) year after cessation of operations, all positions at such station will be filled using the Recall and Filling of Vacancies articles in this Agreement (Articles 12 and 9).

Station Closing or Reduction in Manpower Due to Circumstances Beyond Company Control

KK. If, due to conditions beyond the Company’s control as defined in Paragraph HH (3). above, a station is closed, or employees covered by this Agreement at the station are reduced and, during the life of this Agreement, such station is subsequently re-opened or manpower at such station is increased employees covered by this Agreement shall be recalled and the following process will apply. Employees who had station protection at that station at the time of closing or reduction shall be offered on a one-time basis, the first opportunity to fill covered positions in classification seniority order. If an employee offered such a position accepts and is returned to work at that station during the duration of this Agreement, such employee shall have his original station protection reinstated.  If an employee offered such a position declines, such employee will remain in the status and location the employee occupies at that time and any future openings at such station will be filled using the Recall and Filling of Vacancies articles in this Agreement (Articles 12 and 9).

Parallel Operations

LL. If the Company establishes any new airline or acquires a controlling interest in any carrier, which operates jet aircraft, and mainline pilots on the American Airlines, Inc. pilot seniority list perform revenue flying utilizing such aircraft, then all covered aircraft maintenance work on such aircraft shall be performed by employees covered by this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

MM. If the Company allows its code to be placed on any flight and the flight utilizes jet aircraft and mainline pilots on the American Airlines, Inc. pilot seniority list perform revenue flying utilizing such aircraft, then all covered aircraft maintenance work on such aircraft shall be performed by employees covered by this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of this Article.