Professional Standards Committee

Mission Statement of the Professional Standards Committee (ProStandards)

The Professional Standards Committee (ProStandards) is dedicated to fostering a culture of professionalism, integrity, and mutual respect among Allegiant pilots. Comprised of trained peer representatives who are union volunteers and line pilots, our committee addresses highly sensitive personal, ethical, and professional issues with strict confidentiality to protect the privacy of all involved. The Professional Standards Committee operates with a commitment to confidentiality and respect for privacy, ensuring that all matters are handled discreetly and professionally. We aim to help conflicted parties reach mutually agreed-upon solutions, fostering a safe and collaborative working environment.

Issues We Do and Do Not Address

ProStandards acts as a forum for voluntary peer-to-peer mediation between pilots. Many times, pilots use ProStandards as a sounding board for a reality check or a place to simply vent and bounce something off an interested peer who is acting as a neutral, nonjudgmental third party. These conversations always remain private. While the committee representatives can be very good listeners, they cannot necessarily “fix” someone’s problem or resolve a conflict unless both parties are willing to be part of the solution.

Issues that ProStandards may address:

  • Breakdowns in communication
  • CRM issues
  • Cockpit/Cabin management style
  • Failure to follow SOPs
  • Distracting personal habits
  • Poor crew communication
  • Crew appearance

Issues that ProStandards does not address:

  • An incident that caused a safety of flight issue (ASAP) – See ASAP
  • Any violation of a Federal Aviation Regulation – See Safety
  • Any substance or alcohol abuse – See HIMS
  • Any work rule grievance-related problem – See Stewards
  • Sexual harassment

Confidentiality vs. Anonymity

ProStandards operates in strict confidentiality between all parties involved; it does not offer anonymity. Best results are achieved when both parties are actively engaged in the process of conflict resolution. It is misguided to assume interpersonal issues may be dropped in the lap of ProStandards to find a solution, without revealing who brought the issue forward. That approach can lead to an accusatory and non-productive debate.

In the case of a conflict between two individuals, if both parties are not willing to be identified, ProStandards may not be the proper forum and the party looking for help may need to seek resolutions elsewhere. Oftentimes, pilots want to remain anonymous out of a fear of retribution. This is a needless concern; retribution is simply not acceptable. The seeds of retribution are often sown when the communication loop is not closed and parties are not talking to each other. The subject of the complaint can feel blindsided or out of the loop, leading to the perception that he or she was “turned in” to ProStandards. To avoid such scenarios, when helping facilitate the resolution of disputes, ProStandards expects that both parties will reveal their issues in a candid and safe demeanor to ensure that the best results may be achieved.

As a side note, it is important to understand that a pilot cannot be “turned in” to ProStandards. The committee is a non-punitive entity with the primary purpose of assisting pilots resolve issues with peers at the lowest levels without involving management.

Addressing Issues With a Mind Toward Effective CRM

Simply brushing our issues ‘under the rug’ does not solve anything and can lead to larger problems down the road. It is incumbent upon all of us as Professional Pilots to address issues in earnestness to ensure effective CRM and safety in our workplace.

ProStandards exists to help the conflicted parties reach a mutually agreed upon solution, end the conflict and be able to fly together safely.

Summary

In practical terms, confidentiality simply means that only those who have a direct need to know may have knowledge of the matter. Any information shared between the involved parties will remain strictly within ProStandards. Privacy is always maintained. ProStandards members do not talk freely about cases in the crew room, to other coworkers or to management. Union leaders are not privy to names and conversations unless the matter before the ProStandards representative(s) involves potential company discipline. In that case, ProStandards may refer the parties to a Steward for further representation.

For reasons previously mentioned, any issues of a sensitive or personal nature—or issues involving conflict between two or more individuals—require confidentiality and respect for the privacy of any conversation that takes place. However, sometimes it may be necessary for more than one ProStandards representative to be privy to a situation. This is not a violation of confidentiality and has proven to be helpful in successfully resolving a conflict.
Instrumental in helping pilots maintain a healthy career track, the ProStandards’ approach to conflict resolution has proven itself over the years and has a long track record of success.

If you have any questions or if ProStandards can be of assistance, email prostandards@apa2118.org with only your name and contact information. One of the committee members will reach out to you shortly.

Fraternally,
Your Professional Standards Committee