Allegiant Pilot Assistance Network (APAN)

Allegiant Pilots Assistance Network (APAN) Mission Statement:

APAN is devoted to pilot peer support with its two primary components: Well-Being Support and Incident Response. Through empathetic and affirming communication styles, we assist pilots with framing situations and more fully conceptualizing solutions. Our method is rooted in strong communication skills, a larger union and external resource network, and training in psychological mindfulness techniques. Through strong support and empowerment, APAN enables flight crew leaders to speak up and fully participate in the safety culture. Through these efforts, APAN aims to ensure Allegiant pilots have the support, resilience, and confidence to meet challenges both professionally and personally.

When and why should a pilot contact APAN?

  • To notify of an Accident or Incident, please call the union office at (702) 268-7591. Also email APAN@APA2118.ORG with your name, contact information, and details regarding the incident/ accident (flight number, type of airplane, location, type of incident/accident, and any involved agencies). Our union and APAN leadership will determine a need to activate the incident response team or Go-Team.
  • For all other concerns, we are here to help. If you have recurring thoughts, please reach out. If you feel overwhelmed, or overly emotional or unemotional, or just plain down give us a call. If you feel helpless or hopeless or both helpless and hopeless, reach out! Our members section – right panel view has direct numbers.
  • If you feel concerns you raise are not being addressed or your coping methods aren’t giving you the desired piece of mind, it’s best to give us a chance to help. There are so many situations we cannot list them all.
  • If there is a medical emergency dial 911. If there is a serious risk of self-harm dial 988. Follow-up with our team as situation stabilizes for ongoing assistance.
  • More resources and contacts available following member login including volunteer list and direct numbers.

I am concerned about someone I flew with or in which I have personal connection. Can I reach out for help?

When you have a colleague or friend needing someone to talk to, let us contact them with no assumption of support. Email us at APAN@APA2118.ORG with your details and connection to the situation. We will reach out for more information. Awareness of our committee is still lacking, so we can easily share who we are and what we do without assuming there is any need to support a peer.

Will anyone know we talked?

No. We only document that a call occurred. We keep all shared information confidential. The only exception is to safeguard lives in danger from abuse, life threatening harm to self or to others.

This sounds like other peer programs. What makes APAN different?

  • APAN focuses on a deeper level of conceptualizing and realizing.
  • Due to our need for timely decision making, pilots often glaze over things and execute decisions promptly. Sometimes the process needs just a bit more time to understand nuance and other considerations.
  • APAN is like CRM for challenges off duty and out of the flight deck. As pilots, we think so much alike. Through extensive training, our volunteer team has a unique ability to delve a bit deeper and offer meaningful suggestions.
  • APAN helps us understand traps we all experience in our career. Through work with psychologists, we share common responses to stress and trauma that help make the unique things we experience following accidents, incidents, or unique circumstances more understandable.
  • We understand how our training conditions us to be fully present in the moment following one emergency to be prepared for the next “threat.” Once those threats cease, we are challenged to make time to fully embody what just happened. And we can fear adverse judgement from others for something that is understandably jarring.

Why is Stress such a big deal?

  • While stress is a normal part of life, improper stress management leads to many chronic medical conditions that sideline careers. They also lead to psychological distress that can alter decision-making and emotional regulation.
  • The Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Index predicts major stress related injury probability of 50-80% within two years from compounding stressors related to 43 conditions including death, divorce, marriage, separation, major workplace changes, kids in college, holiday plans, vacations, etc. This tool provides you a quantitative expression of what you already feel.
  • The real concern is that stress related injuries occur over a prolonged period from ignoring the symptoms as they present. We can help with the management of these stresses and understand better prioritizing to reduce excess stress.
  • Incident response is our first chance at fully realizing a stress filled situation. We speak to healing the brain and alleviate the effects of stress. We speak to the senses and perception of the event to uncover potentially hidden triggers.
  • As more stress filled situations arise inside or outside the flight deck, our Well-Being Support team can revisit other relevant situations (as they present) to properly frame emotional responses.

We speak to resources and collaborate on future steps. We promote unique perspectives that better address the root issue(s).

Just like other peer led programs, volunteer pilots use listening skills to assist their peers with respect and affirmation. Unlike other peer programs, our training is a deeper dive into the world of clinical psychology and other presenting conditions. Our team spans a larger swath of the pilot group with relatable life experiences to cover more of life’s unpredictable circumstances.

Examples of Support (and additional support committees):

  • Company investigation (steward)
  • Family / Relationships (EAP/ MHP referral)
  • Family / Financial (G4-PAF)
  • Marriage/Divorce (EAP/ MHP referral/ Benefits)
  • CRM issues (Pro-Standards/ Safety)
  • Flight Incidents like TA/RA, RTO, Smoke/Fume, Emergency (Safety)
  • Interpersonal crew conflicts (Pro-Standards)
  • Flight Training (Training / Scheduling / Pro-Standards)
  • Immigration Status (Steward)
  • Medical Certification (Aeromedical)
  • CBA Compliance (Grievance/ steward/ scheduling, etc.)
  • Pay Issue (Payroll)
  • Substance use concern (HIMS)
  • Just need to Vent
  • Feelings that won’t Cease

Regardless of what life or our workplace deals you, APAN is here to listen. We seek peace of mind that comes from open sharing with no fear of judgement or consternation.

Our team can be reached at APAN@APA2118.org. When contacting us, please include your name, contact information, time zone, and the best time to call. Our volunteers are located across multiple pilot bases and training centers, allowing us to provide support throughout the network.