Definitions

§ 42101. Definitions (a) General.—In this subchapter— (1) “eligible protected employee” means a protected employee who is deprived of employment, or who is adversely affected related to compensation, because of a qualifying dislocation. (2) “major contraction” means a reduction (except as provided in subsection (b) of this section) of at least 7.5 percent 108 STAT. 1158in the number of full-time employees of an air carrier within a 12-month period, except for employees deprived of employment because of a strike or whose employment is ended for cause. (3) “protected employee” means an individual who on October 24, 1978, had been employed for at least 4 years by an air carrier that held a certificate under section 401 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, but does not include a director or officer of a corporation. (4) “qualifying dislocation” means a bankruptcy or major contraction of an air carrier holding a certificate under section 41102 of this title when the Secretary of Transportation finds the bankruptcy or contraction occurred after December 31, 1978, and before January 1, 1989, the major cause of which was the change in regulatory structure provided by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. (b) Major Contraction.—The Secretary may find a reduction of less than 7.5 percent of the number of full-time employees is part of a major contraction if the Secretary decides another reduction is likely to occur within the 12-month period in which the first reduction occurs that, when included with the first reduction, will result in a total reduction of more than 7.5 percent.