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Flight attendants at American Airlines requested today that federal approval be given to end contract talks and move towards the 30-day cooling off period requisite before a strike. The National Mediation Board must declare talks at an impasse and approve a cooling-off period before a walkout can take place. Talks between the airline and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) began in June of 2008 - they have been made difficult by falling shares on AA. Already, almost 1,500 flight attendants are on furlough. The 16,000 member union has said that it will conduct a strike authorization vote in the next few weeks, while the airline says it hopes to continue negotiating, feeling that some progress has been made recently. In the event of a strike, AA has been looking into training other members of its staff to serve as temporary flight attendants. No major airline, including AA, has experienced a strike of any kind since baggage handlers at Northwest struck in 2005.