ATC Push

NATCA, FAA reach tentative agreement for Staff Specialists

9 Apr 2010 05:48:02 GMT

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the Federal Aviation Administration have tentatively agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that covers FAA employees who work as Staff Support Specialists...

NATCA applauds Senate passage of FAA reauthorization Bill

23 Mar 2010 17:29:57 GMT

National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Paul Rinaldi released the following statement after the Senate voted 93-0 Monday to pass the FAA reauthorization bill...

NATCA applauds President's call to upgrade the ATC system

20 Feb 2010 00:35:41 GMT

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is applauding President Obama’s call today to upgrade our air traffic control system and use the best technologies to increase its efficiency...

NATCA Celebrates Engineers Week

17 Feb 2010 19:32:51 GMT

In honor of its aviation engineers and safety professionals, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association is celebrating Engineers Week...

Update: Pilots and aviation stakeholders have sent over 550 letters to Congress to ask for inclusive FAA Facility Realignment process

16 Feb 2010 18:47:55 GMT

localairportsmatter.com - Pilots and aviation stakeholders from Ohio and other locations around the country affected by the possibility of losing local air traffic control radar services have sent over 550 letters to their members of Congress

Staffing at busy New York Radar Facility dips to post-1981 low; NY Congressional delegation express deep concern

2 Feb 2010 23:09:58 GMT

Staffing of fully trained and certified air traffic controllers at the FAA radar facility that handles the climb and approach phases of flight in the busy New York airspace, including all flights into and out of Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports, has reached a critically low level...

Controller staffing plummets at busy California FAA facility; Safety now an issue as errors on the rise

29 Jan 2010 23:37:08 GMT

The number of fully trained and certified air traffic controllers at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), the nation’s busiest Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control facility that handles the climb and approach phases of flight, has plummeted 26 percent...

NATCA asks FAA: "What's your plan for realigning Air Traffic Control facilities?"

26 Jan 2010 19:36:10 GMT

– A special committee of National Air Traffic Controllers Association representatives met last week in an attempt to dissect and review the Federal Aviation Administration’s active, but as yet undisclosed, plan to split and/or close Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities from their accompanying airport control towers...

Holiday travel advice from Air Traffic Controllers

16 Dec 2009 03:40:38 GMT

Who better to advise the flying public regarding holiday travel than the nation’s air traffic controllers...

Familiar FAA modernization failures exposed in Thursday travel mess

21 Nov 2009 00:57:06 GMT

Just hours before the start of one of the busiest air travel weeks of the year, the Federal Aviation Administration’s flawed patchwork network of outsourced and poorly backed-up communications systems of questionable reliability was exposed for the nation...

NATCA praises Senators who are pushing for passage of FAA Funding Bill "without further delay"

13 Nov 2009 05:30:05 GMT

Led by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., a bipartisan group of 35 Senators have sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., calling for passage of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill (S. 1451) “without further delay”...

NATCA tells House Panel: "FAA should learn from RTCA and collaborate with NATCA on NEXTGEN"

28 Oct 2009 20:31:39 GMT

Expressing NATCA’s strongest support to date for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Next Generation Air Transportation System, NATCA Director of Safety and Technology Dale Wright urged the FAA during Congressional testimony today to adopt the NextGen recommendations from the RTCA task force...

NATCA salutes U.S. Controllers, IFATCA, on International Day of the Air Traffic Controller

20 Oct 2009 18:56:23 GMT

Saluting the exceptional safety record, skill and dedication of the air traffic controllers it represents nationwide, NATCA today is joining with its colleagues around the world in recognizing “International Day of the Air Traffic Controller”...

NATCA endorses Rep. Capuano for Massachusetts U.S. Senate Seat

20 Oct 2009 04:57:20 GMT

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which represents over 15,000 air traffic controllers nationwide along with several thousand other aviation safety professionals, proudly announced today that it is endorsing the candidacy of Rep. Mike Capuano, D-Mass...

Rushed FAA test of NEXTGEN computer system unsuccessful; NATCA wants to help make it work but Agency continues to shut door

7 Oct 2009 18:53:34 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration early last Saturday morning rushed another key test of a problem-plagued and oft-delayed new computer system for the nation’s large, regional air traffic control facilities...

NATCA members vote to ratify new collective bargaining agreement with FAA

23 Sep 2009 20:43:00 GMT

A three-year-long effort to throw out Federal Aviation Administration-imposed work and pay rules and restore fairness and stability to the collective bargaining process and the air traffic controller workforce neared conclusion on Wednesday...

Paul M. Rinaldi elected NATCA President

18 Sep 2009 02:15:35 GMT

Paul M. Rinaldi, an 18-year veteran air traffic controller from Washington-Dulles Tower, won a runoff election on Thursday with a record number of votes...

NATCA to Senate Subcommittee: FAA New York Task Force recommendations would make busy airspace safer

15 Sep 2009 23:07:40 GMT

Newark air traffic controller Edward Kragh, NATCA’s representative to the Federal Aviation Administration’s New York Visual Flight Rules Airspace Task Force which examined the airspace above the Hudson River after the Aug. 8 mid-air collision, told the Senate Aviation Subcommittee today that NATCA supports the task force’s recommendations...

NATCA reaction to FAA Hudson River task force recommendations

3 Sep 2009 06:41:35 GMT

Eddie Kragh, NATCA Representative to the tack force and a Newark air traffic controller...

NATCA reaction to NTSB recommendations on Hudson River exclusion zone

28 Aug 2009 00:03:58 GMT

NATCA President Patrick Forrey today had the following reaction to the NTSB’s recommendations on the Hudson River exclusion zone airspace...

NATCA strongly disputes NTSB inference of controller responsibility in Hudson river crash sequence

17 Aug 2009 19:55:05 GMT

Air traffic controllers today are strongly disputing misleading and – in one passage – outright false parts of Friday’s NTSB Hudson River mid-air crash press release

NATCA statement on FAA announcement

14 Aug 2009 03:38:25 GMT

NATCA released the following statement in response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s announcement regarding investigations into the Aug. 8 Hudson River mid-air collision...

Controller plays crucial role in saving infant's life

6 Aug 2009 19:38:50 GMT

At 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning the pilot of a Lifeguard flight from St. Thomas bound for Miami radioed controllers at Miami Center for help because an infant on board fell into critical condition...

Runoff election declared in race for NATCA President

6 Aug 2009 19:38:47 GMT

A run-off election was declared between NATCA Presidential candidates Ruth Marlin and Paul Rinaldi...

NATCA endorses Richard L. Trumka for AFL-CIO President

29 Jul 2009 19:25:21 GMT

NATCA lends its enthusiastic support for AFL-CIO President to Richard L. Trumka, a loyal activist for working men and women everywhere...

NATCA urges swift passage of Senate FAA Reauthorization Bill

22 Jul 2009 18:42:18 GMT

National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Patrick Forrey released the following statement after the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved a two-year FAA reauthorization bill on Tuesday...

Shoestring staffing at major Washington regional radar facility forces closure of busy airspace; Raleigh traffic most affected

20 Jun 2009 21:27:38 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday evening was forced to close several air corridors above eastern North Carolina for 30 minutes as a desperation move to avoid a serious safety risk...

FAA creates an instant staffing problem with unwise split of Memphis Tower/Radar Facility

19 Jun 2009 23:26:07 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration’s highly controversial rush to split the tower and radar control functions at Memphis International Airport last week has created an immediate staffing shortage...

Utah Congressional delegation asks FAA to delay implementation of ERAM, citing safety concerns

13 Jun 2009 00:16:07 GMT

Republican Senators Orrin Hatch and Robert Bennett of Utah, along with two of that state’s Congressmen, Rep. Jim Matheson (D) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R), have written to ask FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt to delay next week’s scheduled implementation at Salt Lake Center of the agency’s major new computer system...

FAA rejects concerns from Congress, NATCA; splits Memphis air traffic facility

10 Jun 2009 20:48:10 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration last Sunday moved forward with a rushed plan to split the tower and radar control functions at Memphis International Airport, advancing a controversial management agenda and rejecting a torrent of concern from Congress...

NATCA denounces Commerce Secy. decision to advance plan to close weather service units at regional FAA centers

5 Jun 2009 03:19:55 GMT

The nation’s air traffic controllers today are strongly denouncing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke’s decision to move forward with a controversial plan to close the National Weather Service Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs) located at each of the 21 FAA regional en route centers...

NATCA congratulates Randy Babbitt on his Senate confirmation

22 May 2009 05:42:53 GMT

National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Patrick Forrey made the following statement on this evening’s Senate confirmation of Randy Babbitt, who now begins his five-year term as the new administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration...

NATCA praises Chairmen Oberstar, Costello, for passage of crucial House FAA Reauthorization Bill

22 May 2009 05:39:45 GMT

Reprising its bold 2007 effort to provide for a safer, modernized air traffic control system, the U.S. House of Representatives today, by a 277-136 vote, passed a crucial FAA Reauthorization bill (H.R. 915)...

Mediation on FAA-NATCA contract dispute begins

20 May 2009 04:42:46 GMT

Mediation aimed at ending an ongoing contract dispute between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) began yesterday...

NATCA says thank you to Congressman Hastings with its "Sentinel of Safety" award

18 May 2009 21:08:15 GMT

Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., whose impassioned dedication to aviation safety has been highlighted by his efforts to demand accountability and a thorough examination of flawed and secretive Federal Aviation Administration efforts to realign air traffic control facilities and services in Florida and across the country, was presented with NATCA’s “Sentinel of Safety” award on Monday...

As Memphis controllers protest FAA split facility plan, NATCA fights for safety on capitol hill, urging passage of FAA bill

13 May 2009 19:44:35 GMT

At the same time as air traffic controllers picketed Wednesday afternoon outside the terminal at Memphis International Airport to protest the FAA’s rushed and flawed decision to split radar operations from the tower next month, NATCA President Patrick Forrey told the Senate Aviation Subcommittee that an FAA Reauthorization bill is urgently needed...

NATCA President Patrick Forrey statement on Obama Administration announcement

30 Apr 2009 19:41:47 GMT

National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Patrick Forrey released this statement following the announcement today by the Obama Administration that it will appoint a team of mediators to immediately address the contract dispute...

Inspector General staffing report validates NATCA's concerns

28 Apr 2009 02:59:45 GMT

A report released today by the Department of Transportation Inspector General on the critical air traffic controller staffing issues at three major California FAA facilities vindicates what the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has long said...

Heroic controllers coach passenger to safe landing after pilot's trafic mid-air death

13 Apr 2009 18:20:58 GMT

In what can only be called an Easter miracle several air traffic controllers in Southern Florida were able to guide a plane to a successful landing after its pilot fell unconscious and a passenger had to fly the aircraft...

Antiquated Savannah radar still in use, radar outage results

7 Apr 2009 19:13:09 GMT

From 6:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning the air traffic control facility at Savannah airport lost its radar...

NATCA congratulates Randy Babbitt on FAA administrator nomination

27 Mar 2009 22:23:12 GMT

NATCA President Patrick Forrey released the following statement today following President Obama's announcement of Randy Babbitt as his FAA administrator designee...

NATCA supports Nextgen, says Union "must be an active participant"

25 Mar 2009 18:42:13 GMT

NATCA’s top safety and technology expert, former Atlanta and Charlotte air traffic controller Dale Wright, reaffirmed for the Senate Aviation Subcommittee today the union’s full support of the NextGen air traffic control system...

New NATCA radio ad promotes our commitment to safety in face of FAA-forced labor, staffing problems

22 Mar 2009 19:46:57 GMT

This week, we finalized work on a new 60-second radio ad that will begin airing on Monday (March 23) in New York City. Listen to the ad here...

Forrey: Nextgen can only succeed if FAA collaborates with NATCA

18 Mar 2009 18:48:31 GMT

NATCA President Patrick Forrey today told the House Aviation Subcommittee that the union remains completely committed to the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System..

Busted! Smoking-gun Denver FAA memo admits lack of experienced controllers affecting safety

17 Mar 2009 19:13:33 GMT

This story proves that the FAA has been wrong in stating that its imposed work rules and pay cuts on controllers (imposed Sept. 3, 2006) saves money...

Latest FAA technical glitch shows folly of agency refusing collaboration with controllers

10 Mar 2009 19:11:40 GMT

The latest in a long line of technical glitches on one of the cornerstones of the Federal Aviation Administration’s “NextGen” project – the modernization of air traffic control procedures for aircraft flying over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans...

Lake Charles controller wins NATCA president's award for best flight assist in Archie League Medal of Safety Awards

4 Mar 2009 17:54:37 GMT

Air traffic controller John Charlton of Lake Charles, La. Tower was presented with the NATCA President’s Award last night at the Archie League Medal of Safety Awards banquet...

NATCA honors controllers with Archie League Medal of Safety awards for heroic flight

3 Mar 2009 19:46:25 GMT

NATCA is honoring some of its finest heroes today for their outstanding contributions to preserving the safety of the flying public – demonstrating extraordinary capability in critical flight assists in 2008...

NATCA Safety Conference and Archie League Medal of Safety Awards Webcast Live This Week

2 Mar 2009 22:08:55 GMT

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association this week is holding its annual Communicating for Safety conference and Archie League Medal of Safety awards at the Rio in Las Vegas...

Dallas-Fort Worth center controllers fighting to keep safe system for predicting hazardous weather

23 Feb 2009 18:44:20 GMT

To save money the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to remove on-site weather forecasters from the Dallas-Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and the other 20 centers across the country...

Oakland center controllers fighting to keep safe system for predicting hazardous weather

20 Feb 2009 20:51:27 GMT

In a cost-cutting move the FAA will remove all on-site weather forecasters from Oakland Center and every air route traffic control center (ARTCC) across the country...

Cleveland center controllers fighting to keep safe system for predicting hazardous weather

20 Feb 2009 20:43:34 GMT

To save money the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to remove on-site weather forecasters from the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and the other 20 centers across the country...

NATCA observes engineers week

20 Feb 2009 19:36:16 GMT

In observing National Engineers Week (February 15-21), NATCA would like to recognize the 1,800 engineers in its bargaining units for not only their professional dedication and contributions but for their committed relationship with NATCA...

Chicago center controllers fighting to keep safe system for predicting hazardous weather

19 Feb 2009 18:27:52 GMT

Air traffic controllers at the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), along with their on-site meteorologists, are asking the FAA to cancel its plan to remove weather forecasters in order to cut costs...

Atlanta center controllers fighting to keep safe system for predicting hazardous weather

19 Feb 2009 18:23:57 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants to remove all on-site meteorologists from the 21 air route traffic control centers (ARTCCs) across the country, including Atlanta Center.

Minneapolis center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

17 Feb 2009 19:21:55 GMT

Putting cost above safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to remove on-site weather forecasters from Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)...

Albuquerque center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

17 Feb 2009 19:19:34 GMT

Putting cost above safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to remove on-site weather forecasters from Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)...

FAA trying to eliminate proven, safe system for weather forecasting

12 Feb 2009 18:57:37 GMT

Air traffic controllers at Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and their on-site meteorologists oppose an FAA plan that will remove the weather forecasters to save money, relocating them to two facilities in Kansas City and College Park, Md...

Salt Lake center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

12 Feb 2009 18:51:01 GMT

In a cost-cutting move the FAA will remove all on-site weather forecasters from Salt Lake Center and every air route traffic control center (ARTCC) around the country. Both NATCA and the National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO) oppose this plan...

Seattle center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

11 Feb 2009 20:34:24 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to remove all on-site weather forecasters from Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), in addition to removing them from every one of the FAA’s 21 ARTCCs around the country, in order to save money...

NATCA President testifies on FAA reauthorization act of 2009

11 Feb 2009 20:17:47 GMT

NATCA President Patrick Forrey testified today in front of the House’s Aviation Subcommittee on the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, H.R. 915..

Kansas City center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

11 Feb 2009 19:05:02 GMT

In order to save money the Federal Aviation Administration has decided to remove all on-site weather forecasters in 21 air route traffic control centers across the country – The Kansas City Center air traffic controllers oppose this potentially dangerous plan...

Jacksonville center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

11 Feb 2009 19:02:05 GMT

In order to save money the Federal Aviation Administration has decided to remove all on-site weather forecasters in 21 air route traffic control centers across the country – The Jacksonville Center air traffic controllers oppose this potentially dangerous plan...

NATCA President Forrey: FAA security breach inexcusable, preventable

10 Feb 2009 21:49:15 GMT

NATCA President Patrick Forrey issued the following statement today in response to the news Monday that hackers got into the Federal Aviation Administration’s server last week and accessed personal data from 45,000 FAA employees, including names and Social Security numbers...

Anchorage center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

10 Feb 2009 21:42:52 GMT

In order to save money the Federal Aviation Administration has decided to remove all on-site weather forecasters in 21 air route traffic control centers across the country – The Anchorage Center air traffic controllers oppose this potentially dangerous plan...

Denver center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

10 Feb 2009 19:08:05 GMT

Putting cost above safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to remove on-site weather forecasters from Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)...

Houston center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

10 Feb 2009 17:39:23 GMT

In order to cut costs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to remove all on-site weather forecasters from Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) in addition to all of the FAA’s 21 air route traffic control centers across the country – putting the flying public at risk with this potentially dangerous move...

Los Angeles Center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

9 Feb 2009 18:50:23 GMT

Air traffic controllers at Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and their on-site meteorologists are asking the FAA to cancel its plan to remove the weather forecasters in order to cut costs....

Without safe staffing in Fairbanks, FAA needlessly threatens lives of pilots, passengers

9 Feb 2009 18:45:03 GMT

After years of progress and modernization designed to prevent aircraft from crashing into mountainous terrain, the Federal Aviation Administration has taken a big step backward in Fairbanks...

Miami center controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

5 Feb 2009 18:41:38 GMT

In a potentially dangerous move the Federal Aviation Administration plans to remove on-site weather forecasters from Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) in order to cut costs...

Indianapolis center air traffic controllers ask FAA: Please keep meteorologists here

27 Jan 2009 18:22:36 GMT

Air traffic controllers at the Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center today are joining with their on-site weather forecasting colleagues in asking the Federal Aviation Administration to shelve plans to pull the meteorologists out of the facility...

Why the FAA's Orlando plan is unsafe: Controllers, pilots stage protest

26 Jan 2009 23:34:58 GMT

Starting today at Orlando International Airport air traffic controllers are protesting against an ill-advised FAA plan that separated the tower and radar approach control jobs for Orlando air traffic controllers...

Statement by NATCA President Patrick Forrey about Thursday's "Miracle on the Hudson"

17 Jan 2009 22:31:43 GMT

The following is a statement by National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Patrick Forrey, reflecting on Thursday’s amazing chapter in America’s proud aviation history, the safe water landing and evacuation of US Airways Flight 1549...

Memphis Center Controllers to FAA: Keep meteorologists here

13 Jan 2009 19:20:52 GMT

Air traffic controllers at the Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center today are joining with their on-site weather forecasting colleagues in calling for an end to plans by the Federal Aviation Administration to pull the meteorologists out of the facility

FAA ignores Congress, plans to needlessly threaten Orlando air safety starting Sunday

31 Dec 2008 19:00:21 GMT

Despite vocal opposition from a bipartisan Florida Congressional delegation to the Federal Aviation Administration's ill-conceived plan to separate radar and tower functions at Orlando International Airport, the FAA still plans to move forward this Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009...

2008: Another year of FAA failure on key safety issue

31 Dec 2008 18:54:59 GMT

Burdened by an increasingly inexperienced workforce and a continuation of failed staffing and labor relations policies, the Federal Aviation Administration has admitted that not only did it fail in fiscal year 2008 to meet its own performance goals for one of its most critical safety issues – incidents involving planes getting too close – but the agency is off to a poor start to the new fiscal year as well...

Airlines force FAA to halt new N.Y. holding procedures; FAA may still be foolish enough to try again today

31 Dec 2008 18:39:22 GMT

After a one-day delay due to a controller shortage, the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday rammed through its ill-advised and inefficient new airspace procedures for a holding pattern above New York. But the plan lasted all of a few short hours...

FAA can't implement new N.Y. holding procedures; not enough controllers!

30 Dec 2008 18:47:38 GMT

Air travelers in the Northeast corridor have caught a slight break, albeit most likely temporary. The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday was unable to implement its flawed and inefficient new airspace procedures for a holding pattern above New York...

FAA forces controller to work 13 straight hours

29 Dec 2008 20:51:43 GMT

An air traffic controller at Griffiss International Airport was forced by his Federal Aviation Administration supervisor to work 13 straight hours, from 4 p.m. EST Saturday to 5 a.m. EST Sunday, in a gross violation of federal air regulations...

New N.Y./Philly delays expected due to ill-conceived FAA plan

29 Dec 2008 18:47:57 GMT

So you thought the flight delays last week due to bad holiday weather were miserable? Try dealing with what will likely be a fresh set of delays starting today if you’re flying out of New York or Philadelphia...

NATCA statement on Transportation Secretary-Designee Ray LaHood

20 Dec 2008 00:58:58 GMT

NATCA President Patrick Forrey released the following statement today following President-elect Barack Obama's announcement of U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., as his transportation secretary designee...

Bipartisan Congressional coalition opposes FAA plan for Orlando

20 Dec 2008 00:56:32 GMT

Despite repeated safety warnings and fierce opposition from air traffic controllers and a bipartisan Congressional coalition, the Federal Aviation Administration is intent on moving forward in a mad dash before Inauguration Day to separate the tower and radar approach control jobs for Orlando air traffic controllers...

New York Airspace Czar demands misguided change in holding pattern control

15 Dec 2008 18:56:49 GMT

In a purely political decision that relegates flight safety and efficiency to a lesser priority, the New York airspace "czar," Marie Kennington-Gardiner, has demanded that the airspace currently used for holding patterns to accommodate delayed aircraft into New York’s Kennedy International Airport be forcibly transferred from New York Air Route Traffic Control Center to New York Terminal Radar Approach Control...

FAA misleads public in conveying controller involvement in agency's flawed airspace redesign project

10 Dec 2008 19:09:45 GMT

In an article posted on the FAA website on December 2, the agency gave several misleading statements regarding the controller workforce. The article, “Controllers in the Loop to Help Reduce New York Congestions” led readers to believe that NATCA had collaborated with the FAA in improving traffic flow in the New York area and Philadelphia...

The Truth is Told at the FAA’s Ceremony Announcing the New Command Center

6 Dec 2008 05:29:25 GMT

Yesterday, at the FAA’s ground breaking ceremony for the new Command Center set to open in Warrenton, VA in 2011, a plane was spotted flying with a banner trailing behind it...

New low for safety margin at critically short-staffed Atlanta Tracon: 18 safety incidents in 61 days

3 Dec 2008 18:39:13 GMT

The airspace around the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International, is safe, thanks to the dedication and skill of an increasingly overburdened, fatigued and understaffed workforce of experienced air traffic controllers at the Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). However, the margin of safety is eroding every day...

Another communications outage at Washington Center cripples flight operations to and from the New York area

21 Nov 2008 05:36:50 GMT

Busy Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center has experienced yet another outage, only a month after a chaotic radio outage in October. Responsible for safely directing high altitude air traffic in an airspace spanning over D.C., Delaware, and parts of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, Washington Center has had its fair share of outages recently...

Controllers support new runways but have concerns

20 Nov 2008 20:21:09 GMT

Just in time for Thanksgiving, President Bush and Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announce today the opening of three new delay-reducing runways at Dulles, O’Hare and Seattle-Tacoma airports. While the hype is heavy the overall effect that these runways will have is weak, with one entirely useless, another increasing the risk of runway incursions and only one being remotely beneficial to the airport operation...

FAA covering up new batch of Newark incidents in which planes flew the wrong way due to agency failures on airspace redesign project

20 Nov 2008 06:45:39 GMT

On Monday (Nov. 17), three more planes flew the wrong heading after departing Newark Liberty International Airport, including a plane operated by the Federal Aviation Administration. That brings the total number of departures that have flown the wrong way to more than 20...

Make Nextgen new again: Air Traffic Controllers must be invited to collaborate on a fix for FAA's faulty nextgen system

17 Nov 2008 18:37:31 GMT

Air traffic controllers are hopeful of having a greater voice and input in how the air traffic control system is modernized in the Obama Administration. First on the list of improvements to make is to renovate a flawed key technological component of the FAA’s NextGen system – the ATOP system...

FAA rushes to try and implement service-degrading engineer consolidation plan, ignoring congressional opposition

11 Nov 2008 00:36:11 GMT

In its latest large-scale move to try and cut costs by reducing critical aviation safety services, the Federal Aviation Administration has begun to implement its “Engineering Services Efficiency Plan (ESEP)” which will move 362 FAA engineers away from where they’re most needed. The move marks the boldest thumbing of the FAA’s nose to widespread Congressional opposition to the plan to date...

NATCA congratulates President-Elect Obama, looks forward to working together for a safer, more efficient aviation system

6 Nov 2008 18:51:43 GMT

The nation’s air traffic controllers and aviation safety professionals, represented by NATCA, are joining today in the exuberant celebration of the historic election of Barack Obama and extend their congratulations to him on this special day of restored hope for the United States of America.

FAA violated due process in punishing controller wrongly disciplined after a physical altercation initiated by supervisor

30 Oct 2008 18:50:02 GMT

A Kansas City controller, wrongfully suspended after an FAA supervisor initiated a physical altercation with him on the job, was fully exonerated with the help of the Department of Labor, the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) and an arbitrator...

After snubbing the controller workforce for two years, the FAA now calls upon it to recruit the next generation

29 Oct 2008 20:10:43 GMT

The FAA plans to implement a new program in order to attract more new hires to the quickly diminishing air traffic controller workforce.

FAA communications outage leaves Washington Center air traffic controllers in 10-minute chaotic scramble to keep flights safe

15 Oct 2008 19:18:02 GMT

LEESBURG, Va. – There has been another Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control communications failure. This time, it was a radio outage on Monday at Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center that left controllers in one busy sector unable to talk to pilots of aircraft flying above the Richmond, Va., area and scrambling in a chaotic situation to try and keep them safe.

Efforts by NATCA and PASS to press FAA to install defibrillators in facilities finally pays off, for the benefit of 46,000 employees

15 Oct 2008 19:13:09 GMT

On Sept. 26, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it will install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all agency facilities with 50 or more employees during the next year...

Flying public used as Guinea Pigs - Delays caused and fuel wasted to fulfill FAA supervisor's training requirements

14 Oct 2008 19:03:46 GMT

Last Saturday at approximately 4:10 p.m. EDT an FAA Supervisor at Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center ordered several air traffic controllers to issue new routes to four flights for the purpose of generating more traffic for a trainee undergoing a skills check...

Busy Washington Center radar controller twice asks for help and is denied by management; result is two planes come too close

2 Oct 2008 21:03:51 GMT

LEESBURG, Va. – An overloaded Washington Center air traffic controller struggling to handle a dozen planes in challenging conditions twice asked Federal Aviation Administration management officials at the facility last Sunday for help but was denied...

FAA Supervisor takes cell phone call while conducting on-the-job training: runway incident occurs

1 Oct 2008 20:39:02 GMT

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Last Wednesday, in a brazenly callous move, the Federal Aviation Administration supervisor at the Flying Cloud Airport control tower turned his back on runway operations during an on-the-job training exercise to take a call on his cell phone and missed his trainee mistakenly clear an airport vehicle to cross the runway in front of a departing aircraft...

FAA HR Chief objects to her flight's go-around at Boston, orders investigation that shuts down crucial runway safety system

29 Sep 2008 23:17:44 GMT

BOSTON – Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration twice shut down the critical runway safety radar system at Boston Logan International Airport known as AMASS (Airport Movement Area Safety System) on orders from high-level FAA management to investigate a routine, safe go-around event involving an arriving AirTran flight that had on board Ventris Gibson, the FAA’s assistant administrator for human resources management...

NATCA to House Committee: FAA is failing to make our runways safer

25 Sep 2008 19:16:31 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NATCA President Patrick Forrey testified today in front of the House Aviation Subcommittee on the Federal Aviation Administration’s lack of progress and initiative to improve runway safety...

Near-Miss on the runway at Allentown exposes FAA failures that continue to put too many trainees in towers

23 Sep 2008 00:19:01 GMT

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A Mesa Airlines regional jet was forced to abort its takeoff and swerve on the runway to miss a Cessna on Friday evening at Lehigh Valley International Airport. There were two Federal Aviation Administration employees in the tower, both controller trainees...

Louisiana Control Tower at the Center of Refuge from Hurricane Ike Forces to Relinquish Airspace Due to Short Staffing

19 Sep 2008 18:54:29 GMT

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Air traffic controllers at Lake Charles Tower are not only suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, but are also bearing the brunt of a severe staffing shortage. Flight operations into Lake Charles have tripled due to the high amount of helicopter traffic in and out of the area...

AFL-CIO President Sweeney to Reid, Pelosi: "state of affairs at the FAA could not be worse"

18 Sep 2008 19:04:16 GMT

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney continues to lead the fight for a fair collective bargaining process for the nation's air traffic controllers. He and Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, President Ed Wytkind, sent a letter last week to both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declaring that "the current state of affairs at the FAA could not be worse"...

NATCA Testifying against the FAA for the hasty certification of the Eclipse EA-500 at House Aviation Subcommittee Hearing

17 Sep 2008 20:44:11 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) are testifying today on the irresponsible and inappropriate actions taken by the Federal Aviation Administration during certification of the Eclipse EA-500.

Radar outages at two of the country's busiest control facilities highlight more issues with faulty FAA equipment

17 Sep 2008 18:32:30 GMT

SAN DIEGO/MIAMI – Since Sunday there have been two significant operational failures at two of the country’s busiest air traffic control facilities – Southern California TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) and Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center.

Sen. Obama, on transportation infrastructure, vows to direct new FAA Administrator to work cooperatively with controllers

10 Sep 2008 21:54:32 GMT

The Obama campaign has released its transportation infrastructure fact sheet. Included is this paragraph on air traffic control, which addresses the FAA's poor treatment of controllers and difficult working conditions.

Flight Service Specialists in Alaska, at FAA Command Center, Vote to be Represented by NATCA

22 Aug 2008 23:58:05 GMT

NATCA has officially added a new group of Federal Aviation Administration employees to its list of bargaining units. Some 150 air traffic control specialists assigned to the flight service option at Automated Flight Service Stations, Flight Service Stations, and Flight Service Data Processing Systems sites located in Alaska and at the “Weather Unit” of the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Herndon, Va., have voted to be represented by NATCA.

Bipartisan Senate Bill Calls on FAA to Restore Fairness in its Contract Negotiations Process

6 Aug 2008 18:40:51 GMT

Senators Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., have introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure good faith collective bargaining for FAA employees and provide for an impartial impasse resolution process.

Federal Judge Rules in Favor of NATCA Plaintiffs in Suit Claiming FAA Violations of the Federal Overtime Pay Statute

2 Aug 2008 21:27:41 GMT

On July 31, a federal judge issued a 51-page decision finding that the FAA violated the provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act by maintaining comp time and credit hours programs instead of paying time-and-a-half overtime since the implementation of FAA personnel reform in 1996.

Atlanta Radar Facility Nearly Doubles Error Total as Staffing Experience Level Plummets

29 Jul 2008 18:54:24 GMT

With two months left in the fiscal year Atlanta TRACON, the radar facility for the busiest airport in the world, has close to doubled last fiscal year’s total number of incidents in which planes got closer than FAA rules allow.

Jacksonville Controller Resigns After Just One Year due to Poor Working Environment

24 Jul 2008 20:19:35 GMT

Jacksonville controller Keith Schlegel says when he arrived at the air traffic control facility a year ago, "the contract dispute between the controllers and FAA management was well underway" and "the working environment was suffering as a result.

Understaffing Cited as Contributory Factor To Operational Error In Report

23 Jul 2008 18:49:45 GMT

An operational error review board at Kansas City International has cited understaffing as a contributory factor to an operational error that occurred on May 23, 2008. Kansas City Tower’s controller staff is 31 percent below the minimum amount of controllers the FAA calls for.

FAA delays flights into LaGuardia due to controller staffing shortage at New York TRACON

19 Jul 2008 02:39:53 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration today was forced to delay flights headed to New York's LaGuardia Airport because it didn't have enough air traffic controllers at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Westbury, N.Y.

FAA has yet to fix Bermuda radar problem – despite numerous complaints issued by New York Center controllers

18 Jul 2008 05:31:42 GMT

Three weeks ago NATCA issued a release detailing the Bermuda radar failure and how the outage affected New York Center controllers. Since then no significant moves have been made by the FAA to fix the problem.

FAA Issues Fuel Tank Flammability Rule, Ignoring More Stringent Safety Recommendation Made By NATCA

16 Jul 2008 21:27:09 GMT

The FAA Aircraft Certification Engineers, represented by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), though pleased that this important safety rule was issued, are disappointed that the FAA missed an opportunity to greatly enhance airplane safety without significant additional cost.

Miami Center Veteran Controller Resigns Due To FAA's Hostile Work Environment And Disregard For Safety

15 Jul 2008 22:53:15 GMT

Today Miami Center is operating with 192 fully certified controllers and 84 developmental controllers with operational numbers exceeding 2.5 million aircraft a year, up from only 1.5 million operations 15 years ago. Read the resignation letter from Patrick A. Russo, the most recent Miami Center controller to resign.

NATCA To FAA On How To Solve Pending Grievances: Restore 2003 Agreement, Complete Negotiations and Ratify Successor Agreement

13 Jul 2008 04:07:49 GMT

The following is a letter sent Friday by NATCA President Patrick Forrey to FAA's Joseph Miniace.

Newark Controller Files For Whistleblower Protection; ALPA Supports Controllers' Work To Help Pilots With Airspace Changes

10 Jul 2008 20:25:06 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. – Veteran Newark Tower air traffic controller Ray Adams is striking back against harsh intimidation and retaliation tactics used by the Federal Aviation Administration to try and silence both his safety concerns and that of his co-workers regarding procedures for departures and flight paths hastily implemented earlier this year as part of airspace redesign efforts rushed into use without controller involvement.

"Ugly" near-Miss Incident at JFK Airport Last Saturday

8 Jul 2008 02:04:22 GMT

There was a very scary near mid-air collision at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday night (July 5). At approximately 8:30 p.m. EDT, LAN Chile Flight 533 (Boeing 767) was taking off from Runway 13-Right. At the same time, Cayman Airways Flight 792 (Boeing 737) was executing a missed approach on 22-Left, which runs perpendicular off the end of 13-Right.

NATCA Congratulates AOPA President Phil Boyer On His Retirement; Pledges Full Support To Incoming President Craig L. Fuller

2 Jul 2008 20:07:38 GMT

WASHINGTON – NATCA President Patrick Forrey issued the following statement on the announcement Monday that Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Phil Boyer will retire at the end of this year, to be succeeded by Craig L. Fuller.

Audio tape of Reno incident shows seriousness of situation, courage of controllers to handle scenario

30 Jun 2008 22:31:37 GMT

As NATCA reported last week, an air traffic controller forced to work alone due to extreme understaffing in the radar facility that handles airborne traffic around Reno-Tahoe International Airport was incapacitated while on duty June 23 as he suffered chest pains. We now have an audio recording of the incident.

A Modern Bermuda Triangle: FAA Lacks A Contigency Plan For Radar Outage, Causing Delays And Fuel Waste

27 Jun 2008 05:32:05 GMT

Because of yet another ill-advised move by the FAA and a radar outage at Bermuda airport, controllers at New York Air Route Traffic Control Center are left to develop contingency plans to guide aircraft into and out of Bermuda’s airspace while aircraft traveling to and through the airspace face delays.

Staffing Crisis Worsens In New York, Alaska; FAA Now Offering Up To $100K Bonus To Expreiences Controllers To Transfer

25 Jun 2008 21:35:07 GMT

WESTBURY, N.Y. – Admitting to a worsening staffing crisis that has hurt both the safety and efficiency of the air traffic control system, the Federal Aviation Administration is now literally begging experienced controllers to fill open positions at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) by offering up to $100,000 in relocation bonus money.

Reno Controller Incapacitated While On Duty; Was Forced To Work Radar Positions Alone Due To Extreme Understaffing

24 Jun 2008 22:22:55 GMT

RENO, Nev. – An air traffic controller forced to work alone due to extreme understaffing in the radar facility that handles airborne traffic around Reno-Tahoe International Airport was incapacitated late Monday afternoon while on duty.

FAA child care subsidy program: A deliberate set-up to avoid negotiations and deprive NATCA members of an Agency-wide benefit

23 Jun 2008 19:55:08 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration has notified employees of the implementation of its child care subsidy program. But NATCA bargaining unit employees are not eligible at this time.

NATCA Rejects Another FAA Attempt To Delay Return To Negotiations

20 Jun 2008 03:10:32 GMT

The Federal Aviation Administration has moved the goalposts yet again in its latest settlement offer to NATCA -- proposing to resolve even fewer of the outstanding articles and refusing to change position on the most important issue: Air traffic controller pay bands. Therefore, NATCA has rejected the FAA's offer.

Read NATCA President Patrick Forrey’s letter to FAA Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell
Read the FAA's offer

While FAA Pays Lip Service To Controller Fatigue Problem, NATCA Begins Work On Real Solutions

16 Jun 2008 20:04:52 GMT

Air traffic controllers will participate in the FAA’s “Aviation Fatigue Management Symposium,” which begins tomorrow. But having seen enough of the agency’s continued refusal to comply with the National Transportation Safety Board’s April 2007 recommendations to work collaboratively with NATCA on controller fatigue issues, NATCA is announcing today its own plans to develop a “fatigue management system.”

Disingenuous FAA Circumventing Principles Of ATSAP Agreement That Aims To Protect Whistleblowing Controllers Who Bring Safety Concerns Forwards

12 Jun 2008 19:21:30 GMT

On March 27, Acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell joined NATCA President Patrick Forrey in signing an agreement to create an Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP), designed to foster a voluntary, cooperative, non-punitive environment for the open reporting of safety of flight concerns by FAA controllers. But the FAA is severely jeopardizing this agreement because Sturgell has refused to overrule the FAA’s human resources officials who have drawn up plans for how the agency can still punish and even fire controllers who bring safety concerns forward.

On eve of key House staffing hearing, IG is critical of FAA’s controller training program

11 Jun 2008 18:53:23 GMT

On the eve of Wednesday's House Aviation Subcommittee hearing examining air traffic control facility staffing, the Department of Transportation Inspector General issued a report that was highly critical of the Federal Aviation Administration on its ATC facility training program.

NATCA asks NTSB to reconsider Comair 5191 investigation findings, cite understaffing of Lexington Tower as contributing factor

8 Jun 2008 08:56:02 GMT

Before dawn on Aug. 27, 2006, Comair Flight 5191 crashed trying to take off from the wrong runway in Lexington, Ky. Forty-nine people were killed. Ever since that awful, tragic morning, NATCA has maintained that the Federal Aviation Administration is at least partially responsible for what happened because there was only one controller on duty at the time of the crash despite an FAA policy requiring two controllers on the midnight shift; one to perform tower functions and one to perform radar functions.