NATCA APPLAUDS INCLUSION OF MAXIMUM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER HIRING, IMMEDIATE ADOPTION OF COLLABORATIVE STAFFING MODEL IN FINAL FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL

Apr 29, 2024

(WASHINGTON) - NATCA is very pleased that maximum air traffic controller trainee hiring for five years and immediate adoption of the NATCA-Air Traffic Organization collaborative staffing model as the basis for the FAA's Controller Workforce Plan were included in the bi-partisan, bi-cameral agreement on FAA Reauthorization reached by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.).

"There are 10% fewer fully certified air traffic controllers than there were a decade ago. Committee leadership has done great work to reverse this staffing crisis. It's not only about hiring and the leaders in both the House and Senate recognized this," said NATCA President Rich Santa. "They included the requirement for the FAA to collaboratively develop and install tower simulator systems in every FAA tower, a program that has been proven to reduce training time for air traffic controllers by over 25%. NATCA also applauds their plan for FAA to study and implement expansion of the FAA Academy's capacity. These changes, as part of a comprehensive hiring, training, and staffing plan will, over the term of this five-year authorization bill, make great improvements to staffing our air traffic control facilities, which will reduce fatigue and improve safety and efficiency."

NATCA will continue to review all of the other aspects of the legislation that affect the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Galen Munroe, Deputy Director of Public Affairs; 202-220-9802, [email protected].

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is a labor union and aviation safety organization in the United States that represents nearly 20,000 highly skilled air traffic controllers, engineers, and other aviation safety-related professionals. NATCA was certified in 1987 by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to be the exclusive bargaining representative for air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Today, NATCA is one of the strongest labor unions in the federal sector and represents a range of aviation safety professionals in 15 FAA bargaining units, five Department of Defense air traffic facilities, and 123 federal contract towers. These air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals make vital contributions to the U.S. economy and make modern life possible by coordinating the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of one billion aviation passengers and millions of tons of freight within the National Airspace System each year. NATCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.