June 5, 2017 // Statement by NATCA President Paul Rinaldi about President’s Announcement of Air Traffic Control Reform Initiative

WASHINGTON – National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Paul Rinaldi stated:

NATCA shares the Administration’s commitments to infrastructure modernization and providing the National Airspace System (NAS) with a stable, predictable funding stream. We look forward to reviewing the specifics of the air traffic control (ATC) reform legislation so we can evaluate whether it satisfies our Union’s principles, including protecting the rights and benefits of the ATC workforce.

ON BACKGROUND: NATCA considers the status quo to be unacceptable and will oppose any ATC reform proposal that would institute a for-profit model. NATCA previously supported a federally chartered not-for-profit corporation model, as proposed in the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act of 2016, because it met our four core principles for reform. For NATCA to consider supporting any new reform proposal, it must – at minimum: 

• protect the rights and benefits of the workforce; 
• ensure that safety and efficiency remain the top priorities; 
• provide a stable, predictable funding stream that adequately supports air traffic control services, staffing, hiring and training, long-term modernization, preventative maintenance, and ongoing modernization of the physical infrastructure; and
• maintain service to all segments of our nation’s diverse aviation community. 

MORE INFORMATION: Doug Church, Director of Communications

301-346-8245 or [email protected]

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Certified in 1987, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association represents nearly 20,000 highly skilled air traffic controllers, engineers, and other aviation safety-related professionals.

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