NATCA PRESIDENT NICK DANIELS THANKS CHAIRMAN SAM GRAVES FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MODERNIZATION PROVISIONS
National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Nick Daniels issued the following statement today thanking Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the U.S. House of Representatives Sam Graves for his leadership on legislation that should help resolve some longtime challenges for air traffic controllers (ATCs) and other aviation safety professionals.
(WASHINGTON) – NATCA thanks Chairman Sam Graves for his leadership in proposing an ATC section for inclusion in the budget reconciliation package that will significantly improve the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System for the flying public, users of the system, and the ATCs and other aviation safety professionals who operate the system 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year.
NATCA, as part of the Modern Skies Coalition, has joined with more than 50 industry stakeholders to recognize our joint priorities of staffing and modernization of the ATC system. NATCA has signed onto the Coalition letter endorsing the ATC modernization provisions.
NATCA has been raising the awareness of the ATC staffing shortage for more than a decade. We were very encouraged by the provisions contained in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that made significant improvements to hiring and training. Chairman Graves’s current proposal provides for a significant increase in funding for recruiting, retaining, and training controllers. These two bills will complement each other, contributing to a more comprehensive and sustainable staffing strategy that includes hiring, training, and retention.
NATCA has also been raising concerns about the age of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) physical infrastructure and its need for equipment modernization. Chairman Graves’s proposal provides a remarkable downpayment toward the investments that FAA’s facilities and equipment require.
We applaud the Administration’s and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy’s commitment to making improvements to ATC staffing and technology. We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy, the Department of Transportation, the FAA, and members of Congress to implement these and other important advances in the coming years.
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.
