ACTION: Tell us why it is critical to properly staff air traffic control!
NATCA’s members understand that air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals are vital to maintaining a safe and efficient National Airspace System. Our Union’s members demonstrate their commitment to the important role we play in Americans’ lives every day, by safely moving over 45,000 flights, over 2.9 million people, and over 61,000 tons of cargo around the country every day. And they perform these essential services in critically outdated and understaffed facilities where many controllers are required to work 10-hour days, six days a week, while using decades-old technology. The FAA operates many air traffic control facilities that are between 25-60 years old, have exceeded their expected lifecycles, and have experienced major issues or safety concerns for the workforce.
The FAA is approximately 3,800 controllers short of where it needs to be. NATCA supports Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s plan to supercharge controller hiring and is proud to have worked with him on recruitment and retention. Even with the Secretary’s supercharged hiring effort, it will take years to fully resolve the current staffing crisis. Therefore, it’s critical that we continue communicating about the importance of max hiring of air traffic controllers in coming years.
Similarly, Secretary Duffy and Congress have committed to updating the systems and facilities for air traffic control. Although a down payment has been made to update many systems, we need to work to make sure those precious resources are used to improve the safety of the system, increase capacity within the airspace, save tax-payer dollars, and improve the working conditions for controllers.
The American flying public and the hardworking men and women who do this work deserve better! NATCA is working to share this information with the American public.
That’s where you come in: Share your story! NATCA has a tool where you can record and submit a video explaining the importance of investing in aviation safety. In your own words, tell us:
- how mandatory overtime affects you and your family
- the physical toll that long hours take on you over time, or
- what is like to use outdated technology and work in decades-old facilities.
Feel free to use one of the prompts below to guide your video submission. When beginning your video, make sure to repeat the prompt at the beginning of your video to set the stage.
- Hiring more controllers is important because…
- Adequate staffing matters to me because…
- When our facilities are short-staffed, it means…
- Modernizing technology that we use is critical because…
- Outdated systems make our work harder because…
- Facility upgrades are necessary because…
- The condition of my facility affects my job by…
When recording your video, please remember to:
- Hold your phone vertically to record this video.
- If you are unable to record vertically (e.g. you’re using a computer), make sure to allow enough room on either side of you for cropping purposes.
- Wear NATCA gear while filming, if possible.
- Ensure you have proper lighting (any lighting should be in front of you, not behind you). If you are indoors, it is recommended to sit FACING a window for natural lighting, not in front of a window.
- Ensure you are filming in a quiet area to minimize background noise and ensure we can hear you clearly.
- IMPORTANT: Do not film inside your workplace or any other federal facility.
- Speak naturally and in your own voice.
- Take your time while filming.
- Please repeat the prompt/question you are answering.
Please note that by submitting a video through this form, NATCA may use your video on its social media pages and/or share it with elected officials as a part of our advocacy efforts.
