CFS 2025 Breakout Sessions Bring Collaboration and Expertise to the Forefront

Breakout sessions at Communicating For Safety 2025 offered attendees the chance to dive deeper into specialized topics, building collaboration and innovation that strengthen the resilience of the National Airspace System (NAS). These smaller forums brought controllers, pilots, industry leaders, and safety experts together to share insight, solve problems, and reach new heights of understanding.

At Communicating For Safety 2025, the Pilot Controller Forum brought controllers and pilots together in Skyview 5/6 to strengthen trust and collaboration. Moderated by NATCA Southern California TRACON (SCT) member Bradley Wilcko and Delta Air Lines Captain Jason Herman, the panel included voices from NATCA, NBAA, SWAPA, Southwest Airlines, and the Allied Pilots Association, spotlighting how partnership drives safety in today’s NAS.

The Commercial Space and UAS/Advanced Air Mobility breakout featured NATCA Commercial Space Representative Paul Behan, NATCA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Representative Jimmy Smith, and MITRE Corporation’s Sara Iacobucci discussing integration of emerging operations.

The Air Safety Investigations (ASI) breakout, for NATCA members, was led by NATCA Air Safety Investigator Karena Marinas with NATCA members Travis Arnold (R90), Judd Wallace (Cleveland Center, ZOB), Dan Carrico (Chicago O’Hare ATCT, ORD), Cory Davids (New York Center, ZNY), and Christopher Rosati (Oakland Center, ZOA).

The Intro to Safety Advocacy Training (SAT) breakout, also for NATCA members, featured NATCA Central Service Area Safety Representative Nathan Vinson and NATCA Partnership for Safety Representative Mike Taylor, introducing skills to strengthen advocacy within the workforce.

A breakout focusing on the Voluntary Safety Reporting Program (VSRP) and Safety Reporting was led by Cher Oxenburg, NATCA’s Voluntary Safety Reporting Program Representative.