NATCA Represented at Recent IFATCA Meeting

NATCA members and retirees recently participated in an International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (IFATCA) meeting in Manila, Philippines. The meeting allowed NATCA members to discuss best practices, training standards, and other international policies on air traffic control systems with ATCs from around the world. 

Representing NATCA at the recent meeting was Jaymi Steinberg (Washington Center, ZDC), Lydia Baune (Spokane ATCT, GEG), Betsy Beamont (Dallas-Fort Worth Center retiree), and former NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert. Gilbert serves on the IFATCA Executive Board as one of the group’s Executive Vice Presidents. 

Jaymi Steinberg, who serves as the chair of IFATCA’s Technical Operations Committee (TOC), said team building and connection were a key focus of the gathering, “These three days of face-to-face collaborations can accomplish a vast amount of critical work. These meetings also foster team building and strengthen our connections to each other and to the Member Associations we represent. Thanks to the Philippine Air Traffic Controllers’ Association for hosting the meeting.” 

The annual IFATCA Conference will take place in April in Bucharest, Romania. NATCA members say they are looking forward to that meeting to continue working on building collaboration, sharinge experiences, and advancing air traffic safety worldwide.