Discover NATCA
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 nearly 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.
Featured News
New York Times: Right on Staffing, Wrong on Portrayal of Air Traffic Controller Conduct
(WASHINGTON) – NATCA denounces the unfair and inaccurate portrayal of air traffic controllers in today’s article in the New York Times. It does not portray the professionalism and skill with which air traffic controllers perform their complex and stressful duties every day, 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year. The National Airspace System (NAS) is at its safest point in its…
Rich Santa Thanks U.S. House of Representatives for Passage of Bi-Partisan FAA Reauthorization Bill
NATCA President Testifies Before Subcommittee on Aviation that Staffing Targets, Maximum Hiring, and Modernization Must be Top Priorities to Reduce Risk in the National Airspace System (WASHINGTON) – Today, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Rich Santa thanked the members of the U.S. House of Representatives for overwhelmingly passing a long-term, comprehensive Federal Administration…
President Santa to Testify Before the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee
Watch Live: President Santa to Testify on Capitol Hill at 10 a.m. ET Don’t forget to tune in at 10 a.m. ET to watch NATCA President Rich Santa testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Aviation Subcommittee. Click here to watch.
Video Channel
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Benefits
Union Plus Scholarship Applications Open for NATCA Members and Family: Apply by Jan. 31, 2024
NATCA Benefits is proud to partner with Union Plus to offer savings and helpful programs to our members. Each year, Union Plus offers a scholarship to help Union members and their families with the cost of college. They’ve provided over $5.4 million in scholarship funds to date. The deadline to apply for the 2024 scholarship…
Save on Auto Care with NATCA Benefits
Conveniently earn your dues back with NATCA benefits! No one enjoys paying for new tires, but the NATCA Benefits Committee has partnered with Bridgestone/Firestone to ensure it’s not a big hit to your wallet. Get 10% off tires and much more. Visit www.NATCABENEFITS.org and find the Bridgestone/Firestone logo under the “Home/Auto” tab. Ensure you are…
Events
Region X Member Toi Lee Sings National Anthem at Fort Lauderdale Convention
To kick off the first day of business at NATCA’s 19th Biennial Convention, the Homestead Air Reserve Base Honor Guard joined Region X member Toi Lee (Engineer/Central Region, ECE) for the National Anthem. Watch Lee’s performance and the color guard ceremony here. https://vimeo.com/841310660?share=copy
Spotlight
Get To Know NATCA’s National Legislative Committee Chair David Skarphol
Relationship building is at the core of NATCA’s legislative activism. Earlier this year David Skarphol (Phoenix TRACON, P50) stepped up as the chair of NATCA’s National Legislative Committee (NLC), leading the team that coordinates and facilitates NATCA members’ legislative training and relationships with members of Congress. Today we take a moment to introduce Skarphol and…
Aviation Facts
Fact: The United States aviation system is an economic driver, contributing 5.2 percent to the nation’s gross domestic product, and generating nearly 11 million jobs.
Aircraft in the sky at peak operational times
Pounds of freight moving through the National Airspace System each year
Current Traffic
Tracking 10,677 airborne aircraft with 636,859,278 total flights in the database. FlightAware has tracked 113,709 arrivals in the last 24 hours.
Aviation Acronyms
Learn acronyms used by safety professionals nationwide:
