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
Happy Labor Day from NATCA!
Today, we celebrate the immense contributions of working people across the nation. Labor Day serves as a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and dedication of America’s workforce. The labor movement is picking up momentum as workers across industries organize and unite to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. The past few…
Register Now for CFS 2024: Hotel Room Block Closes and Early-Bird Pricing Ends on August 18!
Get ready to join us at Communicating for Safety (CFS) 2024! CFS is NATCA’s premier aviation safety conference uniting industry leaders, innovators, and professionals. Join us from September 16-18, 2024, at The Horseshoe Las Vegas for three days of unparalleled insights into safety, technology, and relationship-building. Engage in dynamic discussions, network with peers and pioneers, and shape…
NATCA Stands Firm with APFA in Fight for Fair Contract
#NATCA stands with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) for a fair contract with American Airlines. It is unacceptable that these hard working, aviation safety professionals have not received a raise for the past five years. #unionpower #labor #1u #americanairlines #apfaunity
Video Channel
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Benefits
Shield What Matters Most with Unum: A NATCA-Exclusive Benefit
“I highly recommend adding Unum to your rainy-day portfolio. It is truly a wise investment in yourself!” said NATCA member J. Grimes. After a medical crisis you can lose out on overtime and differentials, but Unum long term disability insurance provides critical financial support. Open enrollment is only available for a limited time, so take…
You’ve Worked Hard for What You’ve Built — Protect It with Unum
Cleveland ATCT (CLE) member Dennis never expected to find himself in a situation where he couldn’t work. But when the unexpected happened. “I lost my medical… due to a heart condition I didn’t know I had..” Dennis said. Unum long-term disability insurance ensured that his life didn’t miss a beat. “Hopefully soon I will get…
Events
Order Your San Francisco Convention Merch Today!
Limited edition merchandise for the NATCA Convention taking place in San Francisco May 9-11, 2025 is available to pre-order. The collection features shirts, sweatshirts, a commemorative ornament, and more. There is also a San Francisco Pride design, and all proceeds from this design will go to NATCA Charitable Foundation to help support local charities selected…
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:
