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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.

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Benefits

Dynamic Travel Expands Cruise Offerings for NATCA Members with Addition of Virgin Cruise Lines

NATCA Benefits is pleased to announce that Dynamic Travel has added Virgin Cruise Lines to its roster of over 30 cruise lines available through Interline Travel Agreements. These agreements offer non-published, often deeply discounted rates, exclusively available to airline personnel, providing a unique opportunity for those in the aviation industry. Interline rates are not accessible…

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Events

Registration for NATCA’s 20th Biennial Convention is Now Open

Registration for NATCA’s 20th Biennial Convention is open. Register today and plan to be at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco from May 9-11, 2025, with the opening ceremony taking place on the evening of May 8. Early registrants will get the best prices on all Convention events. Please do not register NATCA members as…

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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…

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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.

5,400

Aircraft in the sky at peak operational times

44,500,000,000

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:

All A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
There are 62 acronyms in this directory beginning with the letter R.
Term
Definition
RAIL
Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
RAPCO
Radar Approach Control (USAF)
RAPCON
Radar Approach Control (FAA)
RATCC
Radar Air Traffic Control Center
RATCF
Radar Air Traffic Control Facility (USN)
RBC
Rotating Beam Ceilometer
RBDPE
Radar Beacon Data Processing Equipment
RBSS
Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron
RCAG
Remote Communications Air/Ground
RCC
Rescue Coordination Center
RCCC
Regional Communications Control Centers
RCF
Remote Communication Facility
RCIU
Remote Control Interface Unit
RCL
Radio Communications Link
RCLR
RCL Repeater
RCLT
RCL Terminal
RCO
Remote Communications Outlet
RCU
Remote Control Unit
RDAT
Digitized Radar Data
RDP
Radar Data Processing
RDSIM
Runway Delay Simulation Model
REIL
Runway End Identification Lights
RF
Radio Frequency
RL
General Aviation Reliever Airport
RMCC
Remote Monitor Control Center
RMCF
Remote Monitor Control Facility
RML
Radio Microwave Link
RMLR
RML Repeater
RMLT
RML Terminal
RMM
Remote Maintenance Monitoring
RMMS
Remote Maintenance Monitoring System
RMS
Remote Monitoring Subsystem
RMSC
Remote Monitoring Subsystem Concentrator
RNAV
Area Navigation
RNAV (NATCA)
Retired NATCA Active Volunteers
RNP
Required Navigation Performance
ROD
Record of Decision
ROSA
Report of Service Activity
ROT
Runway Occupancy Time
RP
Restoration Priority
RPC
Restoration Priority Code
RPG
Radar Processing Group
RPZ
Runway Protection Zone
RRH
Remote Reading Hygrothermometer
RRHS
Remote Reading Hydrometer
RRWDS
Remote Radar Weather Display
RRWSS
RWDS Sensor Site
RSA
Runway Safety Area
RSAT
Runway Safety Action Team
RSS
Remote Speaking System
RT
Remote Transmitter
RT & BTL
Radar Tracking And Beacon Tracking Level
RTAD
Remote Tower Alphanumerics Display
RTCA
Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics
RTP
Regional Transportation Plan
RTR
Remote Transmitter/Receiver
RTRD
Remote Tower Radar Display
RVP
NATCA Regional Vice President
RVR
Runway Visual Range
RW
Runway
RWDS
Same as RRWDS
RWP
Real-time Weather Processor

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