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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.

Video Channel

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Benefits

NATCA Benefits Partners with Cambridge Financial

NATCA Benefits is pleased to offer the services of Cambridge Financial to our Union’s members! They are well versed in our unique career fields and ready to serve. Visit www.NATCABENEFITS.org and find the “Cambridge Financial” logo under the “Financial/Retirement” tab and enjoy!

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NATCA Benefits Offers Discounts at Great Wolf Lodge

NATCA Benefits wants to save you money on a great family getaway this winter! You’re going to love sliding down their waterslides, eating at their fantastic restaurants, and building family traditions with Great Wolf Lodge! Visit www.NATCABENEFITS.org and find the “Great Wolf Lodge” logo under the “Entertainment” tab. Make sure you are signed in to…

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Events

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 51 acronyms in this directory beginning with the letter S.
Term
Definition
S/S
Sector Suite
SAC
Strategic Air Command
SAFI
Semi Automatic Flight Inspection
SALS
Short Approach Lighting System
SATCOM
Satellite Communications
SAWRS
Supplementary Aviation Weather Reporting System
SBGP
State Block Grant Program
SCC
System Command Center
SCVTS
Switched Compressed Video Telecommunications Service
SDF
Simplified Direction Finding
SDIS
Switched Digital Integrated Service
SDP
Service Delivery Point
SDS
Switched Data Service
SEL
Single Event Level
SELF
Simplified Short Approach Lighting System With Sequenced Flashing Lights
SFAR-- 38
Special Federal Aviation Regulation 38
SHPO
State Historic Preservation Officer
SIC
Service Initiation Charge
SID
Station Identifier
SIGMET
Significant Meteorological Information
SIMMOD
Airport and Airspace Simulation Model
SIP
State Implementation Plan
SM
Statute Miles
SMGC
Surface Movement Guidance and Control
SMPS
Sector Maintenance Processor Subsystem
SMS
Safety Management System
SNR
Signal-- to-- Noise Ratio, also: S/N
SOAR
System of Airports Reporting
SOC
Service Oversight Center
SOIR
Simultaneous Operations On Intersecting Runways
SOIWR
Simultaneous Operations on Intersecting Wet Runways
SRAP
Sensor Receiver and Processor
SRM
Safety Risk Management
SSALF
SSALS with Sequenced Flashers
SSALR
Simplified Short Approach Lighting System
SSB
Single Side Band
STAR
Standard Terminal Arrival Route
STARS
Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System
STD
Standard
STMUX
Statistical Data Multiplexer
STOL
Short Takeoff and Landing
SURPIC
Surface Picture
SVCA
Service A
SVCB
Service B
SVCC
Service C
SVCO
Service O
SVFB
Interphone Service F (B)
SVFC
Interphone Service F (C)
SVFD
Interphone Service F (D)
SVFO
Interphone Service F (A)
SVFR
Special Visual Flight Rules

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