Interest in affiliating with NATCA exploded after the historic 1998 contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) secured a pay raise reflective of the important work the aviation safety professionals provide to the United States economy. Leadership searched for a building that would provide enough space for national office staff and committee meetings. On Jan. 1, 1996, NATCA began depositing $33,000 a month into a building fund. This fund would lead NATCA into the future.