Weekly NATCA update

[Move78]

32andBelow I'm guessing you don't necessarily understand, En Route is a very structural and procedural form of ATC, Towers and Tracons are vastly different in regards to structure and procedure. A person who isn't capable of the flexible critical thinking required in a Terminal environment would be better served in a more rigid procedural environment such as En Route.

It’s not this generalized. Not all Zs are the same and not all Z areas or Z sectors within areas are the same. It’s not all structured there’s plenty of chaos Z sectors out there.

 

[corn4ahead]

It’s not this generalized. Not all Zs are the same and not all Z areas or Z sectors within areas are the same. It’s not all structured there’s plenty of chaos Z sectors out there.

This is 100% my argument.

My area is one of the busiest and more complex in my Z. We we wash out people all the time. Those washouts should be sent to other areas in the Z that are some of the easiest/slowest in the entire country. They could help staffing and not have to move, etc etc.

But then the FAA/NATCA would have to "admit" that not all areas are creates equal and blah blah blah. Waste of resources.

 

[SquawkHijack]

I think this is a booty take. Maybe if you wash at an 8/9. 6 and below, the volume just isn't there. You can't make that work, you're not making it through the academy for enroute. It should be the other way around. You wash from enroute, you should get a shot at terminal.

Don't care about the different environments. Level 6 is still level 6.

What if I told you there were people off the street with zero ATC experience currently going en route day one?

 

[HammerHead]

What if I told you there were people off the street with zero ATC experience currently going en route day one?

Ok? They haven't washed from a 6? I'll take the unknown over someone I know cant make it.

 

[22papa]

I think this is a booty take. Maybe if you wash at an 8/9. 6 and below, the volume just isn't there. You can't make that work, you're not making it through the academy for enroute. It should be the other way around. You wash from enroute, you should get a shot at terminal.

Don't care about the different environments. Level 6 is still

Ok? They haven't washed from a 6? I'll take the unknown over someone I know cant make it.

Everyone likes to shit on the low levels but just like all of ATC, every situation is unique. There are plenty of low levels where they sit around and do nothing for 3 days, then on day 4 they have an hour of level 12 traffic that they have to be able to get through. There are also plenty where they actually do nothing, especially like a level 4 tower.

My old facility was a 6 up/down and I’ve had more complex sessions there due to there being no structure to anything than I’ve ever had at my current 12.

Overall I do agree on average I’d rather have an unknown off the street than someone who has washed at a low level. Mostly just trying to say there’s exceptions to everything and plenty of people with great potential that just get dealt a shitty situation.

 

[HammerHead]

Everyone likes to shit on the low levels but just like all of ATC, every situation is unique. There are plenty of low levels where they sit around and do nothing for 3 days, then on day 4 they have an hour of level 12 traffic that they have to be able to get through. There are also plenty where they actually do nothing, especially like a level 4 tower.

My old facility was a 6 up/down and I’ve had more complex sessions there due to there being no structure to anything than I’ve ever had at my current 12.

Overall I do agree on average I’d rather have an unknown off the street than someone who has washed at a low level. Mostly just trying to say there’s exceptions to everything and plenty of people with great potential that just get dealt a shitty situation.

I can agree with that sentiment. Definitely some special cases out there. I'm also at a 12. I know most 12s are not as crazy as they make it out to be. But I've also worked at a few vfr towers. If you can't make it at a basic vfr tower you have no shot at a 10-12. I really don't care if being more structured helps you. 95% of vfr towers are simple compared to high levels.

 

[LennyA21]

A114 Update

Dear Article 114 Representatives,

This morning the FAA informed us that they intend to notify all NATCA representatives that they are required to return to their facility on March 24, 2025, to perform their Art 114 and SME duties. Currently, this is the only detail the Agency has provided. We believe the notifications will go out sometime today or in the near future.

If you are directed to report to your facility of record, you should comply, and notify us as soon as practical.

If any of you have any issues or concerns reporting to your FOC by 3/24/2025, please contact me.

We understand that these times are uncertain and difficult. We are diligently working to engage the Agency on this subject.

Thank you for all you do,

 

[Homsar]

I think this is a booty take. Maybe if you wash at an 8/9. 6 and below, the volume just isn't there. You can't make that work, you're not making it through the academy for enroute. It should be the other way around. You wash from enroute, you should get a shot at terminal.

Don't care about the different environments. Level 6 is still level 6.

Yeah like 22papa said, I don’t agree with this. There are level 5-6 up downs that have abysmal certification rates, and culture is more of a problem than traffic.

 

[32andBelow]

A114 Update

Dear Article 114 Representatives,

This morning the FAA informed us that they intend to notify all NATCA representatives that they are required to return to their facility on March 24, 2025, to perform their Art 114 and SME duties. Currently, this is the only detail the Agency has provided. We believe the notifications will go out sometime today or in the near future.

If you are directed to report to your facility of record, you should comply, and notify us as soon as practical.

If any of you have any issues or concerns reporting to your FOC by 3/24/2025, please contact me.

We understand that these times are uncertain and difficult. We are diligently working to engage the Agency on this subject.

Thank you for all you do,

🫡

 

[bravounite33]

A114 Update

Dear Article 114 Representatives,

This morning the FAA informed us that they intend to notify all NATCA representatives that they are required to return to their facility on March 24, 2025, to perform their Art 114 and SME duties. Currently, this is the only detail the Agency has provided. We believe the notifications will go out sometime today or in the near future.

If you are directed to report to your facility of record, you should comply, and notify us as soon as practical.

If any of you have any issues or concerns reporting to your FOC by 3/24/2025, please contact me.

We understand that these times are uncertain and difficult. We are diligently working to engage the Agency on this subject.

Thank you for all you do,

So they’ll just be sitting in an office or conference room doing their duties instead…basically just getting rid of the “remote work”. This does nothing

 

[jdatc]

So they’ll just be sitting in an office or conference room doing their duties instead…basically just getting rid of the “remote work”. This does nothing

Makes someone available for food runs?

 

[KP-ATC]

So they’ll just be sitting in an office or conference room doing their duties instead…basically just getting rid of the “remote work”. This does nothing

Those fuckers should be current and available for overtime.

 

[32andBelow]

So they’ll just be sitting in an office or conference room doing their duties instead…basically just getting rid of the “remote work”. This does nothing

They can actually see what controllers do day to day

 

[Sassyquatch]

They can actually see what controllers do day to day

Yup. My whole issue is how can they advocate for us and work on projects that may impact us if they haven't actually stepped foot in the building in 5+ years??
Sure, having our A114 person back on the boards would help us immensely while we still work 6 day work weeks. But if their position is so important, then I'm okay with them just coming back into the building. They've chosen to let our facility drown while staying at home and calling themselves a controller still. At the very least, they should be returning to the facility.

 

[Dolan]

But if their position is so important, then I'm okay with them just coming back into the building.

Your a114 definitely isn't. That one is pure fraud, waste and abuse and it's a complete knife in the back to her "fellow" controllers

 

[Sassyquatch]

Your a114 definitely isn't. That one is pure fraud, waste and abuse and it's a complete knife in the back to her "fellow" controllers

That's why I used the word "if". I know what their A114 is and I think it's ridiculous it's been a full-time wfh position for as long as it has been but NATCA has been making excuses as to why they couldn't come back to the boards. I'm curious to see how much work they do throughout the week to justify a 40 hr/week detail.

 

[Raise when?]

all A114 need to be abolished. let the FAA figure that shit out, just fucken pay me clowns

 

[SquawkHijack]

all A114 need to be abolished. let the FAA figure that shit out, just fucken pay me clowns

I’d love to see the smoke in the room at convention if this made it into proposed resolutions lmao

You know NATCA is going to find a way to fight to keep this scam alive.

 

[32andBelow]

I’d love to see the smoke in the room at convention if this made it into proposed resolutions lmao

You know NATCA is going to find a way to fight to keep this scam alive.

I’ll send a CPDLC via homing pigeon if they want. Just pay us. If they want to give up the best equipment or the worst equipment that’s on them!

 

[GroundClutter]

I understand, see and agree with the merit that it would be beneficial to have controller input on equipment upgrades or new systems.

But these permanent 114 spots are wild.

A national childcare rep?