NATCA asleep at the wheel again….

[Flashy Vectors]

Consolidation of ARTCC explicitly spelled out in the senate bill being voted on tonight yet the emails seem to ignore a colossal change in workplace conditions for the membership.

 

[But_I_Had_Visual]

What do you mean asleep at the wheel? Nick Daniels essentially endorsed this plan with his support of Duffy and his turbocharge plan. He refuses to address the consolidation/colocation plans (centers and tracons).

We are being sold out by the idiots at national.

 

[32andBelow]

They are ignoring it and gaslighting us

 

[ClearanceClarence]

NATCA really needs to be decertified. Like yesterday.

 

[KP-ATC]

NATCA really needs to be decertified. Like yesterday.

Front Page

teamster.org

 

[Phillytroll69]

What do you mean asleep at the wheel? Nick Daniels essentially endorsed this plan with his support of Duffy and his turbocharge plan. He refuses to address the consolidation/colocation plans (centers and tracons).

We are being sold out by the idiots at national.

Well.....this is what happens when someone makes promises about day one pay raises and not extending then doesn't get a pay raise and extends. Dishonesty and scamming is the union mo now adays

 

[DankVectorz]

Well.....this is what happens when someone makes promises about day one pay raises and not extending then doesn't get a pay raise and extends. Dishonesty and scamming is the union mo now adays

He literally used the same campaign strategy as Trump (end Ukraine war day 1 etc) and has come through just as much,

 

[32andBelow]

They are literally just circling up wnd protecting all the art 114 scammers and RVP scammers while we all work and get forced to move. And there’s like zero outrage form the work force. We are so cooked.

 

[echster]

This is the plain language explainer for the FAA:

Section 40003. Air traffic control improvements.

This section would provide a total of $12.52 billion for fiscal year 2025 to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the acquisition, construction, sustainment, and improvement of air traffic control (ATC) facilities and equipment. Of the amount appropriated by this section:

• Telecommunications Infrastructure - $4.75 billion to transition the 1960s-era Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) to modern Internet Protocol (IP) technology. The transition from the FTI copper wire infrastructure to a combination of fiber wire, satellite, and internet telecommunications service will enhance FAA communications reliability.

• Radar Systems - $3 billion to replace the FAA’s radar fleet that detects airborne targets, many of which have been in service for more than double their lifespan. More than 600 radars will be replaced in total. The aging infrastructure degrades the availability of critical aircraft position data, increasing collision risk and requiring greater separation between aircraft, which reduces efficient use of airspace and lowers system capacity.

• Runway Safety - $500 million to install Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) systems at 200 airports that do not have Surface Movement Radars, replace the existing 44 Surface Movement Radars that are essential to runway safety systems, and upgrade runway lighting systems. These improvements will reduce near misses like those that have occurred on runways across the country in recent years.

• Information Display Systems - $300 million to replace the FAA’s outdated information technology that relies on obsolete hardware like floppy disks, poses cybersecurity risks, and is costly to maintain. The Enterprise IDS (E-IDS) will enhance safety and efficiency of the airspace by centralizing critical information. It will improve controller productivity, support faster recovery during disruptions, and ensure continuity of operations.

• Weather Observing Systems - $80 million to install not less than 50 Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS), not less than 60 Visual Weather Observing Systems (VWOS), not less than 64 weather camera sites, and weather stations. AWOS, VWOS, and weather cameras are vital to aviation safety, providing real-time weather data and visual confirmation in remote areas with harsh, rapidly changing conditions.

• Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative - $40 million to carry out certain aviation safety projects in the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (44745 of title 49, United States Code).

• Air Route Traffic Control Center - $1.9 billion to construct a new air route traffic control center (ARTCC), after the FAA divests three aging ARTCCs. The FAA has never replaced any of the 21 ARTCCs distributed across the continental United States. With more advanced technology than what was available in the 1960s, the FAA can build newer ARTCCs that rely on better technology and spend less on sustainment of old facilities.

(Actual language: $1,900,000,000 for necessary actions to construct a new air route traffic control center (in this subsection referred to as ‘‘ARTCC’’): Provided, That not more than 2 percent of such amount is used for planning or administrative purposes: Provided further, That at least 3 existing ARTCCs are divested and integrated into the newly constructed ARTCC.)​

• ARTCC Realignment - $100 million towards the air route traffic control center (ARTCC) Realignment Effort, which will involve consolidating at least 10 existing ARTCCs to facilitate the recapitalization of aging en route centers.

(Actual language: $100,000,000 to conduct an ARTCC Realignment and Consolidation Effort under which at least 10 existing ARTCCs are closed or consolidated to facilitate recapitalization of ARTCC facilities owned and operated by the Federal Aviation Administration.)​

• TRACONs - $1 billion to support the recapitalization and consolidation of terminal radar approach control facilities (TRACONs). There are currently over 100 FAA TRACON facilities nationwide that provide radar separation of aircraft in terminal areas. An example of a successful consolidation was moving four legacy TRACONs into a single Potomac TRACON (PCT) in 2002 to cover airspace surrounding Washington, DC.

(Actual language: $1,000,000,000 to support recapitalization and consolidation of terminal radar approach control facilities (in this subsection referred to as ‘‘TRACONs’’), the analysis and identification of TRACONs for divestment, consolidation, or integration, planning, site selection, facility acquisition, and transition activities and other appropriate activities for carrying out such divestment, consolidation, or integration, and the establishment of brand new TRACONs.)​

• Unstaffed Infrastructure - $350 million to fund unstaffed infrastructure sustainment and replacement. Many unstaffed infrastructure facilities provide radio, navigation, and communications services to the system and are beyond the useful service life.

• Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies - $50 million to fund the FAA’s Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT) established in section 961 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-63). The CAAT will conduct controlled testing of new aviation technologies like air taxis that must be safely integrated into the national airspace in the near future.

• Complete NextGen Tech for Good - $300 million to fund completion of three key NextGen programs that will make air traffic more efficient, as directed in section 619 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-63). By finishing performance-based navigation, the data communication program, and terminal flight data manager, the airspace users will be able to navigate and communicate more efficiently. 89 control towers will finally replace paper flight strips with electronic ones.

• Remote Tower - $50 million to fund the FAA’s deployment of Remote Tower (RT) technology at currently untowered airports. RT systems use optical sensors—such as day/night or infrared cameras—and digital displays to provide controllers with the same visual information as traditional towers, enabling air traffic control services to be delivered from off-site locations. This approach can save taxpayer money, enhance safety, and expand tower capabilities across the National Airspace System. While the FAA continues testing at its technical center in New Jersey, remote towers are already operational or in development across Europe, Japan, and Australia.

• Tower Simulation System - $100 million for the FAA’s Tower Simulation System (TSS), which is a modern training tool for air traffic controllers that replicates real-world airport layouts, allowing air traffic controllers to practice complex scenarios, runway coordination, and phraseology. With enhanced graphics and realistic views, TSS helps new controllers familiarize themselves with airport operations, reducing certification time by nearly 30 percent.

 

[Horno]

This is what NATCA wants from the start. It’s clear. No one should be surprised. Nick Daniels has gone to the national stage screaming about modernization instead of working conditions and pay. The top FAA guys don’t understand what we do. For them this is excellent because it addresses the equipment and the current old systems. Anyone who actually works ATC knows this isn’t the priority. But unfortunately because Nick Daniels hasn’t said anything to the contrary, this is what’s happening.

 

[Hal9000]

The consolidated ARTCCs need to be located in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska to save money but ensure no one state receives too much monetary benefit. Because they are just radar rooms, the ARTCCs should be subterranean—no need for sunlight for the workforce, and this will protect them from tornadoes. On the surface level, the footprint should be leased to Bucc-ee's or Costco to help recoup costs—OT can be paid out in gift cards to the same institutions. If staffing challenges remain, we can create giant alligator moats to ensure employee retention. Monthly "chicken throws" may be utilized to improve morale of the alligators.

 

[jdatc]

. Monthly "chicken throws" may be utilized to improve morale of the alligators.

Controllers will be invited to the *chicken throws to participate if staffing allows. *They must bring their own chicken.

 

[GroundClutter]

Can I get access to the Costco Food Court?

 

[Shikaka]

Can I get access to the Costco Food Court?

That's where you moonlight career wise.

 

[DankVectorz]

The top FAA guys don’t understand what we do.

To give an example of how out of touch the top FAA is, one of the reasons the EWR move was expected to work was because someone towards the top (unfortunately I can’t remember who) thought that you were a CPC once you finished the lab so that the staffing would be fine after a couple of months.

 

[Move78]

To give an example of how out of touch the top FAA is, one of the reasons the EWR move was expected to work was because someone towards the top (unfortunately I can’t remember who) thought that you were a CPC once you finished the lab so that the staffing would be fine after a couple of months.

A straight shooter with upper management written all over him

 

[Bolo]

Where would they consolidate these centers to? With ZABs recent evacuation you’d think they’d learn…

 

[32andBelow]

Where would they consolidate these centers to? With ZABs recent evacuation you’d think they’d learn…

Or With their experience trying to get people to move from Long Island.

 

[KP-ATC]

Where would they consolidate these centers to? With ZABs recent evacuation you’d think they’d learn…

Maybe someone should set a fire somewhere. That'll show em. Maybe Chicago?

 

[KP-ATC]

Or With their experience trying to get people to move from Long Island.

Or to it