NATCA Bookshelf

49 R e f e r e n c e s N A T I O N A L A I R T R A F F I C C O N T R O L L E R S A S S O C I A T I O N | W W W . N AT C A . O R G N i W To d a y Q & A n Sequestration forced the FAA to institute a hiring freeze and close the FAA Academy for most of 2013, meaning it was unable to hire new air traffic controller trainees. This hiring freeze worsened an already critical air traffic controller staffing situation, which reached a 30-year low for CPCs. n Sequestration also caused preventative maintenance delays, meaning that engineers and technicians had to contend with a "fix-on-fail" policy that forces them to wait until equipment breaks before replacing it. This policy resulted in down time for systems and negatively affects the efficiency of the system. How did furloughs resulting from sequestration affect the FAA? n Sequestration forced the FAA to furlough employees (including air traffic controllers) for one week in April 2013. Congress quickly intervened by passing a NATCA-initiated bill, the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013. What is the status of sequestration? Is sequestration still a problem for NATCA? n Congress passed legislation that avoided sequestration in recent years. Moreover, because the law that implemented sequestration expired at the end of FY 2021, sequestration is no longer an imminent threat. n However, sequestration was a major concern for NATCA, and its effects are still being felt, especially in the areas of controller staffing challenges and delays to modernization programs. N E X TG E N What is NextGen? n NextGen describes a comprehensive collection of modernization programs and projects that is shifting the FAA from its current ground-based radar system to a smarter, satellite-based aircraft tracking system and digital technologies, along with new procedures that is making air travel more efficient, predictable, and environmentally friendly. n NextGen improvements enable the FAA to guide and track aircraft more precisely on more direct routes. NextGen is producing efficiencies that enhance safety, reduce delays, save fuel, and reduce aircraft exhaust emissions. n NextGen and other modernization programs are vital to preserving the United States as the world's leader in aviation. This is important due to the significant contribution aviation makes to our economy. Does NATCA support NextGen? n Yes. NATCA and the FAA continue to work collaboratively on the development and implementation of modernization programs under the NextGen umbrella. n NATCA representatives who work on modernization programs use official time to work collaboratively with the FAA to modernize the system. These efforts are vital to the successful development and implementation of NextGen. n We take great pride in our role as a partner on the leading edge of modernization. What is the status of NextGen? n For NextGen to be successful, the FAA needs a stable and sufficient funding stream. n Many modernization programs were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to be hampered by budgetary shortfalls. Even before the pandemic, these programs faced delays and funding challenges as a result of an unpredictable stop-and-go funding stream hampered by threatened shutdowns and continuing resolutions.

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