NATCA Bookshelf

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 1 1 OVERVIEW Welcome Welcome to NATCA in Washington 2025! To those of you attending NATCA in Washington for the first time, thank you for being a part of this important event. And to our returning members, we deeply appreciate your ongoing commitment to advocating for our legislative priorities with Congress. Since we last gathered, we have navigated significant challenges that continue to affect our Union. Thanks largely in part to the work of our National Legislative Committee, the activists in this room, and NATCA's Government Affairs department, we were able to secure our Union's top legislative priorities in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. That groundbreaking legislation requires the FAA to conduct maximum hiring of new air traffic controller trainees for five years and to adopt the controller staffing model that was jointly developed by NATCA and the FAA's Air Traffic Organization – which meets all the FAA's operational, statutory, and contractual requirements – as the basis for the 2025 Controller Workforce Plan. The 2024 Reauthorization Act also directs the FAA to deploy tower simulator systems at all FAA towers to enhance and expedite training time and requires FAA to study and implement expansion of the capacity of the FAA's Training Academy. These legislative victories demonstrate what we can accomplish collectively when we share our expertise and communicate our top priorities directly to policymakers. As we move forward, our Union will face both new and old challenges, and we carry the responsibility to educate our elected representatives about these issues so that they can help us secure the future for every aviation safety professional. This is where you come in. Over the next few days, we will equip you with the knowledge you need on critical issues such as staffing, training, modernization, and funding. The materials you have received, along with your training during NATCA in Washington, will ensure you and your fellow activists are prepared to represent our Union with one clear, consistent message. Each of you will be prepared to speak with a unified voice so that every member of Congress fully understands the importance of our priorities. Additionally, we will provide you with the tools and training needed to build and strengthen relationships with your members of Congress and their staffs this week and for weeks to come. Congressional staff play a crucial role in the legislative process, and developing lasting relationships with them is just as important as engaging with your Senators and Representatives. NATCA in Washington will also feature remarks from influential political leaders and legislative experts, whose insights will be invaluable as we continue to move forward. Finally, remember that your most valuable resource is likely sitting right next to you. Take time to engage with one another—ask questions, share experiences, and support each other. Whether you're a veteran of this event or attending for the first time, this is an opportunity to learn from each other and discover innovative ways to become more effective activists. Thank you for what you have done and for what we know you will do in the days, weeks, and months ahead. In Solidarity, Nick Daniels President N i c k D a n i e l s President M i c k D e v i n e Executive Vice President Mick Devine Executive Vice President

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