ISSUES
36
NiW Today NATCA in Washington 2026
Issue
ATC Facility Realignment and Consolidation
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Quick Reference
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NATCA.recognizes.that.the.Federal.Aviation.Administration.(FAA's.future.facility.
footprint.will.be.different.than.the.current.footprint..However,.decisions.to.realign.
and/or.consolidate.ATC.facilities.must.result.in.a.solution.that.is.in.the.best.interest.
of.the.National.Airspace.System.(NAS).and.the.flying.public.
NATCA.believes.that.facility.realignment.and.consolidation.decisions.must.
consider.five.core.principles.including.safety,.continuity,.capacity.and.
efficiency,.cost.savings,.and.effects.on.the.workforce..
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The.FAA.should.consider.realignment.and.consolidation.options.that.do.not.
simply.combine.facilities.of.the.same.type.but.instead.consider.merging.some.
centers.and.stand-alone.terminal.radar.approach.control.facilities.(TRACONs).
that.are.within.50.miles.of.each.other.into.a.combined.control.facility.(CCF).
How This Issue Affects NATCA Members
FAA facility realignment and consolidation decisions can have a profound effect on the lives of air traffic controllers,
other aviation safety professionals, and their families. Although these realignments and consolidations open new
opportunities for growth, both professionally and financially, they can also be the source of stress and uncertainty
for professionals who already work in a high-stress environment. NATCA believes that, even though some facility
realignment and consolidation is inevitable, these decisions must only be made after thoughtfully considering a
host of factors, one of which must be the effect on the workforce.
