NATCA Bookshelf

REFERENCES National Air Traffic Controllers Association | www.natca.org NiW Today 43 Does NATCA support the Remote Tower program? n Throughout testing and pilot program, NATCA expressed several concerns regarding the operation of remote towers, from human factors to the ability of controllers to identify and maintain visual contact with aircraft in the traffic pattern. n NATCA believes technological advancements in remote tower technology could have a place in the NAS, especially at locations in which tower services are not currently offered or where air traffic control (ATC) services could be enhanced. Those enhanced services could include: • As part of a contingency plan or for possible use to monitor remote airports during midnight operations; • For assistance with line-of-sight issues at current towers; or • Possibly providing a level of service that may include traffic advisories, but without separation responsibilities. n As with all modernization and safety programs, NATCA must remain actively involved and engaged in the discovery, development, and testing of remote tower technologies to safeguard the NAS and ensure that the frontline workforce has a voice in all future changes to the NAS. Federal Employee Legislation What is NATCA's position on legislation that targets the federal workforce? n For more than a decade, NATCA successfully defended against legislation that would harm the federal workforce including NATCA's members, such as attempts to eliminate official time, cuts to pay and benefits, reductions in workforce, and a proposed elimination of the Social Security annuity supplement. n FAA employees – including the thousands of aviation safety professionals represented by NATCA – are essential to the safety and efficiency of the NAS, and Congress should ensure these employees are not negatively affected by sweeping, unrelated legislation. n The FAA remains near a 30-year low for CPCs, and many of them are eligible to retire. If retirement-eligible CPCs know that their retirement benefits will be reduced significantly, it will greatly incentivize them to retire before that law goes into effect. A large wave of unanticipated retirements could cripple the NAS by exacerbating the current staffing and training challenges. Official Time Are you using duty or official time to be in Washington, D.C. today? n No, NATCA members do not lobby on duty time or official time. We are on leave or on our regular days off. Is official time necessary for NATCA members to perform their statutory and contractual duties? n Yes. At the FAA, official time is paid time that employee representatives may use to resolve disputes, negotiate changes in working conditions, and collaborate on workgroups that implement new modernization programs and procedures. n Official time saves the FAA and taxpayers' time and money by allowing NATCA representatives and the FAA to avoid costly arbitrations and other less-efficient means of dispute resolution. n Official time is necessary for NATCA members to perform their representational duties owed to all bargaining unit employees, regardless of union membership status. Q & A

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