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THE DELEGATE THURSDAY • OCTOBER 2, 2014 9 Bryan Zilonis NGL RVP: "NATCA air traffic controllers have once again established that when an emergency occurs, our nation's skies will always remain safe. Whether it is clearing the NAS of thousands of flights safely, or recreating Chicago Center traffic flows in surrounding facilities to keep America flying, they have always delivered. I could not be more proud to represent these people." Jeff Richards NGL ARVP and former ZAU FacRep: "As history has shown, the controllers at all our facilities have rolled up their collective sleeves and pitched in to restore our nation's air traffic control system. The teamwork shown by our controllers during this event has been incredible. All the facilities surrounding Chicago Center deserve the utmost respect for the herculean work they are doing restoring the Chicago area airports to as close to normal as possible." Open a Local Account with SkyOne No monthly fees, no balance requirements Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government SkyOne.org | 800.421.7111 Proud sponsor of NATCA Visit Us at the SkyOne Booth Why Choose SkyOne? SkyOne has helped 145 Fac Reps manage their local accounts with ease and convenience. Let us help you manage yours today. • No monthly maintenance fees • No monthly service fees • No minimum balance requirements • Easy to switch the signer on the account • A dedicated representative managing your account ZAU, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 and ingenuity that has been demonstrated over the past three days is truly astounding." Controllers at ZAU were understandably shaken by the events, which are currently under investigation by the FBI. "The controllers at Chicago Center are currently providing as much assistance to other facilities as possible," NATCA FacRep Toby Hauck said. "I have attempted to put into words what we have been through, and it is impossible to describe. I thank all those facilities and controllers who have stepped up." Controllers at the affected facilities are still working to mitigate the costly incident. While delays have been steadily decreasing throughout this week, it's been a challenge to handle the thousands of flights that ZAU normally directs. "We continue to work hard, and I am so proud of the controllers' professionalism and work ethic," Chicago TRACON (C90) FacRep James Hall said. "We are C90 – we will always figure out a way to move the airplanes. I anticipate increasing our efficiencies with continued out-of-the-box thinking. That is, of course, with continued ZAU controller support, and staffing to hold." Here in Minneapolis, controllers at ZMP have been working diligently to take on added workload. "We have extra staffing in the facility to help with the situation," FacRep Mike Thompson said. "There are many great people doing many great things with very little to work with." Controllers working radar positions at the TRACONS in Cedar Rapids, Champaign, Des Moines, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Madison, Milwaukee, Moline, Muskegon, Peoria, Rockford, South Bend, Springfield, Waterloo, and also Grissom Air Reserve Base in Kokomo, Ind., have played a crucial role in the effort to get traffic moving as a temporary solution while ZAU is down. In the case of traffic flowing into and out of Chicago airports, they are providing a conduit between the adjacent centers and Chicago TRACON. "These employees are working a staggering amount of traffic, using new procedures and methods being altered almost constantly, and ensuring safety in very difficult and pressure-filled situations," Gilbert said. "It's a great team effort in progress."

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