T U E S D AY, M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 N AT C A D A I LY D I S PAT C H
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This morning's Pilot/Controller Communications panel continues an annual tradition: a candid,
informative, exploratory discussion that is the essence of what Communicating For Safety (CFS) is about.
"This panel is the basis for the whole conference," said Las Vegas Tower controller Ashley Callen, who
is co-moderating today's panel with controller Dawn Johnson (Atlanta Center). "Communications is the
foundation of our job."
This year's panel will address several topics, including instrument flight rules/visual flight rules (IFR/VFR)
conflict resolution, speech rate, standardization, and ground operations.
The IFR/VFR topic is part of the collaborative NATCA-FAA new rollout of the second phase of the Take a
Stand for Safety campaign. It addresses myths around IFR/VFR operations and encourages controllers to
call traffic, issue safety alerts, and work with pilots to avoid conflicts.
Close-proximity events occur in all air traffic environments, and there is a national focus on addressing
this issue. The initiatives include the 2017 Top 5, January 2017 Recurrent Training, and Take a Stand for
Safety.
One myth that Take a Stand for Safety is addressing surrounds the idea that VFR aircraft, which operate
under visual rules commonly known as "see and avoid," don't need or want service from air traffic
control.
In addition, NATCA has expanded its outreach efforts to pilots through the use of pilot/controller communications cards. NATCA received a nice boost and great recognition last
month from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). In its newsletter sent to all of its members, EAA promoted NATCA's quick reference cards for pilots, which provide information
about several key safety issues.
Writes EAA: "The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has developed quick-reference guides for pilot-air traffic controller communications. The six cards provide
succinct tips on basic information regarding airborne operations, ground operations, airspace, and weather. All pilots are free to download the cards to use as an additional resource
when planning for flights."
Links to the electronic versions of the NATCA cards:
• Airborne
• Airspace
• Ground
• Ground Operations
• VFR Flight Following
• Weather
Runway incursions continue to be a safety concern within the National Airspace System (NAS). With
a projected increase of operations across the NAS, the risk of a collision is always present when
more than one aircraft is approaching, landing, departing, crossing, waiting on, or taxiing on the
same runway.
"With nearly 50 million IFR/VFR takeoffs and landings in our National Airspace System each year, it
will take all of us working together to ensure every aircraft is safe during every phase of flight," said
NATCA National Runway Safety Rep Bridget Gee.
The panel will include representatives from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the Southwest
Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and FAA
Airports Division. The panel will discuss what we can do to help mitigate and reduce the risk of
runway incursions and surface incidents.
NATCA Safety Committee Chair Steve Hansen and FAA Director of Safety Ed Donaldson will
moderate a panel on weather that completes the picture for controller and pilot. Through this panel,
Hansen hopes to increase awareness of weather myths and debunking the common misconception
that, "they see better weather on their radar/on the flight desk than we do."
"It's important to remember that neither the pilot or controller has all the pieces of the weather
puzzle," said Hansen. "Only by working together and sharing information can we all complete the
weather picture."
The panel will discuss many aspects of assessing the impact of weather, including the importance of
soliciting and disseminating pilot reports (PIREPS) and turbulence.
PANEL PREVIEW | Pilot/Controller Communications
PANEL PREVIEW
| Runway Safety
PANEL PREVIEW
| Weather: Complete the Picture
Tuesday, March 21 • 9:15 a.m.
MODERATORS:
Dawn Johnson, Chair, Reloaded Committee, NATCA
Ashley Callen, CPC, Las Vegas ATCT, NATCA
PANELISTS:
• Andy Marosvari, Procedures Rep, NATCA
• John Drexler, Director for Air Traffic Control Procedures, ALPA
• David Eiser, Safety Committee Chairman, SWAPA
• Zoe Roberts, CPC, Indianapolis Center, NATCA
• Paul Flynn, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots
• Leah Hickling, CPC, Southern California TRACON, NATCA
• Paul Deres, Director, Education, AOPA Air Safety Institute
Tuesday, March 21 • 11:15 a.m.
MODERATORS:
Bridget Gee, National Runway Safety Rep, NATCA
Jim Fee, Manager, Runway Safety Group, ATO
PANELISTS:
• Capt. Steve Jangelis, Aviation Safety Chairman, ALPA
• Brad Sims, SWAPA Air Traffic Services Lead
• John Dermody, Director, Airport Safety and Standards, FAA
• Dan Bartlett, Senior Transportation Safety Specialist, NTSB
Tuesday, March 21 • 1:30 p.m.
MODERATORS:
Steve Hansen, Chairman, National Safety Committee, NATCA
Ed Donaldson, Director of Safety, ATO
PANELISTS:
• Matt Tucker, Weather Rep, NATCA
• John Kosak, Weather Project Manager, NBAA
• Nick Daniels, ZFW Facility Rep, NATCA
• Adam Rhodes, I90 Vice President, NATCA
• Rip Torn, Air Traffic Services Group Chair, ALPA
• Mike Briskey, Voluntary Aviation Safety Information
Programs Lead, SWAPA
