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Daily Dispatch III: March 22, 2017

A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 N AT C A D A I LY D I S PAT C H 3 As NATCA and the FAA begin to work with the new Administration, they face uncertainty, and there likely will be significant changes. President Trump's regulatory limits have caused confusion across government agencies. This panel will break down the regulatory process, including legislation and rulemaking and how those processes affect the National Airspace System (NAS). With new users, automation, commercial space, and other strains on the NAS, new regulations will be necessary. There must be a balance between safety and regulation. If done well, regulations can foster a safer airspace that can accommodate increased capacity. Eliminating bureaucratic rulemaking that stifles innovation and discourages growth would be welcome, but major policy changes require a thoughtful, measured approach. While regulations can create limitations, they are necessary to operate a safe system. Jessica Cox has famously eliminated the words "I can't" from her vocabulary. Although born without arms as the result of a birth defect, she has never allowed that to be a limiting factor. While she suffered from self-esteem issues early on and physical challenges throughout her life, Jessica managed to overcome and achieve. She earned a college degree and a Taekwondo black belt, learned to drive a car with her feet, type with her toes, and, in 2008, fly an airplane. That feat landed her in the Guinness Book of World Records and led to an audience with the Pope, meetings with heads of state, and a great deal of media attention. As a person who has never viewed herself as a victim of her condition, Jessica shares in her speech humorous stories of struggle and success living in a "two-handed" world. She provides critical insight on how best to approach a challenge, redefining the concept of innovative thinking. She helps people reconnect with their inner strengths and aptitudes. Jessica believes in combining creativity, desire, persistence, and fearlessness. With them, nothing is impossible. Recently married, Jessica continues her journey. In the present, she has turned the tables on her so-called "disability," allowing it to enable her as a motivational speaker and advocate in the U.S. and beyond. In the future, there is no telling where her feet will take her. "Why do we place such an emphasis on collaboration?" asked National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Member Christopher Hart Tuesday morning. Hart detailed the history of collaboration in air safety investigations between all parties. His conclusion: collaboration is crucial to improving complex systems successfully. Collaboration has proven to reduce the accident rate. Everybody "has their eyes on the same prize" and that's why collaboration works, Hart said. "If you're involved in the problem, you need to be involved in the solution. It's very simple." The regulatory process can be very slow, Hart said, but the collaborative process can be very nimble. Yet, collaboration can be challenging. "The first reason is just basic human nature," he said. "It's easy to say, 'I'm OK, you're not.' So all the players (in a conversation) may say, 'hey, we've got our act together, if you get your act together, then come and talk to me and we'll see what we can do.' "How many times have we heard people say, 'I don't need marriage counseling. You're the one that has the problem. You go to the marriage counselor. I'm OK, you're not.' So that's basic human nature, to make people reluctant to participate in the first place." In addition, Hart explained that many people involved in collaborating have competing interests. Nobody wants to "bare their soul" in front of the regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), he added. Hart said former FAA Administrator David Hinson, who served in that position from 1993- 1996, started a program to get everyone working together. "He said the solution to this problem is not a bigger stick for the regulator, but how we can all work together to make this complex system work better," Hart said. As a result, the FAA made it clear they were not there for enforcement purposes but to learn. Hart praised NATCA collaboration in a number of complex problem areas, including runway incursion mitigation, wrong runway landings, and the issuing of PIREPS (pilot reports). He praised the Runway Safety Council for getting "the totality of the picture and addressing this issue." Hart also emphasized the importance of cockpit familiarization trips for controllers and urged them to take advantage of those opportunities. Hart was recognized at Communicating For Safety this year with the prestigious James L. Oberstar Sentinel of Safety Award. PANEL PREVIEW | The Effect of Government Regulations and Policies on Aviation Safety, Efficiency, and Growth Wednesday, March 22 • 10:30 a.m. MODERATOR: Trish Gilbert, Executive Vice President, NATCA PANELISTS: • Chris Bertram, Founding Partner, B+S Strategies • Vincent Capezzuto, Chief Technology Officer and VP, Engineering, Aireon • Eugene Freedman, Esq., Special Counsel to the President, NATCA • David Grizzle, President and CEO, Dazzle Partners • Glen Martin, Vice President, Air Traffic Services, FAA • Jana Murphy, Vice President, Government Affairs, SAAB • Sharon Pinkerton, Senior Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Policy, A4A • Steve Weidner, National UAS Rep, NATCA Hon. Christopher A. Hart: Sentinel of Safety Keynote Address Preview: Jessica Cox, "Thinking Outside the Shoe" Jessica Cox Christopher A. Hart

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