A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/816138
Order 3900.19C, like the hearing conservation program. Rather than set forth programs, Order 3900.19C simply regurgitates federa l OSHA regulations and policy. The Agency claimed that Order 3900.19C is a f oundational document upon which Agency Lines of Business and Staff Offices can build their own OSH programs. NATCA will continue to evaluate Order 3900.19C in order to identify ambiguous language that t he Agency may need to clarify. NATCA also plans to su bmit proposals regarding its involvement in implementing OSH programs moving forward. POCs: Eastern RVP Dean Iacopelli, National OSHA Representative Mike Odryna, Region X OSHA Representative Dominic Petrelli, Director of Labor Relations Ryan Smith, Labor R elations Attorney Grant Mulkey, and Phil Barbarello. BRIEFING REQUESTS On April 24, 2017, NATCA requested a briefing on the Technical Operations Project Coordination Standard Operating Procedures for the Western Service Area. We are currently waiting for a response from th e Agency regarding our request. POCs: Labor Relations Attorney Grant Mulkey and Labor Relations Coordinator Kendal Manson. Week of April 8 - 14, 2017 FAA BRIEFING ON RUNWAY INCURSION MITIGATION PROGRAM (RIM) On April 4, 2017, the Agency b riefed NATCA on the implementation of the Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) program. The Agency explained that the Office of Airports has created a list of problematic taxiway geometry (PTG) based on airport design. These PTGs are non - standard in that they do not comply with the September 2012 airport design criteria. The Agency discovered a correlation between certain designs and increased runway incursions. Each PTG, as well as each tower airport that also had three or more runway incursions in a calendar year or had an average of one or more runway incursions per year over a study period, was designated for inclusion in the RIM program. Under the RIM program, sponsors determine what mitigations are appropriate to reduce runway incursions. As of December 2 016, 137 RIM points were verified. NATCA has only recently become aware of the RIM program, and does not believe that the airports are aware and engaged when they are part of the RIM project. NATCA's goal is to have NATCA Runway Safety Representative, Bri dget Gee, be the point of contact for the Agency to contact prior to working with a facility. This would allow her to speak with the FacRep ahead of any changes, and would also allow her the opportunity to go over the RIM locations with the FacRep in prepa ration f or discussions on mitigations. NATCA is still working with the Agency to assure it follows through on notifying Bridget. POCs: Safety and Technology Director Jim Ullmann, Deputy Director of Safety and Technology Mark McKelligan, Runway Safety/RWS L Representative Bridget Gee, and Labor Relations Attorney Suzanne DeFelice . NATIONAL GRIEVANCE FILED AT RVA OVER THE PROHIBITION ON USE OF LWOP NATCA filed a national grievance on April 11, 2017, regarding the prohibition on the use of LWOP at 13 RVA fac ilities which have experienced a shortage of hours. The grievance seeks to restore employees' right to use LWOP "staffing permitting," as well