PRESS RELEASE – May 4
NATCA Commends Congress for Passing Omnibus Funding Bill, Avoiding Government
Shutdown
National Air Traffic Control lers Association (NATCA) President Paul Rinaldi and NATCA
Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert issued a joint statement today, applauding
Congressional passage of an omnibus funding bill that prevents a government shutdown
and keeps the government funded through Sept. 30.
"NATCA is pleased Congress has passed an omnibus spending bill that will fund the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through the end of the current fiscal year. NATCA
is especially appreciative that the FAA has received an increase i n its operations budget.
It should enable the FAA to move forward on key issues such as improving air traffic
controller staffing and continuing to plan, develop, and implement the myriad of ongoing
NextGen modernization projects.
"However, this bill only provides a short - term fix to a long - term problem – the unstable,
unpredictable, stop - and - go nature of the current funding stream. The mere threat of a
government shutdown causes agencies like the FAA to suspend and delay critical
projects in preparation f or a shutdown. That means progress is slowed, meetings are
postponed, plans are put on hold, and the system suffers. It takes significant time and
effort to bring a large agency to a halt, so that must begin before a shutdown even
occurs, and it takes even more time to restart it again once a shutdown threat subsides.
"We believe the efficiency of the National Airspace System and the livelihoods of the
men and women safeguarding it should not be negatively affected by disagreements
over issues unrelated to aviation.
"We thank members of Congress for passing the omnibus funding bill and ask that they
continue to address the need for long - term stability of the funding stream."
NATCA IN WASHINGTON
We are working with leadership, the National Legislative Com mittee, and the
Government Affairs and Policy staff at the National Office on a comprehensive briefing
book for NATCA in Washington 2017. We will give the book to each attendee when they
arrive May 21, and we will have an electronic copy of the book availa ble on the natca.org
website. We will provide a direct link when it's released.
WHAT'S NEW ON THE NATCA SAFETY WEBPAGE?
ATSAP Briefing Sheet:
The March 2017 briefing sheet is entitled, "Passing or Di verging ," and includes recent
ATSAP reports, the top contributing factors identified by controllers and ERCs, and
topics for facility discussion, including, "How is Passing or Diverging separation used at
your facility?" View the briefing sheet.
Confidential Information Share Program Briefing Sheet:
The new May 2017 briefing sheet is called, "A Flight Attendant's View: Turbulence."
Recent pilot reports are incl uded, as are passages from a March 2017 flight attendant's
ASAP report, and topics for facility discussion centered around how PIREPs are solicited
and disseminated. View the briefing sheet.
