NATCA Bookshelf

Q & A Q How does sequestration affect the FAA? Q What is NextGen? Q What is the status of sequestration? Is sequestration still a problem for NATCA? Q How did furloughs resulting from sequestration affect the FAA? A A A A • Sequestration has resulted in furloughs for the workforce and the potential for closures or reductions in service hours at many facilities. • Sequestration forced the FAA to institute a hiring freeze and close the FAA Academy for most of 2013, meaning it was unable to hire new air traffic controller trainees. This hiring freeze worsened an already critical air traffic controller staffing situation, which is at a 28-year low for Certified Professional Controllers. • Sequestration also causes preventative maintenance delays, meaning that engineers and technicians must contend with a "fix-on-fail" policy that forces them to wait until equipment breaks before replacing it. This policy results in down time for systems and negatively affects the efficiency of the system. • NextGen describes a comprehensive modernization project that is shifting the FAA from its current ground-based radar system to a smarter, satellite-based aircraft tracking system and digital technologies, along with new procedures that will make air travel more efficient, predictable, and environmentally friendly. • NextGen improvements enable the FAA to guide and track aircraft more precisely on more direct routes. NextGen will produce efficiencies that will enhance safety, reduce delays, save fuel, and reduce aircraft exhaust emissions. • NextGen is vital to preserving the United States as the world's leader in aviation. This is important due to the significant contribution aviation makes to our economy. • Americans felt the effects of sequestration in April 2013, when the FAA was forced to furlough every employee, including air traffic controllers, and to consider closing towers to achieve the mandated spending cuts. In addition to crippling controller staffing, these sequestration-mandated furloughs caused significant delays. During the week of April 21-27, 2013, delays nearly tripled at U.S. airports. • Sequestration is a major concern for NATCA. The effects of sequestration are still being felt, and we expect sequestration- related cuts to return. • NATCA continues to urge Congress to exempt the FAA from sequestration cuts that could be re-implemented this fiscal year. Sequestration forced the FAA to furlough employees (including air traffic controllers) for one week in April 2013. Congress quickly intervened by passing the NATCA-initiated bill, The Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013. SEQUESTRATION NEXTGEN Q Does NATCA support NextGen? A • Yes. NATCA and the FAA have been working collaboratively on the development and implementation of NextGen. • NATCA representatives on NextGen use official time to work collaboratively with the FAA on modernizing the system. These efforts are vital to the successful development and implementation of NextGen. • We take great pride in our role as a partner on the leading edge of NextGen. NiW Today n i w . n a t c a . n e t 58

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