benefits, such as those proposed in the House Budget Resolution . The exodus of retiring
controllers would be detrimental to the National Airspace System.
Last week we continued our coverage of our members' host ing members of Congress
and their staffs during facility tours that have taken place over the last few weeks. We
chronicled many of those visits in the NATCA Insider last week . Read more .
NEW THIS WEEK – A new online feature showing – in animated form – how suggested
budget cuts could affect NATCA members' retirement benefits. View it here.
CONTROLLERS AT ZTL, MGM SAVE FLIGHT IN TROUBLE
On June 21, a PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ - 700 en route from New Orleans to
Washington National, with 65 passengers and four crew members on board, had just
reached cruising altitude when the crew reported cabin depressurization.
Over the next 25 minutes, as the situation grew more s evere, the crew depended heavily
on the expertise of air traffic controllers at Atlanta Center (ZTL) and Montgomery Tower
(MGM) to guide them to safety.
ZTL initially diverted the flight to MGM when the pilot declared the emergency, but when
things got wo rse, he ultimately decided to land at the closer Selma Airport in Alabama,
an uncontrolled airport 30 miles west of Montgomery.
ZTL air traffic controller Jason Harvey had just taken the Monroeville High Sector when
the emergency call came in.
"I don't t hink I even had my scope set at that point," he said. "The pilot reported cabin
depressurization and needed to get down. I gave him altitudes, but he never read them
back. I thought he had passed out."
Read more.
MISS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER - WIDE EMAIL? HERE'S OUR ARCHIVE
Please click here.
NEW FLYER PUSHES IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY REPORTING SYSTEM
"When In Doubt, Fill It Out"
The FAA and NATCA have introduced a new flyer emphasizing the importance of
voluntary safety reporting programs. The flyer includes the website URLs where
members can go to file reports. Click here for the flyer .
MEMBER FOCUS OF THE WEEK: David Skarphol (P50 )
Skarphol was recently honored at NATCA in Washington with a Regional Legislative
Award. " I could see first - hand the difference NATCA makes. I've been hooked and
involved ever since , " he said . Read more.
17
th
BIENNIAL CONVENTION – Philadelphi a
April 17 - 20, 2018.
Registration is open! Check out our section on natca.org devoted to next year's 17
th
Biennial Convention in Philadelphia. You can register and find out more about the
agenda and much more. Please click here.
