NATCA Bookshelf

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT NOTABLE STAT NATCA represents 100 of the 254 towers in the FCT Program. That number has doubled in just the past eight years as NATCA has increased its organizing efforts. Please click here to see the list of NATCA-represented FCTs. Read about NATCA President Paul Rinaldi's June 20 remarks at the U.S. Contract Tower Association's (USCTA) annual workshop on the FCT Program. NOTABLE QUOTABLE Asked by KTSM-TV El Paso how she feels knowing she helped save the 135 people on board American Airlines Flight 1897 that suffered severe damage due to a storm and diverted to ELP on June 3, NATCA ELP member Crystal Lingle said, "I don't see it like that and I've been called a hero over the last week and a half and it blows my mind because honestly, I was just doing my job. I think the real heroes in this situation are the two pilots flying that airplane because it's a miracle that they put that plane on the pavement and 135 people walked away that day." Watch story NOTABLE REBUTTAL TO WALL STREET JOURNAL COLUMNIST The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published a letter to the editor from NATCA President Paul Rinaldi in its print edition and online on June 21. Paul's letter was a critique of an opinion article that the WSJ had published on June 5 that criticized FAA hiring practices and suggested that controllers hired using these practices endangered flying safety in the National Airspace System. The print and digital readership of the WSJ approach 2.4 million readers, making it the largest circulation newspaper in the United States. As a result, both Paul's letter and the original WSJ article that Paul addressed were widely read. Read the letter on The Wall Street Journal's website Read the full text of the letter on NATCA's website if you encounter subscription issues on the WSJ site HONORING RTCA PRESIDENT MARGARET JENNY NATCA President Paul Rinaldi and Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert released the following statement praising the work of RTCA President Margaret Jenny during the past 10 years. Jenny announced that she will retire from RTCA in August. "Margaret is a great leader and visionary who has been at the forefront of the collaborative effort to modernize the National Airspace System (NAS). She shares NATCA's passion for making the world's safest system even safer. Her commitment to aviation safety was evident during the successful RTCA Global Aviation Symposium this week. Margaret made RTCA the place to gather and discuss issues of critical importance to the NAS, work together to address challenges and find solutions, and create opportunities to build relationships throughout the aviation industry. "Margaret has always been a great friend to NATCA and the aviation safety professionals we represent. She has worked to foster a healthy and robust collaborative environment. That is why NATCA presented her with the James L. Oberstar Sentinel of Safety Award on Nov. 13, 2017, honoring her outstanding achievements in the advancement of aviation safety. This is the highest honor given by NATCA to a member of the aviation community. We thank Margaret for her accomplishments, her leadership,

• Cover