National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Nick Daniels issued a statement expressing gratitude to Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Sam Graves, for his role in developing legislation aimed at addressing challenges faced by air traffic controllers and other professionals in aviation safety.
Daniels thanked Graves for his leadership in proposing an air traffic control (ATC) section to be included in the budget reconciliation package. This proposal is expected to enhance the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System. It will benefit the general public, system users, and aviation safety professionals who operate it continuously.
NATCA, alongside over 50 industry stakeholders within the Modern Skies Coalition, has backed the ATC modernization provisions. The union has been highlighting the staffing shortage problem among air traffic controllers for over ten years. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 had previously addressed improvements in hiring and training, and Graves’s new proposal is poised to further increase funding for recruiting, retaining, and training controllers. These legislative efforts aim to establish a sustainable staffing strategy.
The need for modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) infrastructure and equipment has also been emphasized by NATCA. Graves’s proposal includes substantial investments toward facility and equipment updates. Daniels commended both the Biden Administration and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for their dedication to enhancing ATC staffing and technology.
NATCA aims to collaborate with Secretary Duffy, the Department of Transportation, the FAA, and Congress to implement these and other key advancements.
NATCA, representing about 20,000 air traffic controllers, engineers, and aviation safety professionals, operates as a labor union and aviation safety organization in the U.S. Established in 1987, this union is certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority and is recognized for its substantial role within the federal sector.
The organization highlights its impact on the U.S. economy, supporting the coordination of passenger and freight movement within the National Airspace System. NATCA maintains its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and has affiliations with the AFL-CIO.
Galen Munroe, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, can be contacted for more information at 202-220-9802 or via email at [email protected].
