NATCA's 17th Biennial Convention in Philadelphia kicks off at 9 a.m. EDT next Wednesday, April 18, and runs through Friday afternoon, April 20. We're planning gavel-to-gavel coverage.  Learn how you can follow the event at home.

In popular video, controllers urge their peers to drop distractions and focus on safety. Turn Off Tune In, Foundations of Professionalism to be on display at Convention next week.  Read more.

NATCA members were proud to represent their professions at the nation's largest celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The volunteers introduced all in attendance, including the next generation of aviation safety professionals, to the wonders of aviation.  Read more.

NATCA National Legislative Committee Western Pacific Region Chair Trisha Pesiri-Dybvik lost everything in the massive wildfire that raged across Southern California last fall. She immediately set out to see how she could help others. Read more.

Representatives from facilities across the country gathered at the NATCA National Office in Washington, D.C., to learn about creating self-sustaining, collaborative workplaces. Read more.

NATCA activists took part in Representative Training I (RT1) April 9-13, in Las Vegas. The instructors were Eddie DeLisle (Portland TRACON), Aaron Katz (Phoenix TRACON), Neil Caputo (Memphis Center), Nick Daniels (Fort Worth Center), and Jamaal Haltom (Las Vegas Tower). In addition to learning the ins and outs of representing their Union local, the approximately three dozen reps heard from NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, who spoke on April 10, updated the group on a range of issues, and answered questions.

Would you like to participate in an upcoming class? Sign up for this and other NATCA Academy classes at portal.natca.net. Once you have logged in, select "NATCA Academy" from the quick links. Then, select "2018 courses." If you need any help with registration, contact the Coordinator for your region. 

Registrants will be notified within 35 days from the course start date of their status for the course.

If you have any questions, please contact NATCA's Training Coordinator, Carolyn Kamara, at ckamara@natcadc.org.

NATCA members volunteer many hours of their time contributing to their communities and supporting NATCA brothers and sisters in need, improving our Union, advancing our locals, contributing to collaborative technical projects & investigatory efforts, and working aviation events like Oshkosh, Sun n Fun & more. It is because of the efforts of thousands of NATCA member volunteers that NATCA achieves great success. Read more.

Congratulations to our 2018 NATCA Scholarship Program recipients! 

Our President's Award winner ($2,000 from NATCA and, thanks to SkyOne Federal Credit Union, an extra $1,000) is Alexandria Hudzinski (NATCA relative is Frank Hudzinski, Houston TRACON, I90).

Our $1,000 scholarship winners are listed below:

Winner's Name (Member Relative and Facility)

• Zakarius Ausama (Patrick Massie, Engineers Southwest, ESW)
• Jada Cato (Marvin Cato, Memphis Center, ZME)
• Adam Cook (Jack Cook, Cleveland Center, ZOB)
• Skye Curry (Christopher Keyes, Washington Center, ZDC)
• Katelyn Doss (William Doss, ZME)
• Eban Grasty (Stuart Hahn, Miami Center, ZMA)
• Ryan Hedeen (Thomas Hedeen, Denver ATCT, DEN)
• Alec Hoagland (Michelle Bowden, Salt Lake Center, ZLC)
• Weston Johnson (Christopher Johnson, Seattle Center, ZSE)
• Benjamin Mearkle (Michael Mearkle, New York Center, ZNY)
• Sarah Medina (Rigoberto Medina, Atlanta Center, ZTL)
• Owen Mooso (Kristine Mooso, Boston Center, ZBW)
• Tristan Moore (William Carr, Northern California TRACON, NCT)
• Tori Peckosh (Trent Peckosh, Denver Center, ZDV)
• Auveanna Robinson (George Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON, D10)
• Garrett Robinson (Robert Robinson, Potomac TRACON, PCT)
• Trevor Rowand (Kevin Long, I90)
• Gillian Sneve (Chad Sneve, Atlanta TRACON, A80)
• Edward Szczuka Jr. (Edward Szczuka, Engineers Central, ECE)
• Ellery VanZee (James VanZee, Grand Rapids, GRR)

For more information about the NATCA Scholarship Program, please click here.

Scholarship Program application form, please click here.

A scholarship from the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) can go a long way. It can set you on a career path towards success and even change your trajectory altogether. Read more.

NATCA has teamed up with Lenovo, a global leader in the PC marketplace, to offer discounts on its entire line of reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Members save up to 30 percent on Lenovo laptops, tablets, desktops, all-in-ones, workstations, servers, and accessories. 

Take advantage of great deals on top products for the home and office, including the award-winning ThinkPad notebooks.

In addition, NATCA members also receive:

Click here for the members-only NATCA Benefits website to learn more.

In collaboration with Penn State University, NATCA is pleased to offer members a benefit that assists those pursuing a college degree. The Penn State World Campus/NATCA alliance provides our members with in-state tuition rates, a five percent (5%) tuition discount, and college credit for completion of a certified NATCA Academy course(s). For more information visit http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/b2b/natca or contact the NATCA National Benefits Committee at benefits@natca.net.

Check out the Penn State World Campus April newsletters:

April 2018 Penn State World Campus Newsletter.
April 2018 Penn State World Campus Military Update.

Interested in attending a NATCA Retirement Seminar by 4Square Financial Literacy Partners?

Upcoming dates:

Denver:

• April 25: 3 - 9 p.m. (for members with more than 15 years in the Agency).
• April 26: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (for members with less than 15 years in the Agency).

Cleveland:

• May 1: 3 - 9 p.m. (for members with more than 15 years in the Agency).
• May 2: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (for members with less than 15 years in the Agency).

Detroit:

• May 3: 3 - 9 p.m. (for members with more than 15 years in the Agency).
• May 4: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (for members with less than 15 years in the Agency).

To register for a seminar, log in to the NATCA Portal at portal.natca.net and click the "Events" tab, followed by "2018 Retirement Seminars." For any questions or problems with registration, please contact retirement@natca.net.

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Bring the family together for fun activities that won't break the bank. Read more.

Collaboration between Seattle TRACON member Ken Treglown and his colleagues were a major reason a general aviation pilot survived a plane crash on March 4. Treglown is nominated for an Archie League Medal of Safety Award for this event. Read more.

Southwest Regional Vice President Andrew LeBovidge joined members and reps from Houston Center (ZHU), Houston TRACON (I90), Houston Intercontinental ATCT (IAH), Houston Hobby ATCT (HOU), Lafayette ATCT (LFT), Abilene ATCT (ABI), and D.W. Hooks ATCT (DWH) for the annual Houston area crawfish boil solidarity event this past week in Spring, Texas.

NATCA President Paul Rinaldi and Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert attended and answered questions from the membership. Also on hand to talk with members were National Legislative Committee Chairman Steve Weidner and National Organizing Committee and National Benefits Committee Chairman John Bratcher.

Southwest Alternate Regional Vice President Chris Parris and retired member Tim Poer (Abilene ATCT) handled the grilling duties and kept all attendees fed and happy.

Charlotte ATCT (CLT) member David Buckley's wife, Michelle, passed away last month. She was only 37 years old. She leaves behind her husband and two teenage children. A fund has been setup to help offset any expenses the family may incur in the aftermath of this tragic loss. Please consider donating.