The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) announced the creation of two new permanently-endowed scholarships in honor of NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert and FedEx Corporate Vice President of Government Affairs Gina Adams.  AAAE honored Gilbert and Adams at the 2018 Women in Aviation Scholarship Luncheon on May 2 in Washington, D.C. "By honoring me, you are honoring NATCA," Gilbert said. (Pictured above, from left to right: NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, Gilbert, and AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli.)  Read more.

Video: Remarks by FAA ATO COO Teri Bristol, Rinaldi, and Gilbert: View here.

Transcript: Remarks by Gilbert, Bristol, and Rinaldi. Read here.

Photo Album: View here.


Last month the Professional Women Controllers, Inc. (PWC), gathered in Alexandria, Va., to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their annual training conference. The theme of the 2018 conference was "emPOWERing air traffic professionals." The PWC conference was  sponsored by NATCA and attended by many NATCA members.

Over the four-day conference, attendees heard directly from Federal Aviation Administration senior leadership, listened to panels on important topics affecting air traffic control, attended breakout sessions on personal development, and much more.

Read all about the panels, presentations, updates, and activities of the conference in NATCA's PWC Annual Training Conference Flickr album.


As Mother's Day approaches this weekend, join us in celebrating the incredible women who dedicate their lives to ensuring the safety of the National Airspace System and the families lucky enough to call them "Mom." Check out our photo album and if you'd like to add to our collection, please send photos to mroper@natcadc.org.


Pictured above: Houston Center (ZHU) member, facility Pro Standards Rep and Texana District Professional Standards Chair Deedra Norwood, with husband Kevin and sons Graham and Holden.

Pictured at right: Cedar Rapids (CID) member Kathy Battiste, with children Natalie and Nehemiah.

Pictured below, from left to right: Indianapolis Center (ZID) member  Christie Ljunggren with Gage and family friend Brody, ZID member  Brandy Willis with Amiya, ZID member  Rachel Gilmore with Savannah, and ZID member Jessica Abbott with Syrci.




On the evening of April 26, Riddle 632 was approaching Daytona Beach (DAB) for landing when the pilot reported what appeared to be engine oil squirting over his windscreen, which resulted in zero forward or sideways visibility. That's when a team of air traffic control professionals at DAB quickly went to work to help guide the pilot to a safe landing. 

Radar controller Tim Martin (pictured above right) got him towards the airport and once he was close to the runway, tower controller Ruben Lopez (pictured above left) gave vertical guidance to relay to Front Line Manager Theo Aftonomos to relay to the aircraft. CPCs Karen Hagstrom and Chris Watton were also involved in relating guidance. Read - and listen - to how this event unfolded, as reported on May 5 by the Daytona Beach News-Journal. (Photo by News-Journal's David Tucker.) 
Read more.


Having successfully compartmentalized the feelings of excitement and awe of stepping foot into the hallowed Jeopardy! studio in Culver City, Calif., on Jan. 24 and watching legendary host Alex Trebek stroll onto the set, Providence ATCT (PVD) member Jan Brown quickly focused on the task at hand like the skilled, experienced air traffic controller that she is. She hit her stride, put together a string of successful responses, and found herself on quite a roll.  Read more .



If you attended NATCA's 17th Biennial Convention in Philadelphia, we need your help! We are always striving for ways to serve NATCA members better. Let us know how we did in Philadelphia by completing the post-convention survey. View here.

Charlotte ATCT (CLT) members Lisa Bradfield, Pete Slattery, and Chris Dickinson represented aviation safety professions at the North Carolina Transportation Museum for Aviation Day last month.  The group gave presentations featuring a behind-the-scenes description of what air traffic controllers do on a day-to-day basis to more than 1,500 students from 3rd through 6th grade.


ELP Members Provide Much-Needed Supplies to  El Paso Center Against Sexual & Family Violence

Members at El Paso ATCT (ELP) spearheaded a project to benefit the El Paso Center Against Sexual & Family Violence (CASFV). NATCA members provided clothing, toilet paper, toothpaste, diapers baby wipes, deodorant, and many more needed items. Pictured above from left to right are ELP members Courtney Hill, Eunice Romero, and Crystal Lingle, and a CASFV representative. 
NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF): How to Donate Via 1187 Payroll Deduction Form, and How to Join Regional Contest

NCF is allocating $250,000 in 2018, taking a big step toward meeting a new goal set by NATCA President Paul Rinaldi at last month's Convention in Philadelphia: MAKE NCF A MILLION-DOLLAR CHARITY THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS! There is a quick and easy fillable form to sign up to donate through payroll deductions. Please click here

At NATCA in Washington (NiW) on May 20-23, NCF will kick off an 1187 payroll deduction form regional contest. The region that has the highest increase (based on percentage) will receive $1,000 to donate to the charity or charities of their choice pending NCF Board approval. Any 1187 forms received now through the end of NiW will count toward the regional contest.

Disaster Relief

Hurricane Heroes 'ACE' the Test:  Air traffic professionals at Fort Lauderdale Executive Tower (FXE) received an annual award for their steadfast collaboration with the airport and city throughout Hurricane Irma.  The City of Fort Lauderdale recognized FXE air traffic professionals with the annual Achievements in Community Excellence Award (ACE) for their support of air traffic programs and, most significantly, their contributions to the airport, city and community before, during and after Hurricane Irma swept over Florida last year. Pictured above: NATCA FacRep Dusty Heaton, Air Traffic Manager Richard Sack, and Airport Manager Rufus James. Read more.

NATCA Disaster Relief Fund: Delegates and other attendees at the 17th Biennial Convention in Philadelphia last month donated nearly $700 to the NATCA Disaster Relief Fund. Pictured below (left to right) are Miami (MIA) FacRep Bill Kisseadoo and MIA members Rick Martinez and Christiaan Cambridge. To sign up to donate to the Relief Fund via payroll deduction, please click here.

Southern Hospitality, Solidarity on Display in Tampa

NATCA members from Tampa ATCT/TRACON (TPA), St. Pete-Clearwater ATCT (PIE), Sarasota-Bradenton ATCT (SRQ), and Fort Myers ATCT/TRACON (RSW) welcomed NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert and Southern Regional Vice President Jim Marinitti for a member event on May 7 at the historic HofbrÀuhaus restaurant in St. Petersburg, Fla. "It was a great time!" SRQ member Miranda Blackwelder said.


On April 27, the Western Pacific chapter of the National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE) helped introduce more than 1,200 students to careers in aviation, especially Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) positions in aviation safety and air traffic control. (Pictured above: Van Nuys member and Western Pacific NHCFAE Regional Director Jonathan Eagle and Los Angeles Center VP and Hispanic coalition member Martin Ramirez.)  Read more.

NATCA Helps Accept NoVA Group's Power in Unity Award

Workers from the World Bank organizing campaign  with Unite Here Local 23, NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, and Unite Here 23 organizer Sarah Jacobson accepted the Power in Unity award on behalf of the NoVA (Northern Virginia) Labor Airport Union Caucus last week. "We had 300 attendees and a great spirit of solidarity," reports NoVA Labor president Virginia Diamond.


Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo last month in Lakeland, Fla., "was one of the most impressive operations I have ever seen," Southern Regional Vice President Jim Marinitti said. "The ultimate in teamwork, and a lot of fun." 
FAA WorkLife Solutions: PTSD

May is PTSD Awareness Month.
Join Lauren Bern, M.A., RYT, CafeWell Coach, on May 14 and 16 for an introduction to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is a behavioral health condition that is triggered by a traumatic event or experience. Join Coach Lauren to learn all about this potentially debilitating condition, ways to treat it, and how to help yourself or a loved one cope. Estimated length of this webinar is 15 minutes.  Read more .

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