Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

dent agency responsible for administering the labor-management
relations program for 1.9 million
U.S. federal employees around the world.
FPL — Full Performance Level: Journeymen controllers
qualified to work at every operating position
within their areas of specialization (now known
as a CPC).
Flight Strip — Paper strips that contain basic information
about flights operating in the National
Airspace System (see NAS).
GS Scale — General Schedule pay scale for federal
employees.
HGR — Hagerstown (Maryland) Airport
HRC — Human Relations Council: Worker-management
committees formed by the FAA in early 1982
to help address workplace issues and improve employee
morale.
IAD — Dulles International Airport
IFATCA — International Federation of Air Traffic
Controllers’ Associations: Formed in 1961, IF-
ATCA is composed of group members from more
than 100 nations and represents controller issues
to the International Civil Aviation Organization,
which sets worldwide policies.
MCI — Kansas City International Airport
MEBA — Marine Engineers Beneficial Association:
Labor organization formed in 1875 representing
engineers and deck officers in commercial shipping.
N90 — New York TRACON
NAATS — National Association of Air Traffic Specialists:
Labor organization formed in 1969 representing
air traffic controllers working in Flight Service
Stations.
NAGE — National Association of Government Employees:
Labor organization formed in 1961 representing
federal, county, and municipal employees.
NAS — National Airspace System: Network of airspace,
airports, navigation aids, and air traffic
control equipment across the United States.
NATCA — National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
Labor organization certified in 1987 representing
some 20,000 FAA and Defense Department
employees as well as some controllers working in
towers contracted out to private companies.
NMI — NATCA Membership Investments Incorporated:
Entity that owns the union headquarters
building in Washington, D.C.
NTSB — National Transportation Safety Board: Independent
federal agency that investigates all major
transportation accidents.
OFF — Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska (location of
Omaha TRACON).
ONT — Ontario (California) Airport
ORD — Chicago O’Hare International Airport
OQU — Quonset (Rhode Island) TRACON
P50 — Phoenix TRACON
PASS — Professional Airways Systems Specialists:
Labor organization formed in 1981 representing
more than 11,000 technicians, safety inspectors,
and other FAA workers.
PATCO — Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization:
Labor group formed in 1968 representing
some 17,000 FAA workers. The FLRA (see FLRA)
decertified PATCO in October 1981 after a nationwide
strike by many of its members.
PVD — Providence (Rhode Island) Airport
QTP — Quality Through Partnership: Program developed
by the FAA and NATCA during the early
1990s to foster collaborative labor-management
relationships. Congress canceled funding for the
program in 1996.
RFD — Rockford (Illinois) Airport
“R-side” — Radar-side: The primary air traffic control
position in an en route center, responsible for
separating air traffic within an area of jurisdiction
(sector). This position uses the radio (hence the
term “R-side”) to issue instructions to pilots. With
Glossary
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the introduction of radar, it has come to be known
as the “radar-side.” A data controller (see “D-side”)
often assists this position.
Shrimp boats — Small metal or plastic devices containing
flight information. Controllers pushed
these devices around on maps and early radarscopes
to mimic the progress of airplanes under
their responsibility.
“Snitch” — Colloquial term for the Operational Error
Detection Patch, a software program installed at en
route centers during the mid-1980s to document
loss of required separation between aircraft.
“Squeal-a-Deal” — See “Snitch”
STARS — Standard Terminal Automation Replacement
System: Digital radar system designed to
replace radarscopes at TRACONs.
Terminal Environment or Facility — Airport control
tower or TRACON.
TMB — Tamiami (Florida) Airport
Tower — Air traffic control facility responsible for
separating aircraft landing at and departing from
an airport. The FAA operates 352 towers in the
United States.
TRACAB — Approach control facility operating in a
control tower cab.
TRACON — Terminal Radar Approach Control: Air
traffic control facility responsible for separating
aircraft shortly after takeoff and before landing
within some 60 miles of an airport. The FAA operates
185 TRACONs in the United States.
USATS — U.S. Air Traffic Services Corporation: Nonprofit,
quasi-governmental entity proposed by the
Clinton administration in 1993 to operate air traffic
control. The organization was never created.
ZKC — Kansas City Center
ZMA — Miami Center
ZNY — New York Center
ZSU — San Juan (Puerto Rico) Center, which later became
a CERAP (see CERAP) and then a CCF.
ZTL — Atlanta Center