a great daY For natca aS Faa bill iS FinallY Signed

a great daY For natca aS Faa bill iS FinallY Signed
“The right of working men and women to collectively
bargain in this country is fundamental. No government
or employer should stand in the way of that right and
it’s our job to defend it.”
- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., at NATCA in Washington, Jan. 31, 2006
go.natca.org — Mobile Web Site iS launched!
We are excited to launch a new NATCA communications resource: a mobile Web site that puts news, contacts,
contracts and more in the palm of your hand, using your preferred mobile device.
go.natca.org
Patricia Gilbert, Executive Vice President
The fight to restore fair collective bargaining rights for our members through a legislative
change to Title 49 began in earnest as the FAA prepared for and then followed through
on imposing work rules on our Multi-Units on July 10, 2005. Three days later, the FAA
began the drumbeat toward its Sept. 3, 2006 imposition of work rules on the air traffic
controller, TMU and NOTAM bargaining units. NATCA’s fight to restore fair collective
bargaining rights finally came to a successful conclusion on Valentine’s Day 2012 – 2,410
days later – when President Obama signed the FAA Reauthorization bill into law.
In between, there were an array of highs and lows, victories and setbacks. It was fitting that President
Obama was the one to sign the bill restoring our collective bargaining rights, as it was his speech, as
Senator Obama at NATCA in Washington 2006, that helped us frame the issue in clear terms for our
NATCAvists and prepared them to go to Capitol Hill to take our fight directly to lawmakers. As your Legislative
Committee Chair at the time, I remember that lobby week as perhaps one of our most important in terms of
the magnitude of the fight we were in and the need to put our unity and solidarity to the test in one of the
biggest challenges of our proud history.
This union passed with flying colors!
As we prepare to gather in Denver for NATCA’s 14th Biennial Convention, and as we commemorate our
silver anniversary with a celebration of our great union’s proud history, we are incredibly excited and
satisfied to be able to cross off the top item on our legislative “to-do” list for these past seven years.
PageS 4-9:
Full coverage of communicating for Safety 2012
and the archie league Medal of Safety awards
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood addresses CFS 2012.
continued on page 3
Winter 2012
INSIDE:
6
Keynote address
highlights from CFS
8-9
Archie League Medal of
Safety award winners
10
Learn the many ways you
can support NATCA
Charitable Foundation at
convention!
11
Denver Convention
updates
12
LR Report: Settlement
agreement with Midwest
Air Traffic Control
Services

page 2
PAUL RINALDI, PResIDeNt
Safety is Not Boring
Many in the news media would have us believe that safety is
boring, despite the amazing work we accomplish every day in the
aviation industry. U.S.-based airlines have had no accidents
resulting in fatalities during the last three years. Together we
safely transport more than 750 million passengers annually with
more than 70,000 flights a day. In fact, this last year, 2011, was the
safest period in aviation history. And yet there are no big newspaper
headlines to herald this achievement.
Now that I think about it, we did get some coverage about the
partial shutdown of the FAA and the furloughing of agency
employees, but I still don’t recall any congratulations for the safest
year in aviation history on record.
Well, let me set the record straight. Safety is not boring despite the
lack of news coverage. Pilots, air traffic controllers, and all of the
many air transportation employees give their best, day in and day
out, to make our air transportation system the best in the world. For
controllers, this success has been a process.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association set out two and a
half years ago to cultivate a change in the way we engage our
employer as workers of the FAA. The agency’s Air Traffic
Organization has undergone a cultural transformation – one that
promotes cooperation and collective participation – and the
results have been nothing less than phenomenal. Changing our
work culture was no small task, but it was the right thing to do and
everyone has benefitted.
Certainly, some of the credit for this transformation has to go to
former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt for his vision and belief in
stakeholder involvement and teamwork. Randy stressed the need
to engage all subject matter experts any time we revisit policies or
procedures, and although he was only the administrator for two
and a half years, he set in motion wonderful initiatives that will
serve us for many years to come. With that said, we are very
optimistic about our relationship with acting Administrator Michael
Huerta and the rest of the FAA leadership.
So where do we stand today? More than 100 years of flight and
incredible achievements in safety, but we can’t rest on these
laurels. The last decade has introduced many new forms of
technology and communication. Think about it. We now tweet,
ping, bing, and blog. We’re spammed and blasted.
Change will continue and we must embrace it so that we can
continue to improve the safety and efficiency of the national
airspace system and make certain the news media believes that
our safe operation is boring.
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, NATCA
EVP Trish Gilbert, NATCA President Paul Rinaldi
But we need to do more than just update the NAS. Collectively, we
need to rethink how we can build a sustainable process to
constantly modernize the system, one that outlasts politicians and
administrations. Properly funding the FAA shouldn’t require five
years and 23 extensions. After all, safe and efficient air transport
operations should be bipartisan. The NAS is far too important to be
subject to petty politics.
As we move forward, we need to listen to each other and we need
to learn. For this to happen, someone has to talk. Someone has to
step forward and identify concerns that help us better understand
how our equipment, environment, training, and the way we work
and interact can be improved. This person needs to have firsthand
experience and he or she needs to speak without fear of
reprisals.
Several years ago, NATCA and the FAA introduced the Air Traffic
Safety Action Program, or ATSAP, a non-punitive, self-disclosure
program to help us monitor safety concerns and irregularities. Like
the ASAP and FOQA programs, it’s information shared for the
enhancement and safety of the system, and it has served as a
large part of the foundation for our new culture. In keeping with the
spirit of our new culture, we need to talk openly and collectively
about how we can make these programs better.
We’ve made tremendous strides in aviation safety and the key has
been, and will continue to be, collaboration. Obviously, we still
have a lot of work to do. Safely transporting more than 750 million
passengers annually with more than 70,000 flights a day is no small
task, even if it does seem dull to those who don’t fully appreciate
what we do. Safety isn’t boring, and I’ve got a feeling the best is yet
to come.

A Great Day for NATCA continued from page 1:
By fixing Title 49, we have restored basic collective bargaining rights
to tens of thousands of union members within the FAA. Collective
bargaining rights are the very heart and soul of a union. Collective
bargaining is as fundamental to unions as it gets. The fix creates a
fair dispute resolution process for contract negotiations, which
includes mediation, and, if necessary, binding arbitration.
The battle, while extraordinarily difficult, has brought out the very
best that NATCA has to offer its members and has exemplified every
ideal of hard work and determination that we value so much. It took
three NATCA Presidents, three Executive Vice Presidents, three
National Executive Boards, two Legislative Committee Chairs, one
Government Affairs Department Director, one Deputy General
Counsel, a dedicated complement of National Office staff and an
army of NATCAvists nationwide to execute this strategy and bring it
to completion. Thousands of collective trips to Congressional offices
ensued, along with many thousands of calls, emails and faxes. We
worked on the bill language, we placed ads, did media interviews,
and held press conferences. We led the aviation community in
sending letters to Congressional leaders, and we gathered in D.C. for
rolling lobby weeks, mini lobby weeks and NATCA in Washington
events.
I am incredibly honored and proud to have served as both your EVP
and NLC Chair during this time. Helping to lead our NATCAvists in the
myriad of activities needed, traveling a well-worn path to Capitol Hill
to fight for our issues, and being with our members during the highs
and lows of this fight are sources of tremendous personal satisfaction
for me. Seeing the FAA bill signed into law, with our Title 49 fix intact,
represents one of the greatest highlights of my NATCA career. Every
day of that battle strengthened my deep commitment to our union and
steeled my resolve to ensure our members are well represented, and
that our union continues to succeed and grow.
Our massive legislative effort began in 2005 with a bill sponsored by
Rep. Sue Kelly, R-N.Y., and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member
Jerry Costello, D-Ill. That bill would have required the FAA and NATCA
to go to binding arbitration to settle contract disagreements. The
work that we did to build relationships and educate members of
Congress about this bipartisan issue was substantial; the bill had 265
co-sponsors, including 75 Republicans in the then-GOP-led House.
The companion bill in the Senate, the FAA Fair Labor Management
Dispute Act of 2006, was offered by Senators Obama, Reid,
Lautenberg, Durbin, Murray and Inouye. As Senator Obama made
clear in his speech to members at NATCA in Washington, it was about
restoring fairness to the process. That was our rallying cry.
The FAA, at that time, was not interested in the will of Congress and
continued to circumvent the collective bargaining process by sending
its contract offer to Congress for action in the spring of 2006. We met
that challenge head-on and worked with Congressman Steve
LaTourette, R-Ohio, on H.R. 5449, a bill that would send the FAA and
NATCA back to the negotiating table to reach a fair resolution. I fondly
recall the great feelings of solidarity and teamwork generated from a
war room we set up the week of the vote.
Our work on the Hill during that time garnered 76 Republican votes,
giving it overwhelming majority support. While we were disappointed
that we fell a few votes short of the required two-thirds majority to
pass under suspension of the rules, the vote also reaffirmed our
commitment to continue fighting. The vehicle for our Title 49 language
then became the FAA Reauthorization bill.
Nobody knew that it would take more than five years to achieve a
final bill. But on Feb. 6, 2012, we watched anxiously as the Senate
voted 75-20 to approve the conference report compromise that
finished work on a new four-year reauthorization bill and sent it to the
President’s desk.
The tipping point may well have been last summer, when Congressional
inaction on an extension of existing funding levels forced a partial
shutdown of the agency. It left 1,200 of our Region X members
furloughed, along with nearly 3,000 other agency employees. The
agency shutdown halted hundreds of construction projects
nationwide and left thousands of workers unemployed.
Suddenly, a story about a relatively obscure piece of legislation that
had been almost exclusively confined to the aviation community and
Capitol Hill publications became mainstream. NBC Nightly News sent
a crew to the NATCA National Office and Fox News Channel followed
a group of Region X representatives and NATCA staff to the Capitol.
National outrage reached a fever pitch and, ultimately, a deal was
reached to keep the FAA funded for another few months. A second
bipartisan compromise deal was needed in January to secure the
final path toward passage of the bill in both the House and Senate.
Seeing our hard work finally come to fruition was an extremely
gratifying achievement that embodies the solidarity, strength and
collective spirit of our wonderful union.
This is not a perfect bill; no bill requiring bipartisan compromise and
agreement ever could be. But the bill does a lot of great things for
NATCA and the aviation system, even beyond restoring a fair
collective bargaining process. It creates jobs and provides for a
safer, more modernized and more efficient air traffic control system.
Thank you for your support and your solidarity in helping us achieve
this great milestone!
page 3

CommuniCating for safety 2012
Communicating for Safety 2012, which was held Jan. 30 - Feb. 1 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, will be remembered for many
highlights, perhaps most notably the record attendance of more than 940 members.
For the first time, CFS was proud to host an appearance by the Secretary of Transportation. Secretary Ray LaHood spoke on Wednesday
morning and thanked controllers for the jobs they do for the safety of the system. Prior to his remarks, the Secretary was met by President Paul
Rinaldi and Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert, who led him on a tour through the exhibitors area, where booths hosted by NATCA corporate
members were set up.
Also for the first time, the CFS-closing Archie League Medal of Safety awards banquet was proud to host an appearance by the head of the FAA.
Acting Administrator Michael Huerta gave keynote remarks.
In addition, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) President Capt. Lee Moak gave a strong speech in support of the controller-pilot relationship to
kick off Wednesday’s Day 3 of the conference. Said Moak: “It’s great to be with my friends and partners at NATCA. We work very well together
in Washington and I have great respect for your leadership, the job you do and your entire profession. Not only do we work well in Washington,
but it is critical that we work together well on the job. And we do, which is in large part why our safety record is what it is today. You are doing
a difficult and at times thankless job and handle it all as top-notch professionals.”
Holding a conference of this size, scope and importance was made possible only by the extraordinary efforts of a large group of dedicated
members and staff. NATCA would like to thank the Safety Committee and the many NATCA volunteers for their great work!
Thanks to the work of the NATCA IT Committee, each panel and speaker from the conference is available online on our public video channel at
this link: http://www.natca.org/videos/
page 4
dr. david Strahle
ATSAP Analysis Panel
TAMR (Terminal Automation & Replacement) Panel
NATCA RELoAdEd EVENT

Leadership paneL
Collaboration was of great importance during
Wednesday afternoon’s Leadership Panel, led by
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, NATCA Executive
Vice President Trish Gilbert, Air Traffic
Organization (ATO) Chief Operating Officer David
Grizzle and ATO Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Rick Ducharme.
L-R: Paul Rinaldi, Trish Gilbert, david Grizzle and Rick ducharme
The discussion led to many topics of what has
been done to enhance collaboration and how NATCA and the FAA can further improve its collaborative relationship. As Grizzle stressed,
collaboration isn’t easy, but it’s something that we need to continue to work towards.
Rinaldi emphasized that collaboration begets a better product. He mentioned how technology is constantly changing and, therefore, so
should the way we communicate and collaborate with one another.
“Technology is for every generation and the safest most efficient airspace system in the world deserves to have the best technology,” said
Rinaldi. “You look back just 10 to 15 years ago, the word “text” was something that was written on paper, mail was delivered by your postman
or postwoman and surfing was something you did at the beach.”
Grizzle wants to document the demonstrable benefits that have come from “the new pattern of relationship, the new culture of mutual
respect and dignity, and trust that has come about in the last couple of years.” He said it’s important to show the value of what’s been
brought to the organization in the past few years. He also added that NATCA’s professionalism is what sets it apart from other federal
organizations.
“The thing that really sets NATCA apart from so many other organizations in the federal government is its professionalism,” Grizzle said.
“And I think that what will make this [organization] sustainable is that people will look at NATCA and they won’t think labor union, they will
think professional organization. And that’s the way I look at you.”
Ducharme spoke about his confidence in the programs that NATCA continues to roll out and remarked that NATCA’s future looks strong.
“I’m pretty satisfied about what we’re doing and you can just feel it in the tone of the facilities and you can see it in the successes,” said
Ducharme. “We’re capable of managing ourselves.”
Gilbert said one of the many commitments she and Rinaldi made was to visit facilities at least two to four times a month.
“The value in that is that you get too far away from the operation, too far away from the people doing the job and you can easily forget what’s
important to them,” said Gilbert. “What their challenges are, what their concerns are, and, specific to this, what facilities are working well
together, and what facilities are still challenged.”
SCENES fRoM CfS Right: Elena Nash and the NATCA Charitable
Foundation present a sponsorship check to
Atlanta Center’s Stephen Ramsden and his
“Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project,”
which takes observatory quality telescopes
and cameras to regional schools and
festivals or events in order to teach
communities about the sun and its many
interesting features.
Left: Alaska Bush Pilots John Ponts and Luke
Hickerson discuss their many adventures
during Tuesday’s lunch. Both pilots have
appeared on Discovery Channel’s “Flying
Wild Alaska.”
page 5

keynote address highLights
page 6
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi
delivered a message of both safety
and appreciation during his welcome
remarks at Communicating for
Safety, held Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2012 in
Atlanta, Ga.
Rinaldi said that 2011 was the safest
year on record in aviation history,
and he thanked the hard working
aviation safety professionals of
NATCA for building such an
outstanding record. He also told
them to be proud of that record,
whether or not the flying public and
media recognize it.
Rinaldi remarked that change is coming to the culture of the FAA,
and NATCA must embrace it in order to continue to enhance the
safety of the system. He said that he is proud of where NATCA is
today and stressed that the collaborative relationship throughout
the aviation industry has got to last.
“We must be involved and we must succeed,” said Rinaldi. “That’s
who we are. We run the safest, most efficient system in the world.
We’re going to modernize it, we’re going to use the latest technology,
we’re going to continue to be the aviation leader and we’re going to
do it seamlessly with the safest record in history.”
Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)
President Capt. Lee Moak spoke
about his appreciation for controllers
as they move 70,000 flights a day,
carrying 770 million passengers a
year.
“I’m extremely happy to be able to
welcome you back into the cockpits
of our aircrafts with the
reestablishment of the controller
FAM flights,” said Moak. “And I
thank you for allowing my members
into your towers, into your TRACONs
and your control facilities. It’s
important that we each understand
each others’ roles and responsibilities and that’s why we’ve worked
so well together.”
Moak also remarked that ALPA will stand strong with NATCA for its
important role in federal organziations.
“Now more than ever, we at ALPA, stand by our friends at NATCA in
strong defense of your profession and your important role in our
government,” said Moak. “And again, the safety of the national
airspace and the safety of the national airline operations is a joint,
shared responsibility.”
FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta
gave the keynote address at NATCA’s
eighth annual Archie League Medal of
Safety awards ceremony. Thrilled with
the successful collaboration between
FAA and NATCA, he emphasized the
importance of continuing that relationship
in order to successfully implement
NextGen and to maintain and improve
upon the safety and efficiency of the U.S.
aviation system.
Huerta praised NATCA for its hard work
in addressing fatigue mitigation and
implementing professional standards. He
praised both the award recipients for their incredible achievements and
the rest of the aviation safety professionals who perform excellent work
every day.
Explaining how the relationship between FAA and NATCA has greatly
progressed in the past two years, Huerta attributed that progress to
leadership at FAA and NATCA and the open and honest dialogue among
the professionals within both groups.
Huerta stressed that NextGen is the way of the future and the U.S. aviation
industry can’t afford to be left behind.
“We have a huge check-list ahead but we will get there because we’re
going to do it together,” he said. “We’re going to collaborate and we’re
going to maintain the safest and most efficient system in the world.”
In a keynote address on Wed., Feb. 1,
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray
LaHood spoke of his pride for NATCA,
extolling the high level of
professionalism that keeps the U.S.
aviation industry the safest and most
efficient in the world.
“I have said safety is our number one
priority. You all have been great partners
of that. We have the safest aviation
system in the world because of all of
you, because you’re well trained, you
take your job seriously, you’re
professional, you guide planes in and
out of airports day in and day out and
you do it with the highest level of professionalism.”
Near the end of his speech, LaHood personally thanked NATCA.
“Thank you for what you do to make sure that America has the safest and
best aviation system in the world.”

Jim fossey and Bryan Zilonis
sentineL of safety award
On Feb. 1 at NATCA’s Communicating for Safety conference in Atlanta, Jim Fossey, the
former FAA Air Traffic Organization director of safety and special projects, was presented
with the 2012 NATCA Sentinel of Safety Award. The honor is given annually to a person
outside the union who has helped promote the strong safety culture that NATCA strives for
daily.
During a special presentation at the conference, Great Lakes Regional Vice President Bryan
Zilonis said Fossey was the catalyst that got the Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP)
off the ground in 2008 after multiple false starts. Since it began four years ago, there have
been over 45,000 ATSAP reports filed with no employee retribution.
Zilonis and the union had been trying to develop a program for employees to report safety
violations and concerns without fear of losing their jobs over it. To that point, efforts had
been met with stiff resistance from the FAA under the Bush Administration, which had
resisted efforts by federal labor unions to push programs they were developing.
“What we couldn’t accomplish was implementation,” Zilonis said of ATSAP prior to the late
years of President Bush’s second term. “The culture at the time was ‘we won’t work with
unions.’”
But Fossey did, putting air safety above labor-related disputes. After two unsuccessful
attempts to convince the FAA to implement ATSAP, Zilonis said the program was as good as dead until Fossey called him one night and vowed to
work with the union.
“My thought at the time was ‘one more strike is the end of the program,’” Zilonis said, adding that he told Fossey he was risking his own job to help
the union. “[Fossey] asked me, ‘how about we do the right thing?’”
With Fossey’s support, NATCA and the FAA began working to develop the program that is in place today. After being presented with the award and
a video was shown of NATCA staff and controllers thanking him for his service, Fossey was quick to praise the union members as the ones who
made the voluntary reporting program possible.
“The people on those slides were the people that did it,” Fossey said. “It became difficult, but they never gave up.”
Former acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell signed the agreement in March 2008, but full implementation of the program didn’t happen until
during the labor-friendly Obama Administration. However, Zilonis stressed that it never would have happened at all without Fossey’s support.
“Jim Fossey made that phone call and he changed the culture of the FAA in a very profound way,” Zilonis said. “Nobody else could have done it
at the time.”
steve hansen safety aCtivist award
The Steve Hansen Safety Activist Award was first awarded at Communicating for
Safety last year to Steve Hansen, chairman of the National Safety Committee and
the award’s namesake. This year, Mike Blake (ZBW) was recognized with the
Hansen Award for his three decades of hard work and dedication serving NATCA
in a variety of positions ranging from facility representative, regional vice
president and New England Region Safety Committee chair. Blake is also
responsible for overseeing NATCA’s participation in the Confidential Information
Sharing Program with United, Southwest and American Airlines, along with many
other programs that he initially helped develop. After introducing Blake, NATCA
Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert recalled a phrase he had coined: “Safety
isn’t sexy,” to which Gilbert then responded that due to the hard work NATCA
members put into their jobs, it definitely is sexy.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Blake as he accepted his award. “I just have the
best job in the industry right now because I’m working for you guys.”
Paul Rinaldi, Steve Hansen, Mike Blake, and Trish Gilbert
page 7

page 8
arChie League medaL of safety awards
Two Chicago Center controllers guided the pilot of a plane with icing conditions, a lost localizer
and low fuel to a safe landing. A team of three Seattle Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON)
controllers directed the pilot of a plane that had run out of fuel at 3,200 feet to the nearest airport.
A Denver Center controller saved the lives of a pilot and his wife by instructing the pilot’s wife to
an emergency landing route after the pilot became incapacitated from lack of oxygen during the
plane’s ascent.
These three remarkable flights assists, and seven others from around the country were honored
Wednesday night, Feb. 1 at the eighth annual Archie League Medal of Safety Awards banquet
which brought the Communicating for Safety conference to an inspiring and memorable close
before almost 800 people at the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel in Atlanta.
“I congratulate each of the winners for their incredible performance during these unpredictable
situations to make sure they ended safely,” said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi. “They each
displayed the professionalism, composure and quick-thinking that defines our profession, and I
am so proud they are a part of the NATCA family.”
The honorees were:
ALASKAN REGION: Kristina Kurtz, Anchorage TRACON
CENTRAL REGION: Todd Mariani, Kansas City Center
EASTERN REGION: Matt Reed, Potomac TRACON
GREAT LAKES REGION: Guy Lieser, Steve McGreevy, Chicago Center
NEW ENGLAND REGION: Chris Henchey, Ryan Workman, Boston Center
NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN REGION: Charlie Rohrer, Denver Center; Ken Greenwood, Josh
Haviland, Ryan Herrick, Seattle TRACON
SOUTHERN REGION: Alvin Kent, Atlanta Center
SOUTHWEST REGION: Frank Fisher, Greg Fleetwood, Corpus Christi Tower/TRACON
WESTERN PACIFIC REGION: Kevin McLaughlin, Southern California TRACON
Top: Larry Lescanec and Kristina Kurtz
Left: Kevin Peterson and Todd Mariani
Below: Phil Barbarello, Matt Reed, Paul Rinaldi; Bryan Zilonis, Steve McGreevy, Guy Lieser;
Mike Robicheau, Janice Peaslee, Chris Henchey

Rinaldi capped the evening by presenting the President’s Award for most outstanding flight
assist of 2011 to Seattle Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) controllers Ken
Greenwood, Josh Haviland and Ryan Herrick.
On Dec. 10, 2011, Greenwood, Haviland and Herrick worked to help the pilot of a Mooney to
a safe landing at Renton (Wash.) Municipal Airport. The pilot had run out of fuel at 3,200 feet
while trying to descend from above a cloud layer.
The pilot, Mr. Jim Lawson of Wyoming, was a surprise guest at the presentation and met
Greenwood, Haviland and Herrick for the first time to say a very heartfelt thank you.
Lawson was the second pilot of the evening to take part in the presentations. During the New
England Region presentation, RVP Mike Robicheau introduced Ms. Janice Peaslee of
Vermont, who was the pilot of the Cessna 150 that Henchey and Workman assisted during a
flight assist in which Peaslee’s engine failed.
In addition, two members from DAB, Ken Palmer and Marc Ciprioni, were honored with a
special award from AOPA’s Air Safety Institute for an outstanding flight assist in 2011. ASI
Director of Education Paul Deres made the presentation.
Top: Jim Ullmann, Charlie Rohrer, Paul Rinaldi; Tim Smith, Greg fleetwood, frank fisher,
Paul Rinaldi, Victor Santore, Alvin Kent, Paul Rinaldi
Right: Ham Ghaffari, Kevin McLaughlin, Paul Rinaldi
President’s Award
L-R: Jim Ullmann, Jim Lawson, Ryan Herrick, Josh Haviland,
Ken Greenwood and Paul Rinaldi
page 9

NATCA CHARITABLE foUNdATIoN @ CoNVENTIoN
The NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) attends the biennial NATCA Convention to host some their biggest charity events of the year, and
this year in Denver is no exception. NCF will not only host its ever-popular Silent Auction fundraiser, but the Foundation will also be rolling
out some new projects. These endeavors will help raise money and awareness as NCF works to make a difference in the lives of the underserved
in the Denver area. Many of you have been to a national convention countless times, while some of you may be attending for the
first time, but regardless, everyone can get involved with the NATCA Charitable Foundation! Here’s a preview of what to expect:
page 10
One thing everyone will need at Denver is a warm cup of coffee to get the
day started. You can’t go wrong with NCF’s 20-OUNCE TRAVEL MUG
(made in the U.S.) with logos to commemorate NATCA’s 25th anniversary
on one side and the NCF logo on the other. With this mug – sure to be a
collector’s item – attendees will receive a 50% discount from Perks Coffee
Shop, a Starbucks affiliate, located in the Hyatt Regency Convention
Center. Present this mug to the barista and receive the discount for your
favorite “must-have” morning drinks for all three days at the convention.
Support the Denver community and get involved in SHOW YOUR ROOTS, a campaign
enabling anyone at convention to sponsor a tree or plant for a $50 donation that will be used
in the convention hall and foyer. After the convention, all the trees and plants will be donated
to Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver for future use in their Urban Development projects.
Show your philanthropic spirit by sponsoring a plant, which will be on display throughout the
convention.
NCF’s SILENT AUCTION will open at noon on Tuesday, March 27 and run through Thursday, March 29. Silent auctions have been a
favorite at past NATCA conventions, with donations adding up to $4,000 by the end of the event. This year, if you are registered to attend
convention, you will automatically be registered for NCF’s Silent Auction and will receive your bid number when you pick up your
credentials and badge from convention registration.
Anyone can bid on the over 100 fantastic items on display in the foyer of the convention hall. This year’s auction items include a priceless
Kenny Chesney/Brad Paisley autographed guitar, a custom NATCA motorcycle helmet, vintage NATCA memorabilia and various items
that celebrate NATCA’s 25th anniversary. Want to participate? Rules and regulations are available at the NCF registration table and will
also be posted in the NATCA Daily Dispatch, the daily newspaper that will be distributed during convention. NCF is still looking for auction
item donations. Please contact Elena Nash at ncf.enash@natca.net for more information.
Don’t forget to stop by the registration table outside the auction with your new, unwrapped toys to donate to NCF’s charity of choice in
the local Denver area. In the past, donated toys have been given to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and the Children’s Hospital
Colorado.
All proceeds from the Denver convention events will benefit the NATCA Charitable Foundation.
NCF volunteers are still needed during regular business hours to help with the silent auction and at the registration table. Contact
NCF at ncf.enash@natca.net or ncf.cmeachum@natca.net.

Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman to perform at NATCA
Reloaded Solidarity Event!
Grammy Award-winning musician and noted labor activist Tom Morello will perform at the NATCA Reloaded
Solidarity event, Thursday, March 28 at the Cowboy Lounge in downtown Denver. Best known for his inventive
style of guitar-playing, Morello ranks 26th on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists.
On the activist front, Morello co-founded an organization with Serj Tankian of System of a Down called the
Axis of Justice, which promotes political unity by musicians. The group calls for movements to create peace
and justice around the world and has fought for numerous causes, including abolishing the death penalty. In
February of 2011, Morello organized and performed an acoustic concert in support of the protests over
collective bargaining rights in Madison, Wis. and has also performed at many of the recent “Occupy”
movements around the country. For more information on Tom Morello, visit the Nightwatchman Web site:
http://nightwatchmanmusic.com
NATCA will be selling wristbands for this event for $10 each. Members must have a wristband to get in the
door! Wristbands will be sold during convention at the Reloaded booth. Special thanks to NATCA Benefits
sponsors for helping out with this event: GEICO Federal, SkyOne Credit Union, UNUM and Cambridge
Financial.
Convention APP is available!
The NATCA App for the upcoming 14th Biennial Convention in Denver is now available
for downloading onto your mobile/smart device!
It’s a great way for members – especially those attending the event, which begins
with an opening reception March 27 – to find out everything they need to know about
the event and also receive updated messages throughout convention.
To download: simply use your mobile device to scan the barcode at left.
iPhone and iPad users may also download the free app directly from iTunes.
All other smartphone users, go to: http://denver2012.gatherdigital.com on your mobile
web browser.
NCf @ CoNVENTIoN continued...
On Thursday, March 29, NCF and NATCA Reloaded team up for RELAX AND RELOAD,
an event at The Tavern, on the second floor of the Cowboy Lounge, starting at 6:00 p.m. NCF
will host a wine tasting fundraiser to celebrate NATCA solidarity and the 25th anniversary
of the union. Tickets are $35 and include a symposium on the sense of wine, an introduction
to wine making, a tasting selection of five to seven wines and a special gift from NCF
sponsors. At the conclusion of the wine tasting, attendees may re-join all NATCAvists at the
Reloaded Solidarity event for a continued celebration of NATCA’s 25th anniversary. Be sure
to stop by the NCF table and get your door prize tickets for a spectacular Wine Grand Prize
Basket. NCF will also have Colorado’s own Palma Cigars on hand rolling cigars with custom
25th anniversary cigar bands from 6:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
iTunes
Android/BlackBerry
page 11

LAboR ReLAtIoNs report
natca reaches settlement agreement with
Midwest air traffic control Services
On Sept. 29, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB),
NATCA, and Midwest Air Traffic Control Services entered into a
settlement agreement resolving an unfair labor practice (ULP)
charge filed by NATCA against Midwest in case 5-CA-36660. NATCA
is pleased to announce this settlement as a complete victory for our
bargaining unit employees in this case. Midwest was in blatant
violation of the Act when it refused to engage in good faith bargaining
regarding the health care benefit as required by law and our
collective bargaining agreement. The settlement terms include
every possible remedy available to NATCA under the circumstances
of this case. In sum, NATCA has forced Midwest to concede the
illegality of its actions and provide all available remedies to the
affected employees without the need for a hearing.
In its ULP charge, NATCA alleged that Midwest failed and refused to
bargain in good faith when it unilaterally imposed a new health care
policy on bargaining unit employees on June 1, 2011 and failed to
provide requested information to the Union for bargaining purposes.
Midwest contacted NATCA in mid-May, alleging that the FAA was
imposing a change to the health care program on them and asking
for NATCA’s immediate agreement to the new plan Midwest had
already chosen. NATCA immediately demanded bargaining pursuant
to the law and the parties’ collective bargaining agreement. NATCA
also submitted a comprehensive information request to get all the
facts about the current health plan, the new plan, the asserted
mandate from the FAA, and several other related issues. The parties
had two telephonic bargaining sessions at the end of May 2011,
wherein Midwest was evasive about every detail, including the
cause of the change to the plan.
NATCA submitted several proposals to Midwest in an attempt to
engage in good faith bargaining with the company. Midwest’s
response was to simply reject all of NATCA’s proposals and insist on
NATCA’s acceptance of the plan they had already unilaterally
selected. NATCA again requested the information it needed to
formulate further proposals, but Midwest refused to provide it.
Without concluding negotiations with NATCA or providing the
requested information, Midwest unilaterally imposed the new health
care plan on June 1, 2011. ATCA immediately filed the ULP charge
with the NLRB. The NLRB conducted an investigation of the charge,
including taking affidavits from NATCA LR Staff Representatives,
and ultimately found merit in the Union’s allegations. The NLRB
issued a complaint on Aug. 29, 2011 alleging that Midwest: failed to
provide reasonable prior notice to the Union, failed to provide a
reasonable opportunity to bargain, failed to bargain in good faith,
failed to provide relevant information requested by the Union, and
alleged that this conduct violated Sections 8(a)(5) and (1) of the
National Labor Relations Act.
page 12
Rather than go to a hearing on the matter, Midwest conceded on all
counts and entered into a Settlement Agreement with NATCA and
the NLRB.
The terms of the settlement agreement provided that:
• Midwest will not violate the National Labor Relations Act in
any manner.
• Midwest will not fail to provide relevant and necessary
requested information.
• Midwest will not unilaterally implement changes to terms
and conditions of employment without providing reasonable
advanced notice and an opportunity to bargain to NATCA.
• Midwest will furnish NATCA with requested information
relevant to the health care plan.
• Midwest will make whole all employees represented by the
Union for premium increases, deductible or co-pay
increases until bargaining in good faith with NATCA has
been completed.
• Midwest will post a notice at all NATCA-represented
facilities describing all of the above.
Since the issuance of the NLRB settlement, NATCA has been
working to ensure Midwest’s full compliance with the terms of the
settlement agreement. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the
company released all the requested information to NATCA and
posted notices at each NATCA-represented facilities describing all
the terms of the settlement agreement. In addition, NATCA demanded
face-to-face negotiations with Midwest. On Feb. 21, 2012, NATCA
and Midwest met for the first time since the execution of the
settlement agreement. The Parties made progress and NATCA and
Midwest will continue negotiations until final resolution is reached
on the issues underlying NATCA’s ULP charge.
NATCA is very pleased to announce this victory for the workers at
Midwest, Inc. It is an important achievement and a message to
Midwest that the Union will not stand idly by and allow the Company
to ignore its obligations to the bargaining unit employees. Employees
without a union have no such protections.
NATCA looks forward to engaging in and completing good faith
negotiations with Midwest to ensure that NATCA-represented
employees get the best health care plan possible. Brian Sherry, Esq.
of the Labor Relations Department represented NATCA in
negotiations and the ULP charge.

Mike Macdonald, Region X RVP
As many people know, the agency has been
working towards a goal of a new “shared
services” vision. This was the direct result of
recommendations from the Monitor Group, the
organization that was hired by the FAA to
evaluate the FAA performance after Randy
Babbitt took over the helm as FAA Administrator. Babbitt and David
Grizzle noticed that there wasn’t a “shared vision” across the FAA Lines
of Business. It was a case of stovepipe syndrome, not just in the ATO, but
across the entire agency. I recall a conversation with Grizzle where he
shared that he had recently attended a conference and was struck by an
observation. While looking at the attendees’ nametags, he saw identifiers
such as Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Small
Business Administration, all primary organizational elements. When he
looked at the FAA attendees, he saw ATO-T, AVS, AAM. He never saw
anyone who identified themselves as the FAA! He mentioned that was
troubling as it really put into perspective the lack of an overall vision for
the FAA.
Now, enter the Monitor Group. Members of the Monitor Group spent
quite a while examining the FAA structure and processes – interviewing
all levels of management, employees and labor unions that represent
those employees, including NATCA. The Region X National Reps and I
were provided an opportunity to discuss issues on multiple occasions.
After months of research and examination, the Monitor Report delivered
recommendations to the agency. NATCA was briefed on April 6, 2011.
Most of these recommendations were very high level adjustments and
included: Shared Human Resources, Restructuring NextGen Program
Management, Revision of the Governance Model and Shared Services
(which included consolidation of Acquisition, Finance, Logistics, and IT).
It is the last initiative that affects our Region X membership the most and
one that we will have to be vigilant with our oversight. Shared Services
introduced the creation of an entirely new Line of Business within the
FAA – Finance and Management (AFN) – which is headed by an Assistant
Administrator, Victoria Wassmer. This new organization is a behemoth! It
has absorbed multiple organizations, including ARC, ABA/Finance,
Acquisition and IT. We have already seen several of our bargaining units
affected. ABA (Finance) has merged with certain elements of ATO
Finance creating the singular FAA Finance, instead of multiple finance
organizations. We have seen our Logistics and Acquisition members’
cost centers realigned to the new organization as well as our IT members
moved into AFN.
This massive reorganization has the potential to disrupt our representative
relationships. In fact, the FAA has informed NATCA and other labor
organizations of their intent to petition the FLRA regarding one group of
IT specialists from the AQS organization. NATCA will be diligent and its
national leadership has been clear: NATCA does not plan on losing any
bargaining unit members because of the Agency’s desire to consolidate.
We do have to be mindful though that we do not always call the shots on
these types of organizational matters, and that we will have to work with
the FLRA to ensure we protect our people! I can assure you that NATCA
is mobilized and we have our best people working these issues now.
national engineerS WeeK:
Spotlight on the unique design of Seattle tracon
With the recent recognition for NATCA
engineers during National Engineers’
Week, we’re highlighting the engineering,
design and construction efforts that NATCA
engineers put into the Seattle TRACON and
ATCT facilities.
In 1999, George Pirotis, plants project
engineer, and Don Schmeichel, lead electronics engineer, used their
leadership and engineering experience to begin the design of the
Seattle TRACON using lessons they learned during the Salt Lake City
projects.
The new ATCT site that was selected at the airport would not
accommodate the TRACON building requirements. However, after an
extensive site selection process was created to meet the needs of the
site, a location was selected adjacent to the Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport (SEA) and the engineers began incorporating new
and old concepts for the TRACON design.
First, the engineers wanted to create a green facility using LEEDdesign
concepts to conserve energy. They designed the facility to
maximize natural lighting and incorporated green concepts by utilizing
local construction materials and recycling throughout the construction
project. Second, due to time constraints, the engineering team used a
design-build concept where they selected the design contractor first,
followed by the construction contract. This saved months of
construction and allowed both the ATCT and TRACON to be
commissioned simultaneously, even though the ATCT construction
was significantly ahead of schedule.
Collaboration with NATCA representatives during the Salt Lake City
projects proved extremely successful and was continued on the
Seattle projects. Schmeichel worked closely with Michael Motta,
Seattle (S46) TRACON NATCA representative, early on to gather
controller facility needs. Together, they were able to determine the
best solutions for this project.
Several design ideas were incorporated at Seattle TRACON that
provided a better facility and incorporated future expansion of the
facilities. The engineers added extra consoles to allow for future
growth. In addition, the controller training lab was installed next to the
operations room to provide access for trainees and to provide room to
expand. This design avoids extensive costs and major disruption for
future projects.
The Region X team behind the planning, design, construction and
installation of the facilities required different bargaining units to
successfully complete the project. Pirotis and Schmeichel began the
design process. Jon Ikeda, professional engineer (PE) and senior
ATCT plants engineer, took over for Pirotis after he moved to a manager
position. Schmeichel was the lead electronics engineer throughout
the project, coordinating with more than 25 FAA engineers, installers
and contractors. Seattle Region X Logistics Bargaining Unit (ARC)
representative Bob Ferrell served as project contracting officer. John
Kwiecinski, PE, worked as the main coordinator with the support
contractors. Countless NATCA electronics engineers were involved
with the design and installation process including Joe Peterson, Mark
continued on page 14
page 13

continued from page 13
Pereira, Joe Ferguson, Pauline Marsden, Joe Goodwin, Trinh Do, Brian
Burt, Rich Thompson and Roger Hartje.
The group exemplified great teamwork during the construction of the
Seattle ATCT and TRACON. The Region X engineering team worked
together to commission both facility projects. As issues arose, the team
would work together to come to a decision to best solve the problem, and
the final decision was better than any individual’s idea.
The team proved its worth during the Seattle earthquake in Feb. 2001 that
shook the old terminal facilities. NATCA controllers and engineers worked
together to get ATCT operations restored in a mobile facility within eight
hours after the event.
“The demonstration of a successful team is the
relationship that continues beyond the project,” said
Schmeichel. “The fact that our engineers and
members are well received in the facilities after our
projects are completed speaks volumes about the
solidarity we have with our NATCA family. That is
what it is all about!”
The Seattle TRACON and ATCT were commissioned
on April 24, 2004 with minimal interruptions to the
Seattle air traffic operations. Schmeichel is very
proud of the hard work and effort of the entire team
during this project and he mentions it was
exemplified in the recent President’s Award winners
at the Archie League Medal of Safety Awards.
“The demonstration of a successful project is a
well-functioning facility years after commissioning,”
page 14
said Schmeichel. “The proof of this was in the 2011 Northwest Mountain
Region Archie League Award and President’s Award team of Seattle
TRACON controllers who successfully guided a distressed pilot to a safe
landing. There is no way that I could ever do what those professionals did
under the extreme conditions they were facing. It is great to know that
our team was able to help them do their job by providing the facility and
tools they needed to do their job.”
The construction, engineering and design that went in to the Seattle
TRACON and ATCT facilities was a clear example of the dedication and
passion our NATCA engineers have for the work that they do and NATCA
is proud to have each and every one of them as a part of the union.
Seattle TRACoN
natca Fct bargaining unit becoming Stronger
Over the last few months, NATCA’s National Organizing Committee (NOC) has organized six new locals in the Federal Contract Tower (FCT)
bargaining unit.
LEE FCT (Leesburg, Fla.), HYI FCT (San Marcos, Texas), CLL FCT (College Station, Texas), OPF FCT (Opa Locka, Fla.), PMP FCT (Pompano Beach,
Fla.) and CXO FCT (Conroe, Texas) are NATCA’s newest locals. “It is great to be a part of giving a voice to fellow controllers who previously did not
have one and also strengthening our membership within NATCA,” NOC Chairman John Bratcher said. “It is essential to our sustainability and
growth as a union to continue organizing those aviation-related safety professionals who do not have anyone protecting and enhancing their
profession.”
In addition to organizing these locals, NATCA’s leadership has been visiting other NATCA FCTs all over the nation to hear their issues and show
them that we are all NATCA. “NATCA’s commitment to ensure that we are representing our membership at all levels is really apparent under our
current leadership and it is an honor to work with them in this effort,” Bratcher said.
The NOC is continuing its effort to organize more FCTs and hopes to one day have all air traffic control facilities represented by NATCA – regardless
of whether they are private or federal. “It is truly amazing to see a collective voice be given to a worker that otherwise would not have one,”
Bratcher said. “It is with the continued efforts to organize further locals within NATCA that we will ensure the future of our union and our
profession.”
NATCA has been working closely with our friends in Congress and the agency on a wide array of issues that affect our FCT bargaining unit. Things
such as funding for the FCT program to getting updated equipment in the facilities are just a few items on a list NATCA is working on to protect our
members’ careers while also improving their work environments. It is with these efforts that we will continue to enhance the safety of the National
Airspace System and make our union stronger.
If anyone has questions or would like to assist the NOC with this effort, please contact John Bratcher at john.bratcher@natca.net.

NAtCA CALeNDAR
March 2012
24-25 Nat’l Executive Board Mtg, Denver (Abigail Glenn-Chase)
27 NATCA 14th Biennial Convention Opening Reception
Hyatt Regency Denver (Kelly Richardson)
28-30 NATCA 14th Biennial Convention
Hyatt Regency Denver (Kelly Richardson)
April 2012
9-12 Arbitration Advocate Training I, Orlando (Carolyn Kamara)
13 Benefits/Retirement Seminar, Seattle (Katie Gressang)
17-18 Nat’l Executive Board Mtg, Washington, D.C.
(Abigail Glenn-Chase)
23-27 Basic Representative Training, St. Louis (Carolyn Kamara)
23 Benefits/Retirement Seminar, Tampa (Katie Gressang)
24-25 Basic Legislative Activist Training, St. Louis (Steve Weidner)
30 Benefits/Retirement Seminar, Hebron, Ky. (Katie Gressang)
May 2012
7 Benefits/Retirement Seminar, Philadelphia (Katie Gressang)
7-11 Basic Representative Training, Baltimore (Carolyn Kamara)
9-10 OSHA & OWCP Training, Washington, D.C. (Carolyn Kamara)
11 Benefits/Retirement Seminar, Houston (Katie Gressang)
17-18 Drug & Alcohol Training, Washington, D.C. (Carolyn Kamara)
21-23 NATCA in Washington, Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill,
Washington, D.C. (Steve Weidner)
28 Memorial Day Holiday - NATCA Offices closed
31 Benefits/Retirement Seminar, Nashua, N.H. (Katie Gressang)
June 2012
4-7 Arbitration Advocate Training, Minneapolis (Carolyn Kamara)
6-8 Nat’l Executive Board Mtg, Anchorage (Abigail Glenn-Chase)
7 Benefits/Retirement Seminar, Leesburg, Va. (Katie Gressang)
Contacts:
Abigail Glenn-Chase: aglennchase@natcadc.org
Carolyn Kamara: ckamara@natcadc.org
Kelly Richardson: krichardson@natcadc.org
Steve Weidner: steve.weidner@natca.net
open enrollment season for Long
term Disability Program
There is an open season for the NATCA/UNUM Long Term
Disability plan through April 30th.
You work hard day in and day out to earn your income. Doesn’t it
make sense to protect that income? The NATCA/UNUM LTD plan
provides participants up to 50 percent of their income for up to
five years. This plan has paid over $7.5 million dollars to NATCA
members when they needed it most.
Because you pay your premiums with after-tax dollars, any
benefits you receive under this plan can be tax-free under
current laws. This means, you can receive 50 percent of your
gross earnings tax-free!
NATCA and its members own this plan. With increased
participation we will be able to secure the stability of this plan
for many years and ensure that our members are protected
throughout their careers.
page 15

NATCA REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
ALASKA
Larry Lescanec
1113 W. Fireweed, Suite 201
Anchorage, AK 99523
907.279.5523 (tel)
800.251.8932 (fax)
lescanec@gci.net
NEW ENGLAND
Mike Robicheau
547 Amherst St., Suite 203
Nashua, NH 03031
603.889.2099 (tel)
603.268.8476 (fax)
mrobicheau@natca.net
WESTERN PACIFIC
Hamid Ghaffari
2111 Palomar Airport Rd.
Suite 325
Carlsbad, CA 92011
760.208.1601 (tel)
760.477.6080 (fax)
hghaffari@natca.net
CENTRAL
Kevin Peterson
4151 N. Mulberry Dr.
Suite 202
Kansas City, MO 64116
816.399.0175 (tel)
kevin.peterson@ natca.net
NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN
Jim Ullmann
4040 Orchard St. W, Ste 220
Fircrest, WA 98466
253.460.9288 (tel)
866.616.6578 (fax)
natcajim@comcast.net
REGION X
Mike MacDonald
100 Cummings Center
Suite 339-D
Beverly, MA 01915
978.232.9111 (tel)
978.232.9113 (fax)
mmacdonald@natca.net
EASTERN
Phil Barbarello
P.O. Box 387
Mount Sinai, NY 11766
516.381.6424 (tel)
nearvp@natca.net
SOUTHERN
Victor Santore
200 Westpark Dr., Suite 315
Peachtree City, GA 30269
770.631.3115 (tel)
775.262.5180 (fax)
nsorvp@bellsouth.net
GREAT LAKES
Bryan Zilonis
1910 Highland, Suite 210
Lombard, IL 60148
630.268.8430 (tel)
630/268.8476 (fax)
bzilonis@natca.net
SOUTHWEST
Tim Smith
6207 Colleyville Blvd. Ste 100
Colleyville, TX 76034
817.421.9600 (tel)
817.421.9612 (fax)
tsmith@natca.net
The Air Traffic Controller is published by the National Air Traffic
Controllers Association AFL-CIO. Postage paid in Washington, D.C.
Postmaster: Send address changes to NATCA Membership Dept.,
1325 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.
202.628.5451 (tel) • 202.628.5767 (fax) • natca.org
Paul Rinaldi
Publisher
prinaldi@natcadc.org
Doug Church
Executive Editor
dchurch@natcadc.org
Laura Roose
Designer
lroose@natcadc.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
1325 MASSACHUSETTS AVE., N.W.
NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION