This Week’s News and Notes
Friday, November 02, 2012

ZFW Has First 100 Percent NATCA Area

 
Former/current Area Reps from the ZFW Maverick Area pictured left to right Mike McCoy, Paul Lastrapes and Brent Luna (current Maverick rep).


Special button made for the occasion

Fort Worth Center (ZFW) has reached a membership milestone – the first 100 percent NATCA area in the facility’s history.

ZFW Facility Representative Paul Lastrapes says there are nearly 50 members in the area, which is currently called the Maverick area but will be renamed the Raider area next month.

“I'm proud that we work together as members to make our daily lives and our profession even better,” said Brent Luna, the area’s representative.

Added Mike McCoy, the area’s former representative: “I’m incredibly proud & sincerely humbled by being fortunate enough to not only witness but be a part of the only 100 percent NATCA Area in my 21-year career. We truly are NATCA strong!”

Lastrapes was the area’s representative from 2002-2007 and has served as ZFW Fac Rep since 2009. “It’s truly remarkable that in the reddest of red states, each of the 50 controllers in our Area has stepped up and said, ‘yes’ to our profession and ‘we are all in this together, and you can count on me,’” he said.

ARCHIE LEAGUE MEDAL OF SAFETY AWARDS – NOMINATION DEADLINE DEC. 31

Please take a few moments to think of notable and extraordinary efforts made by your brothers and sisters at the facility this year to ensure safety. They would be great candidates for an Archie League Medal of Safety award and we urge you to nominate them. Click HERE for more information. The 2012 winners will be honored at Communicating for Safety 2013 in Las Vegas on March 6, 2013.

BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT: Aviation Medicine Advisory Service/AMAS (Formally Virtual Flight Surgeons/VFS)

Aviation Medicine Advisory Service (AMAS) assists NATCA members to improve their health and increase aviation safety. NATCA members have access to world-class physicians who specialize in Aeromedical medicine.

AMAS provides confidential, one-on-one contact with its physician staff. They believe this contact provides early intervention with medical issues and gives patients the expert advice and assistance they need. Their physicians do not perform medical exams or act as AMEs, but provide members a confidential, risk-free source for aeromedical assistance.

Protect your career! Professionals who depend on a current valid medical certificate for their career cannot afford to be surprised at their medical exam with a deferral or denial of their medical certificate. Even more costly are the months of waiting for the FAA to process additional information required to reinstate a medical certificate. AMAS physicians can help controllers anticipate and avoid most of these situations, and when necessary, expedite processing of FAA medical determinations by providing complete accurate information required by protocol of the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division.

This benefit is available to you as part of your NATCA membership. Contact AMAS via www.aviationmedicine.com or 1-866-AEROMED with your medical questions or concerns. If you have any questions about this benefit or other benefits offered by NATCA you can visit our members website here or contact the Chair of the National Benefits Committee, John Bratcher, at john.bratcher@natca.net.


Please Consider Leave Donation to Help NATCA Brothers and Sisters

You can view our online database of all NATCA members needing leave donations here.

We ask that you please consider making a donation to assist them if you have leave to spare, and we thank you for any help you can provide.

If you know a member who is also in the VLTP and needs to be added to our database, please email Director of Communications Doug Church (dchurch@natcadc.org).


NATCA Store Merchandise Item of the Week: Performance Zip Jacket       

100% Polyester Fleece with Moisture Wicking and Anti-Microbial. Smooth micro-denier filament polyester with luster. Moisture-wicking fleece inside for dry warmth. Full Zip. Off shoulder seams with contrast piping; self fabric, collar, cuffs and tail. Made in USA. NATCA logo is digitized on the left chest.  Priced from $48.00 - $52.00.

Match it with the performance fleece pants!

Click here to see the item and order it on the NATCA Store website.


Upcoming Retirement Seminars

November 7 - Detroit/Romulus, Mich.
November 16 - Cleveland
November 30 - Indianapolis
December 7 - Atlanta/Peachtree City, Ga.
December 11 - Hauppauge/Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
            
If you wish to register for one of the above referenced seminars, please do so by signing on to the NATCA Portal: http://portal.natca.org.

Please verify the personal information listed for you including email and cell phone number. If any information is incorrect or missing, please correct or add it under the "My Profile" tab.

To register for a seminar, click the "Events" tab. Then click "2012 Retirement Seminars-Membership Registration." Complete the requested information and hit "next." When you come to the screen listing the seminars, click on the box next to the one you wish to attend, hit "next," verify your requested seminar information and then click on the "done" key.  You will receive a confirmation email that your registration was complete.

Spouses and significant others are also invited to attend. Please ensure that you add them to the registration when asked if you will be bringing a guest.

For your guide to “Understanding your NATCA Federal Benefits Package,” please visit this Web site: http://natca.sharmansite.com/. If you attempt to register for a seminar on this site, it will automatically lead you to the NATCA Portal.

If you have any questions regarding these events, registration process – or would like to have a retirement seminar take place in your area - please contact Sallie Sullivan at NATCA’s National Office by either emailing her at ssullivan@natcadc.org or calling 202-220-9803.


Great Source of Quick News and Information: Our NATCA Facebook Page

Between issues of the NATCA Insider, our NATCA Facebook page (facebook.com/natcafamily) is the best place to go to get quick bites of news, information, photos and other material. We want to hear from you about your photos, events, outings and news. Either post to the NATCA wall or send ideas for Facebook page postings to either Doug Church (dchurch@natcadc.org) or Sarah Dunn (sdunn@natcadc.org).


Do We Have Your Current Contact Information?

Visit http://portal.natca.org. Under the "My Profile" tab, please verify and update your address, email and cell phone number. If you have never used your NATCA Portal, there are step-by-step instructions to register on the opening page.


Winter’s Coming … Skiing Anyone?

The annual International Air Traffic Controllers SkiFest is scheduled for Jan. 19-26, 2013, at Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada.
 
For more information, please go to: www.skifest.us

In addition, the Golden Flight Level international ski event will be held in Finland this coming winter. For more information, please go to: www.gfl2013.com.


IFATCA Has New Facebook and Twitter Feeds

The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) has entered the world of social media.

FACEBOOK: Please click here.
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ifatca