Aug. 4, 2017 // Photo Album: Wisconsin, Seattle, Denver, Southern California, D.C., Oklahoma City, Phoenix: Places NATCA is Making a Difference Across the Country This Week
NATCA brothers and sisters volunteered for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh again this year, educating pilots and future aviation safety professionals about air traffic control. NATCA member Grant Anderson spent the final days of his nearly three-decade-career in in air traffic control there. After clearing a few hundred departures for takeoff in the last hours of his last day, the final aircraft in line was a B-25.
“That was my drop-the-mic moment. It was a fitting end to a long career,” Anderson said.
Congratulations, Grant! Thank you for your service, and enjoy your retirement.
To view more photos from the event, click here.
NATCA’s Heidi Gilbert was highlighted at a Seattle ATCT (SEA) Data Comm event this week. To watch the video and learn more, click here.
Last week, Denver TRACON (D01) hosted a successful Downtown Denver Solidarity Event. Matt Scala (D01) Jenny Benjamin (Denver/Centennial ATCT, APA), and Jennifer VanRooy (Denver Center, ZDV) helped plan and execute the event.
Representatives from almost every facility in Colorado were in attendance, including APA, Broomfield Jefferson County (BJC), Colorado Springs (COS), Denver Tower (DEN), D01, and ZDV. Members enjoyed homemade BBQ ribs and brisket with all the fixings while they hung out and played lawn games. Attendees enjoyed views of downtown Denver and the mountains, from the venue with indoor and outdoor seating, thanks to Andrew Kittle (APA). Special guests included Legislative Committee Chair Steve Weidner and Eddie DeLisle (Portland TRACON, P80), who talked about current legislative issues and how members can get involved. Benjamin encouraged legislative activism at the event by educating members about how to make NATCA’s voice on Capitol Hill stronger.
The NATCA Charitable Foundation collected school supplies at the event for the Crayons to Calculators campaign and sold raffle tickets raising money for the foundation. Megan Haynes coordinated the backpack drive with the local St. Vrain school system. Kim Beckett (DEN) coordinated all donations from DEN. They rely on donations to stuff 5,000 backpacks every year. This year D01, DEN, ZDV, and APA donated. Haynes, VanRooy, and Scott Santoro dropped off supplies to the very thankful employees at St. Vrain.
NATCA’s Western Pacific Region hosted a solidarity event last week at Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant, Universal City, Calif. More than 50 controllers from the Los Angeles area, San Diego, and Oakland attended to hear President Emeritus John Carr speak about NATCA’s legislative efforts. Brothers and sisters attended from La Verne Brackett ATCT – POC, Van Nuys ATCT – VNY, Camarillo ATCT – CMA, Santa Barbara ATCT – SBA, Santa Monica ATCT – SMO, Burbank ATCT – BUR, Chino ATCT – CNO, Los Angeles Center – ZLA, Southern California TRACON – SCT, and Oakland Center – ZOA.
Last week, Eastern Region members met in Washington, D.C., and visited the NATCA National Office. During the meeting, Eastern Regional Vice President Dean Iacopelli presented Julio Henriques (New York Center, ZNY) and Eastern Alternate Regional Vice President Don Chapman with outstanding service awards for their tireless efforts for Eastern Region air traffic controllers and NATCA. Steve Abraham (New York JFK Tower, JFK) was awarded the Eastern Region’s “Wolf” Award for his dedication and ability to accomplish any task asked of him.
At the NATCA membership meeting for Potomac Consolidated TRACON (PCT), NATCA EVP Trish Gilbert, Eastern RVP Dean Iacopelli, Eastern Region Legislative Chair Kristena Jones, and PCT FacRep Brandon Miller addressed members from PCT, ZDC, DCA, IAD, and DCC. Members asked lots of great questions. Everyone had cake to recognize the 36th anniversary of the beginning of the PATCO strike.
NATCA hosted a Q&A with ATC trainees from the Federal Aviation Administration Academy in Oklahoma City in July. Between the two opportunities to meet for lunch and dinner, about 100 students attended to better understand NATCA’s efforts, what’s ahead for future training, and how to learn more.
Students heard from President Paul Rinaldi, Organizing and Benefits Committee Chair and Slate Book Contract Team member John Bratcher, Seattle Tacoma ATCT (SEA) Facility Representative, and Reloaded Committee Member Sam Navarro, and other NATCA Reps.
Stay tuned for details on the next OKC Q&A session on August 29!
The Phoenix area NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) backpack drive was locally organized by NCF Events Committee member Dwan Katz and included donations from Falcon Tower (FFZ), Phoenix Tower (PHX), and Phoenix TRACON (P50). Together they were able to donate 87 backpacks fully stuffed with school supplies for children in the Phoenix area.
In the group photo below from left to right are:
Back row: Eric Stevens (P50), Mike Ryan (P50), Daisy Ryan, Sam Fazio (P50), Brette Rivard (P50), Dale Rivard (P50). Michael Graham (P50), Dwan Katz (NCF)
Front row: Manny Katz, Rae Katz, Mia Ryan
