January 15th, 2025 New England Bi-Monthly Regional Update

Jan 15, 2025

Training Update

From Karen MacCrate, NATCA New England Training Rep, ZBW

Happy New Year, NATCA NEW England! I hope everyone’s holidays were wonderful. There is an updated MOU for the National Training Initiative (NTI) that was briefed last week.

Here are the highlights:

Starting this past Sunday, January 12th, OJTI premium pay increased to 25%. There is also an addition to the agreement to make simulation training eligible for the same 25% OJTI premium pay. They added CruArt “Other Duty” codes to track time spent conducting and receiving simulation training. Most facilities have the ability to “drag and drop” themselves to accommodate the training. If your facility does not, reach out to your Training Rep and/or FacRep for the procedure your facility has adopted to ensure OJTIs are paid appropriately and for which trainee’s time is accounted. The codes are “PROVIDE SIMULATION OJT” for the OJTI to get paid and “RECEIVE SIMULATION OJT” for the trainee.

For EnRoute trainees, there is a change to the 7210.3DD 2-3-3 G4 currency requirements. When Radar trainees are certified on the RA position, the time they spend training the Radar will count toward currency for the associated RA. For example, if they are training both the Radar and RA for 2 sectors, the time will count toward currency on the RA positions for those 2 sectors. They still have to get at least 1 hour on every sector and 16 hours total.

For levels 5-9 Radar facilities, upon attaining 40% of target hours on Radar, trainees will be required to train a minimum of 4 hours per week of simulation. This training will be using instructional scenarios commensurate to the 70th percentile day. They are not graded and do not count towards target hours. The 4 hours do count toward NTI goals. There have been a lot of questions and concerns relating to this change. I’ve spoken with my management counterpart and we agree that just like the rest of the NTI, there are impediments to this training. They have added new impediments relating to resources if the infrastructure currently in place does not allow for this training. There are also impediments for staffing, lack of OJTIs, too many trainees for one position, etc that have always been impediments. The point is to track the impediments so we can find ways to help and alleviate the impediments or to accept this is the position we are in.

As always please feel free to reach out anytime with questions, concerns, or ideas for improvement. My email is [email protected] and I will get back to you ASAP. Again, thank you for all you do, I know how difficult it can be to get all of this accomplished while maintaining the operation. We literally could not do it without you!

Safety Update

From Seth Myers, NATCA New England Safety Rep, ZBW

The Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) was initiated in 2008. As of September of last year, the program has received 226,957 reports. Last year 68% of the reports were safety problems, and 32% of the reports were safety events.

This successful program has received an upgrade! ATSAP, ATSAP-X, SAFER-FCT, CISP, and Partnership for Safety websites have transitioned to newer versions. As a result, all users need to reset their passwords. To reset your password, select “Log In,” then select “Forgot Password,” re-enter your existing username, and select “Continue” to receive an e-mail to reset your new password. If you are having issues, please contact [email protected] or call the helpline at (202) 449-6360.

What happens when you fill out and file an ATSAP? Once you submit your ATSAP report, it is reviewed by an ATSAP analyst who removes personally identifiable information from your report. The analyst then links your report to other similar reports and attaches any other available information regarding the event. Your report now goes to the Event Review Committee (ERC). The ERC is comprised of a member of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) management, a NATCA representative, and a member of the FAA’s Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service (AOV). The ERC evaluates each report submitted to the program to determine whether it meets the requirements set forth in the MOU between FAA and NATCA. If your report is accepted you will receive a response from the ERC. You can view the responses on the ATSAP website under the message tab. You should ensure your contact info is correct as they may e-mail you a message. Your personal e-mail address can be added. To update your contact information on your ATSAP account, click on “update user details” and enter your personal e-mail address. Make sure this address is one you have access to and check regularly.

Your ATSAP report can have several different actions taken by the ERC:

Data collection – Report taken and added to similar reports
Share report with facility – ERC request to facility for mitigations
Skill enhancement Training – Normally not assigned from a single event
Referral to Professional Standards – Peer to Peer program
Corrective Action Request (CAR) created

If you have questions about the ATSAP program, process or any other safety issues please reach out to me at [email protected].

Announcements and Information

Have you been thinking of requesting to transfer to a different facility? The next NCEPT panel will be held on Wednesday, February 12th!

To have your ERR request included, you must submit your paperwork by Friday, January 17th at 11:59pm.

For more information about the NCEPT process, including documents required for your ERR to be considered, head to NATCA.org/NCEPT. If you have any questions, you can contact your NNE NCEPT Rep Jake Detwiler at [email protected].

Wildfires are raging in California, affecting some of our NATCA sisters and brothers. The Disaster Response Committee is there to assist members in need during natural disasters like these, and they operate solely on NATCA members’ generosity. Please consider making a one-time donation, signing up for payroll deduction, or increasing the amount you give per paycheck. You can make donations or get more information about the DRC by visiting their linktree: https://linktr.ee/drcnatca

The next NATCA in Washington will be held March 24-26, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, D.C. If you are interested in attending, please complete the following questionnaire no later than February 6: https://www.natca.org/natca-in-washington-registration/.

Members of the National Legislative Committee (NLC) will confirm interested members’ attendance on or before February 17, 2025. Please note that your attendance is not guaranteed until it is confirmed by your regional NLC rep. (Please do not make any flight arrangements until you receive a confirmation from your Regional NLC member on attendance. Additionally, transportation expenses are NOT reimbursed by NATCA National. Please check with your FacRep before you complete any airfare purchase to determine what expense reimbursements, if any, will be provided by your local.)

If you have any questions, please contact New England Legislative Chair Jamie Green at [email protected]. For more information about the event, visit https://www.natca.org/events/niw/.