June 1st, 2026 New England Bi-Monthly Regional Update
ARVP Update
From Steve Brown, NATCA New England ARVP
For as long as I’ve been a controller, staffing has been one of the most discussed and debated topics in our profession. By now, we’ve all seen the release of the FAA’s new Controller Workforce Plan (CWP) staffing numbers, abandoning the collaborated numbers we have been working off for years. We’ve watched the FAA use their metrics that only tell half the story, and disregard the myriad of tasks we all do daily as part of being professional air traffic controllers.
Now, all of us find our buildings in a sort of limbo, waiting to see how the new numbers will actually be implemented. What does this mean for hiring? For transfers? Overtime? Leave? Training? These questions are being asked throughout the NAS, and unfortunately, many of the answers remain unclear. All of this uncertainty highlights the important difference between national metrics and local realities.
Today, many of our facilities appear healthy based on the FAA’s new numbers. In reality, we know that New England facilities are facing significant operational challenges. Mandatory overtime is still a thing. Staffing triggers are a near-daily occurrence. Backlogs in training are hindering growth. Controllers are unable to take leave, and are forced to work longer stints on position, with less time off to recuperate and rest. We know the FAA’s new CWP number is nowhere near what is needed to run a safe and efficient NAS.
This is where our locals play a critical role.
The impact of these decisions made on a national level is felt here at home locally. We can identify gaps between what these new numbers suggest and what the operation is actually experiencing. As we all wait to see how the new CWP numbers will be applied, locally, we have a responsibility to document, communicate, and advocate. Document not just when we are on position, but when we are assigned other tasks required of us. Communicate when we aren’t given the tools or time necessary to do our jobs. And advocate for our peers and for the user when the agency is falling short.
At the end of the day, our success in being fully staffed shouldn’t be measured by a number. It should be measured by whether controllers have the resources, staffing, training opportunities, and quality of life necessary to safely do their jobs.
OSHA
From Matt Murray, NATCA New England OSHA Rep, ZBW
ne of the biggest things that unions fought for in the early days of union organizing was for better working conditions. Whether it is ensuring that buildings meet fire life safety standards that unions helped to create, or clean water and clean air. The health and safety of the workers has always been a cornerstone of what all unions continue to fight for.
NATCA’s OSHA Committee is no different. Every day we are working to ensure the health and safety of our members by holding the agency accountable to our contract, federal regulations, and to all of the agreements we have to maintain a safe working environment.
I have been the NNE OSHA Rep for about ten years now, and I think it is time to find a replacement before I walk out the door forever. Being the NNE OSHA rep is a great way to get involved and learn about all the things that NATCA does to ensure the health and safety of all of our employees. This is also a great opportunity for those who may be interested in becoming a rep someday, as it gives you experience with the contract and allows you the opportunity to negotiate and work through issues directly. The goal is to have someone take my place while I am still available to help guide them and if issues arise early on.
If you have questions, please come talk to me (call or text 603-494-3095 or email [email protected].
Fatigue
From Bryan Krampovitis, BDL Facility Representative
Sisters and Brothers,
As fatigue mitigation continues to be a major focus across the NAS, I want to remind everyone of the fatigue protections currently in place and the rights available to every bargaining unit employee.
Fatigue Leave / Self-Declaration
Under Article 26, Section 9, controllers who determine they are too fatigued to safely perform operational duties have the right to notify management and request leave. Safety remains the priority. Employees cannot be compelled to work traffic after declaring they are too fatigued to safely perform their duties. Leave used for fatigue is charged to an available leave category selected by the employee. This is commonly referred to as “fatigue leave,” though it is not a separate leave bank.
Rest Between Shifts
The national fatigue agreement established a minimum of 10 hours between shifts and 12 hours following a midnight shift. For the 2026 Basic Watch Schedule implementation, the requirement for 12 hours prior to a midnight shift was modified to 10 hours; however, the 12-hour rest period after midnight shifts remains in effect.
Overtime Fatigue Protections
The national fatigue agreement also created protections against excessive consecutive overtime assignments. Controllers have the ability to designate their fatigue overtime availability status as either Available or Limited. Employees who select Limited status cannot be required to work overtime on a third consecutive RDO set. These protections were specifically established to help mitigate cumulative fatigue caused by repeated six-day workweeks.
Recuperative Breaks
The FAA and NATCA continue to work through the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) process to improve recuperative break utilization, fatigue education, and fatigue mitigation practices throughout the NAS. The intent remains clear: fatigue is a safety issue and should be treated as one.
If scheduling practices, overtime assignments, or staffing shortages are creating fatigue concerns, I strongly encourage you to submit an ATSAP report. Individual reports help document systemic issues, identify trends, and provide the data necessary to drive meaningful changes that improve both safety and quality of life for controllers across the NAS.
If you believe your fatigue rights are not being honored, or if you have questions regarding fatigue leave, scheduling requirements, or overtime protections, contact your facility representative immediately.
FacRep Focus
From Kevin Coeyman, ZBW Facility Representative
Hello, NATCA New England. I have been with the FAA at Boston Center since 2005. I have had the privilege of serving my NATCA sisters and brothers in various roles over the years, including Area Safety Rep, Area Airspace Rep, Area Training Rep, Area Rep, Facility Legislative Rep, and Facility Vice President. I am currently serving my third and final term as ZBW’s FacRep, and I am also a member of our regional Labor Relations (LR) team.
When I am not at work or doing Union activities, I enjoy spending time with and traveling with my wife, Victoria. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that I would not have been able to serve as a rep for these many years, in any capacity, without her understanding, support, and patience. Patience with the ruined weekends, vacations, dinners, and events because we had to jump on a call, meeting or had to go into the facility, all to support our members.
Thank you to all the NATCA spouses and the significant others of our representatives!
I became involved with NATCA during the final months of the White Book, the imposed work rules, from 2006 to 2009. I saw our brothers and sisters stand together, fight for our rights and the betterment of us all under the most difficult working conditions I have witnessed in my career, yet most importantly, they stayed united. Unions are not for the easy times; they are for the difficult ones. We all have common goals be want to work for and a common enemy to fight.
I know some members have a negative view currently of the Union on some levels and in some cases, rightly so. That is fine. Debate and disagreement are not the enemies of a strong Union; they are vital to it. Open debate, discussion, and the free exchange of ideas make us stronger. The Union stands between our members and an Agency that wants to inflict harm upon us. Like any family, we can have honest disagreements and even fights, but at the end of the day, we are all one family, in this together, working towards the common goal of advocating for and supporting our members. I am committed to ensuring the voices of those that I represent are heard. This is something that I am very proud of at ZBW and the New England Region.
This is a time for us to unite, to fight against a common enemy, not for us to fracture. For those of us who have been around for a while, during another difficult time in our history, we once said, “Our collective spirit is their enemy.” Those words could not ring truer today.
During my final term, I hope to say that I was able to leave ZBW NATCA stronger than when I took office. To complete that goal, we must focus on finding the next generation of NATCA leaders. I know they are out there, because I have met many members who wish to be heard and make a difference. A Union is only as strong as its members.
I encourage everyone to get involved, volunteer for a work group, talk to your Reps, and run for office. The more actively engaged and educated our membership is, the stronger NATCA will be in the future.
Stay Strong, Stay United.
Final Trivia Winner
From Becca Dubois, NATCA New England Reloaded Rep, BED
The final correct trivia answers are:
C) Aviation Medical Advisory Service
D) Reloaded Committee
Congratulations to our winner, Jon King from BED!
I really appreciate everyone who joined in and participated throughout the few trivia rounds we did.
If you ever have any questions about the NATCA Reloaded Committee or NATCA as a union, please always feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Announcements and Upcoming Events
Registration for Communicating For Safety (CFS) 2026 is open! Hosted annually by NATCA, CFS is the aviation industry’s leading conference focusing on safety, technology, and relationship building. This three-day conference is the only one to focus on the air traffic needs of all aviation community members affected by the National Airspace System (NAS). CFS will take place September 14-16 at The Horseshoe in Las Vegas.
For members attending, please remember to complete all three steps of the registration process:
Sign up via the Link in your Email (otherwise through the CFS website).
Register to be placed on the National Excused Absence List
Complete your Local Request Form
Register now for early bird rates on conference sessions and events.
For more information, please visit: www.natca.org/events/cfs/
Join the NATCA OSHA Committee as they present a webinar on Wildfires and Air Quality in our Buildings! All members are welcome to attend!
If you have any questions or want more information, please contact [email protected].
