NATCA Members Give U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta Tour of Oakland Center

Oakland Center (ZOA) FacRep and California State Coordinator Erik Mandt (ZOA), ZOA NATCA Vice President Heather Stein, and NATCA member Bryan Amezcua Sanchez (ZOA) gave a tour of Oakland Center to U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (Calif.-19) on Aug. 12, 2026. NATCA members showed Congressman Panetta the center’s training lab, domestic radar room, and oceanic operation center.  Rep. Panetta observed operations during a demanding period that included weather deviations, military operations, and a large-scale event at Monterey Regional Airport. 

The visit provided Rep. Panetta and his staff with a firsthand look at the work performed at ZOA, the complexity of the air traffic control system, and the operational demands controllers face every day.