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National Air Traffic Controllers Association

NATCA is a labor union and aviation safety organization in the United States that represents nearly 20,000 highly skilled air traffic controllers, engineers, and other aviation safety-related professionals. NATCA was certified in 1987 by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to be the exclusive bargaining representative for air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Today, NATCA is one of the strongest labor unions in the federal sector and represents a range of aviation safety professionals in 15 FAA bargaining units, five Department of Defense air traffic facilities, and 123 federal contract towers. These air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals make vital contributions to the U.S. economy and make modern life possible by coordinating the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of nearly one billion aviation passengers and millions of tons of freight within the National Airspace System each year. NATCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

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Benefits

NATCA Benefits Partners with Beacon Realty for Exclusive Member Savings on Real Estate Services

NATCA Benefits is pleased to announce its partnership with Beacon Realty, offering members coordinated support for all real estate needs during relocation. Beacon Relocation’s services provide seamless management whether members are moving locally or across the country, along with the advantage of up to a 20% Realtor® discount through their network of Approved Realtor® Partners….

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FAA Child Care Subsidy Available, Now Covers Nannies & Au Pairs

The FAA Child Care Subsidy has a new program vendor, Cherokee Nation Federal Consulting (CNFC), and a dedicated website for FAA employees. Is your Total Family Income under $100K/year? CNFC is ready to work with eligible employees to pay for child care including the cost for a Nanny or Au Pair. Nannies do have specific…

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Events

Registration for NATCA’s 20th Biennial Convention is Now Open

Registration for NATCA’s 20th Biennial Convention is open. Register today and plan to be at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco from May 9-11, 2025, with the opening ceremony taking place on the evening of May 8. Early registrants will get the best prices on all Convention events. Please do not register NATCA members as…

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Spotlight

Get To Know NATCA’s National Legislative Committee Chair David Skarphol

Relationship building is at the core of NATCA’s legislative activism. Earlier this year David Skarphol (Phoenix TRACON, P50) stepped up as the chair of NATCA’s National Legislative Committee (NLC), leading the team that coordinates and facilitates NATCA members’ legislative training and relationships with members of Congress. Today we take a moment to introduce Skarphol and…

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Aviation Facts

Fact: The United States aviation system is an economic driver, contributing 5.2 percent to the nation’s gross domestic product, and generating nearly 11 million jobs.

5,400

Aircraft in the sky at peak operational times

44,500,000,000

Pounds of freight moving through the National Airspace System each year

Current Traffic

Tracking 10,677 airborne aircraft with 636,859,278 total flights in the database. FlightAware has tracked 113,709 arrivals in the last 24 hours.

Aviation Acronyms

Learn acronyms used by safety professionals nationwide:

All A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
There are 51 acronyms in this directory beginning with the letter M.
Term
Definition
MAA
Maximum Authorized Altitude
MALS
Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System
MALSF
MALS with Sequenced Flashers
MALSR
MALS with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
MAP
Maintenance Automation Program
Mbps
Megabits Per Second
MCA
Minimum Crossing Altitude
MCAS
Marine Corps Air Station
MCC
Maintenance Control Center
MCL
Middle Compass Locater
MCS
Maintenance and Control System
MDA
Minimum Descent Altitude
MDT
Maintenance Data Terminal
MEA
Minimum En Route Altitude
METI
Meteorological Information
MF
Middle Frequency
MFJ
Modified Final Judgment
MFT
Meter Fix Crossing Time/Slot Time
MHA
Minimum Holding Altitude
Mhg
MegHERTZ
MIA
Minimum IFR Altitudes
MIDO
Manufacturing Inspection District Office
MIS
Meteorological Impact Statement
MISC
Miscellaneous
MISO
Manufacturing Inspection Satellite Office
MIT
Miles In Trail
MITRE
Mitre Corporation
MLS
Microwave Landing System
MM
Middle Marker
MMC
Maintenance Monitoring Console
MMS
Maintenance Monitoring System
MNPS
Minimum Navigation Performance Specification
MNPSA
Minimum Navigation Performance Specifications Airspace
MOA
Memorandum of Agreement
MOCA
Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude
MODE C
Altitude-- Encoded Beacon Reply
MODE S
Mode Select Beacon System
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
MPO
Metropolitan Planning Organization
MPS
Maintenance Processor Subsystem (OR) Master Plan Supplement
MRA
Minimum Reception Altitude
MRC
Monthly Recurring Charge
MSA
Minimum Safe Altitude
MSAW
Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
MSL
Mean Sea Level
MSN
Message Switching Network
MTCS
Modular Terminal Communications System
MTI
Moving Target Indicator
MUX
Multiplexor
MVA
Minimum Vectoring Altitude
MVFR
Marginal Visual Flight Rules 

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