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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 72 acronyms in this directory beginning with the letter T.
Term
Definition
T1MUX
T1 Multiplexer
TAAS
Terminal Advance Automation System
TAC
Technical Advisory Committee
TACAN
Tactical Aircraft Control and Navigation
TACR
TACAN at VOR, TACAN only
TAF
Terminal Area Forecast, Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
TAMR
Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement
TARS
Terminal Automated Radar Service
TAS
True Air Speed
TATCA
Terminal Air Traffic Control Automation
TAVT
Terminal Airspace Visualization Tool
TCA
Traffic Control Airport or Tower Control Airport
TCACCIS
Transportation Coordinator Automated Command and Control Information System
TCAS
Traffic Alert And Collision Avoidance System
TCC
DOT Transportation Computer Center
TCCC
Tower Control Computer Complex
TCE
Tone Control Equipment
TCLT
Tentative Calculated Landing Time
TCO
Telecommunications Certification Officer
TCOM
Terminal Communications
TCS
Tower Communications System
TDLS
Tower Data-Link Services
TDMUX
Time Division Data Multiplexer
TDPC
Touchdown/Positioning Circle
TDWR
Terminal Doppler Weather Radar
TELCO
Telephone Company
TELMS
Telecommunications Management System
TERPS
Terminal Instrument Procedures
TFAC
To Facility
TH
Threshold
TIMS
Telecommunications Information Management System
TIPS
Terminal Information Processing System
TL
Taxilane
TLOF
Touchdown and Liftoff Area
TM&O
Telecommunications Management and Operations
TMA
Traffic Management Advisor
TMC
Traffic Management Coordinator
TMC/MC
Traffic Management Coordinator/Military Coordinator
TMCC
Terminal Information Processing System
TMF
Traffic Management Facility
TML
Television Microwave Link
TMLI
Television Microwave Link Indicator
TMLR
Television Microwave Link Repeater
TMLT
Television Microwave Link Terminal
TMP
Traffic Management Processor
TMS
Traffic Management System
TMSPS
Traffic Management Specialists
TMU
Traffic Management Unit
TNAV
Terminal Navigational Aids
TODA
Takeoff Distance Available
TOF
Time Of Flight
TOFMS
Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer
TOPS
Telecommunications Ordering and Pricing System (GSA software tool)
TORA
Take-off Run Available
TR
Telecommunications Request
TRACAB
Terminal Radar Approach Control in Tower Cab
TRACON
Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility
TRAD
Terminal Radar Service
TRB
Transportation Research Board
TRNG
Training
TSA
Taxiway Safety Area
TSEC
Terminal Secondary Radar Service
TSP
Telecommunications Service Priority
TSR
Telecommunications Service Request
TSYS
Terminal Equipment Systems
TTMA
TRACON Traffic Management Advisor
TTY
Teletype
TVOR
Terminal VHF Omnidirectional Range
TW
Taxiway
TWEB
Transcribed Weather Broadcast
TWR
Tower (non-controlled)
TY
Type (FAACIS)

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