Archive

Even before Steve Bell became NATCA President in 1988, he and other Union leaders advocated collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), dismissing traditional, contentious labor-management relations in favor of a partnership philosophy. Despite the FAA’s intolerant reputation, there were several professionals in the Agency who also embraced cooperation and hoped to avoid a repeat of the 1981 controller strike, opening the door to formalize a policy of working together.

NATCA and the Federal Aviation Administration held press availability at Cleveland Center (ZAU) on April 11 and 14, 2017, featuring the story of controller David Stempien’s flight assist to help a couple in a small plane […]

NATCA and the FAA held a press conference at Anchorage Center (ZAN) on April 13, 2017, featuring the story of controller Jessica Earp’s flight assist of an F-18 jet in 2016. Earp’s work earned her NATCA’s […]

NATCA/FAA career: I began my FAA career at Juneau ATCT (JNU) in Juneau, Alaska, in 2008 where I worked for almost four years. I then moved to Portland ATCT (PDX) in Portland, Ore., where I currently […]

Elena and her husband, Jerry. NATCA/FAA career: I started in the FAA at New York TRACON (N90) in 1998 and joined NATCA that same year. Born and raised, other places of living: I was born in […]

In August 1994, Darrell Meachum, a Fort Worth Center controller, hoped to pool the efforts of many NATCA locals that ran charity fundraisers and bring recognition to the air traffic control profession. His wife Cathy, a dental hygienist with a background running auctions for the American Cancer Society, shared his passion.