- Clean energy breakthrough
- Letters should not be changed
- Bush adopts “my way or the highway” attitude
- Severance tax piece misses the point
- SCHIP 2.0
- Things must be far worse in Iraq
- Citizens need to take back freedoms
- Apathy in the U.S.
- Military heroes should be on front page
- Post’s Moore misleads on ‘Scoundrels’
Air traffic controllers
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association shares the concern of the editor for the need to modernize the air traffic system. In the early 90’s, the FAA tried to implement ISSS* without including NATCA’s participation. This ended up costing the taxpayers in excess of $3 billion dollars and the project was never implemented. It was a complete failure. Since then, the FAA has included NATCA’s participation in numerous modernizational projects with great success.
The FAA’s current mission is to cut costs, no matter how much it jeopardizes the lives of the flying public. Air traffic control facilities throughout the country are severely understaffed forcing controllers to work longer hours with a constant increase in air traffic. There are ways to cut costs without jeopardizing safety, however, the FAA does not want to hear these ideas. Unfortunately, this came to light in Lexington, KY, where innocent people fell victim to the FAA’s “staffing to budget” policy.
So, for the editor to say, “This could eventally put passengers at risk” regarding involving a third party arbitrator to resolve contract disputes is a statement made by someone who simply does not have the facts. A change in the law is needed to stop the FAA’s current mission before it is too late. There are no guarantees when you present your case to a neutral third party arbitrator for resolution.
Both sides present their case and the arbitrator gives a fair ruling.
The most important mission for NATCA has always been, and will continue to be, the safety of the flying public!
This letter has not been edited.