Here we are at the end of April, I have a bunch of stuff to share with you and solicit for your feedback.
Please help me welcome Jesus Perdomo, an Academy Grad who has joined the C Area. He is currently upstairs studying away, but has come to the area to monitor quite a few times.
Article 5 - We are still in need of an Article 5 for Alex & Patrick (R & D Sides). I have heard rumors in the area that no one wants to do 5 problems a day, so I went upstairs to ask about the schedule. The current Dysim schedule is 4 per day, 5 on Eval days (which means you are still only responsible for 4 write ups). I know people are on leave and it is a lot to get all the write ups done, but please feel free to get creative and see if you can split it with someone if you can’t change your schedule or would like a couple of days to work during the week. It will be M-F from 8/4-9/12, please let me or your sup (yes, we still have those) know if you’re interested in this.
LWS - I heard last week that the LWS LOA is being rewritten due to “multiple” instances of the controllers at LWS issuing Runway Heading on departure, or pilots flying it, or I’m not sure what. I do know that I am waiting for the first draft to appear to Eric and/or I, but from the sounds of it from upper management yelling parties, they want every aircraft to be assigned the SID. Once we have a chance to review this, I will for sure keep you posted.
PSC - It was asked earlier about why the QXE/SKW flights from SEA-PSC-SEA are no longer on the Victor Airway. This was changed due to requests from the airlines and from controllers concerned that aircraft were flying the Victor airway in the flight levels. The area was briefed on this about a month ago during an airspace briefing, if you don’t remember it or want any clarification, please let me know.
Computer change - what an ordeal. Apparently, NO ONE knows why or who initiated the sign in computer moving. I have asked Al Franklin who said it was a sup in the D Area, the D Area sup said it wasn’t them, no on in the C Area knew it was changing until it was moved…. So - here we are. I had a conversation with Al about this - he figured if he was being asked to move equipment that all the correct people had been notified. which wasn’t the case. Here’s my ask - please let me know what you think about the computer being there. If a majority of controllers want it moved back, I will request that it be moved. If not, then we’ll leave it. Text or email me so I can count the responses.
Online stuff - You should have received multiple emails from NATCA with the handiest little template for you to fill out and send to your representatives about messing with our retirement. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard! Please take the time to review this, it took me less than a minute to complete it (not on a gov computer or on duty time), and is also well set up for any family and/or friends who would like to voice their concerns. This goes beyond just affecting our current employees, but impacts our ability to hire more folks if the retirement options get worse and worse.
All Members Meeting - This is coming up April 29th, food at 2:30, meeting at 3pm at:
Rail Hop’n Brewing Co
131 E Main Street Auburn
There is a sign on the NATCA bulletin by the entrance to the control room. Please try to make it out to this! Would love to see you there where we can talk about proposed Constitution Amendments.
Schedule - The change to IST has really thrown a wrench in things, in addition to management’s lack of collaboration about how to schedule for this. I have had a VERY hard time communicating with the OM for the C Area, but I will keep trying. Carly began asking for clarification on scheduling for IST about a month ago, and we didn’t get any help or direction until last Saturday. I know there is a lot going on, but please know that there are a lot of factors that go into who can be scheduled for what depending on needed coverage and fatigue rules.
LOAs - I am still asking the A Area for updates from our meeting. Also, I will ask for a meeting with ZLC about the wording in the ZLC LOA regarding transitioning U30. I will keep you posted.
Transparency - I try hard to be as transparent as possible with you all, but please don’t take my silence as a lack of any effort or compassion for our area. I was fortunate enough to be at the first day of the Pre-Convention meeting where Nick and Mick were both present to give an update and answer questions. Also, please watch the NATCA emails for invitations to online webinars to go over the previous week’s events. This is another opportunity for you to be updated and ask questions to our upper leadership. Nick and Mick had a lot of updates for us, some they still can’t discuss due to the nature of bargaining in good faith, but some things I would like to share with you that are happening behind the scenes…
- NATCA is standing with a lot of other aviation groups and is able to approach this administration as a larger voice for things that impact us as controllers and the aviation community as a whole.
- NATCA is pushing for more funding for training
- There are work groups in place that are updating the curriculum at the Academy (Amy is on this one), and updating the ATSA (the test new hires take that replaced the original ATSAT) (I and quite a few other controllers at this facility are a part of this).
- NCEPT is being reviewed to help streamline it and assist in getting people moved more efficiently and effectively.
- Placement out of the academy is changing, as is how previous experience is being considered
- NATCA is working with advertising firms to select one that will better benefit us
- The new traffic counting software is still being fine tuned and the goal date for implementation is being moved up
- NATCA is working diligently to protect things like our retirement age, benefits, and talking to those in DC to make sure they understand the importance of preserving the things we have that this administration would otherwise be so happy to strip away.
I know things are frustrating and I can see how some might think that NATCA isn’t being as aggressive as they need to be. I would like to give another perspective, that NATCA is being aggressive where we need to be in the preservation of what we have, and pointing out to this administration why these things are important.
Personally, I value your opinion and input as to what we can do as a union and as a collective group of controllers to stand strong. Please let me know what I can do for you locally and what I can share with our upper leadership to make sure your voices are heard.
I am and will continue to be available to you for anything, please reach out any time. Thank you for all you do, especially as we come into the nicer weather and traffic picks up. You are appreciated!
In Solidarity,
Crumbley
360-635-8244
c.area.natca@gmail.com