This may set a record as my shortest update to date but I have just recently returned from DC and have to get ready for the oh-dawn-thirty shift tomorrow.

NATCA in Washington ’04 is in the record books.  Based on the feedback of the participants and others I’m happy to say it will be classified as a success both in the meetings and briefings at the conference and the visits with elected representatives on Capitol Hill.  I should have a more thorough report later but it looks as though are two main issues have garnered good support.

Issue number one was staffing.  We were asking for 1000 new controller hires in fiscal ’05.  That’s just enough to keep up with attrition, not any extra to cover the upcoming retirement wave, but it’s a damn sight better than the goose egg zero that Marion Blakey thinks we need.  We have a lot of agreement throughout Congress and most importantly with the appropriators and authorizers on the relevant committees for ATC.  Some well placed folks offered to write letters for us after we detailed the facts of the matter for them and even some of the staunchest anti-labor, anti-federal employee folks sat up and took notice to that zero number.  Next time you’re on position take a look around and see how long you think this operation will last with no new hires.

Issue number two was Cru-x.  Not only is at a troubled, bug ridden computer slayer that even Microsoft couldn’t spin a positive with, but more importantly it doesn’t work to provide the labor data that the DOT IG is pounding the Agency about not having when we discuss staffing.  The agency seems to have an ownership issue with this software snafu and somehow seems to be willing to go down with the ship instead of doing what is necessary in the overhaul or start over department to get this working.  Either way, in the interim they need to get WebLDR stood up (that’s a proven program that the rest of the FAA uses for LDR) so we can get this vital information compiled and the IG off our back.  WebLDR has some interface issues with other programs but it will work for this task and I think the FAA Administrator can expect quite a few inquiries from Congress about this situation.

But my main issue today is to thank the folks from the central region who took the time from their RDO’s and annual leave balances to attend.  They acquitted themselves very well on your behalf and certainly have my gratitude.  And they darn sure deserve your thanks as well.  So if you run across any of these folks, take the time to thank them for their efforts because at helping you out in your job and your future. Oh and you might also ask them for a quick briefing about what really is going on in DC referenced the FAA.   If you’re not sure who from your facility attended here’s the list.  Mike Alewine, Paul Hansen and Dennis Black from MCI.  Manuel Sanchez (get him before he goes to C90) Lonnie Vance, Rick Schmidt and Anna Mitchell from T75.  Kim Brooks, Bob Moore, Bryan Neal, and Justin Maples from ZKC.  Connie Presley and Mike Ojile from ICT.  Chris Bowers and Dave Geiger from R90.  And then Manny Falcon from OMA, Darold Silcott from ARC in the Regional office, Tom Manson from SGF, Dave Hansen from SUX and Bill Henry from STL.  Oh and then that other guy who was there from ZKC John Tune who, by the way,  won’t be accepting any over two hour grievances or CA-1’s for blisters from the other participants.  How stubborn of him but his nametag (inside joke) reflected that.