In This Issue:
It's in Your Hands
In the third installment of his video series on training, 2018 NATCA Sentinel of Safety Award winner Gordon Graham says it's in your hands to make every day a training day. "Remember: Absent experience, all you’ve got to rely on is training," he says. "If you’re training was one time, any time, some time ago, that’s a problem lying in wait. And it could lead to a tragedy." Watch video
CFS 2019 Video Contest
How do you make every day a training day in your workplace? Submit a short video (1 minute or less) showing us how you or your facility are improving training culture. Examples include: On the Job Training, Recurrent Training, Partnership For Safety SAFE Discussions, and more. An individual and a facility winner will be announced at the conclusion of CFS.

Submit videos using this link, and contact cfsvideo@natca.net with any questions.
CFS 2019: ALPA President Capt. Joe DePete Announced as Keynote Speaker
NATCA is thrilled to welcome Captain Joe DePete to Communicating For Safety (Sept. 16-18, Bally's Las Vegas), where he will express support for NATCA’s “Every Day Is a Training Day” program and speak about the “Trained for Life” training initiative of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). For more than 80 years, the airline pilot union has fought for rigorous training and qualification standards. U.S. pilots are the best-trained in the world and always are committed to passenger safety.

Capt. DePete took office as ALPA’s 11th president on Jan. 1, 2019. ALPA represents over 62,000 professional airline pilots in the United States and Canada and is the largest non-governmental aviation safety organization in the world. As president, he serves as ALPA’s chief executive. He oversees his association’s daily operations and is the chief spokesman for the union, advancing airline pilots’ views before the U.S. Congress, Canadian Parliament, government agencies, airline and other business executives, and the news media.

Capt. DePete has been a true friend of NATCA and an outspoken supporter of all aviation safety professionals. NATCA and ALPA have a long history of collaboration and solidarity that has advanced the lives and professions of the members of our two great unions. ALPA works with NATCA to improve, modernize, and preserve the safety of our National Airspace System (NAS). There are several important programs NATCA members now have and greatly value, which were inspired by ALPA, including the Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) and Professional Standards. 
CFS 2019: Archie League Medal of Safety Award Winners' Spotlight Series
Part 4 of our 6-part series, exploring the work of our members who will be honored on Sept. 18 at CFS 2019 in Las Vegas at the 15th annual Archie League Medal of Safety Awards banquet.
Western Pacific Region
Michael Tamez, Southern Calif. TRACON (SCT)

Facing rime icing, instrument meteorological conditions, moderate turbulence, high terrain, and a malfunctioning pitot tube heater, the pilot of a Cessna Skyhawk 172 needed assistance to get on the ground safely. Tamez, who is also a pilot, quickly and expertly worked to issue instructions to direct the pilot to a lower altitude, including no gyro vectors. Safety was reached when the icing condition was removed.
Southwest Region
Michael Schawinsky, Houston TRACON (I90)

Schawinsky already had his hands full, working a Cessna 172 that was having trouble flying headings and maintaining altitude and whose airspeed seemed especially low. Then, after declaring an emergency for the pilot and working to get him on his way to Galveston (GLS), a second Cessna 172 in Schawinsky's airspace also declared an emergency. This pilot was doing practice approaches when he experienced a brief fire in the cabin and appeared to be losing altitude.
Nominate Your Colleagues for a 2020 Archie League Award
The Archie League Medal of Safety Award highlights aviation "saves." Some involve a team of professionals working together, while others are the result of just one person's efforts. Any NATCA member can nominate another member in good standing year-round! The nominating period for the 2020 Archie League Awards is open now, and covers aviation events that have occurred from May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020.  Click here  to complete the nomination form.
CFS 2019: Professionalism Award Winners Announced; Will Be Honored at CFS
The NATCA National Professionalism Award was created to recognize those who have demonstrated a consistent personal commitment to safety and excellence, and whose professional contributions and individual performance have enhanced the standings of our profession.
 
“Every single one of the nominees displayed professionalism worthy of the award," said Garth Koleszar of the Professional Standards Committee.
 
Lydia Baune, a member of both the Professional Standards and Respect Committees, said, “We also want to thank each and every one of you who chooses professionalism every day. This award is for each of you as well. You are making a positive impact on our profession and on safety.”
 
Here are the award winners who will be honored at CFS 2019 in Las Vegas next month:
Western Service Area
Karena Marinas
Los Angeles Center (ZLA)

Marinas has served in many roles during her 14 years at ZLA. She has been on the local Professional Standards Committee, the Local Safety Council, served as a Facility Safety Rep, an Aviation Safety Investigator, and an OSHA NATCA Academy Instructor. She currently serves as the OSHA Committee Chair. Several of Marinas’s peers who nominated her for the award spoke eloquently about her many accomplishments and professional traits:
                                                                                                                
“I can’t think of a better recipient for the NATCA Professionalism Award than Karena Marinas. Since the first week I checked into ZLA eight years ago, she has been the person we all go to for all things safety and professionalism."
 
“I credit Karena for jump-starting my involvement in NATCA and I am thankful every day for it. I do not know anyone else more professional or as committed to safety than Karena."
  
“Karena executes and fulfills her responsibilities daily with uncompromising dedication and an unwavering commitment to maintaining a professional decorum." Read more
Central Service Area
David Keifer
Indianapolis Center (ZID)

Keifer has been a controller for over 20 years. He is the District Chair for the NATCA Professional Standards/Respect Workgroup, where he works to create a culture of collaboration in the Great Lakes Region, overseeing 14 committee members. His peers who nominated him for the award say his calm demeanor, agreeable disposition, and soft-spoken voice instills trust in those he works with:
 
"Dave is what I consider the definition of Professional Standards. He is always looking for the best solution to advance the safe operation of the National Airspace System (NAS), whether it be through collaboration and teamwork, or through his leadership.”  
  
“His knowledge of air traffic procedures, equipment, and human factors is immeasurable. Not only a friend, Dave is a great example of an air traffic controller who takes pride in ensuring safety across the NAS."
 
“I consider Dave a mentor. He has gone out of his way to put me in positions to be successful in my career. His approach to training is second to none. Always looking out for the best interests of the team, and finding ways to help everyone succeed." Read more
Eastern Service Area
Thomas Adcock
Miami Center (ZMA)

Tom began his career as a Co-Op student at Atlanta Center (ZTL) in 1985. After successfully completing the FAA Academy, Tom moved to Miami Center (ZMA) where he became a Certified Professional Controller (CPC) in 1989. He worked at ZMA until he assumed his current role as the NATCA National Training Liaison in 2012. Said his colleagues in nominating him for this award:

“Tom has worked tirelessly his entire career to ensure that the FAA’s training system works.”

“During his early years with the FAA, Tom dedicated himself to learning every aspect of being an air traffic controller. One facet of the job that always stood out to him was training. Tom has always set the bar high for himself and has always wanted to see to it that the FAA produced the most highly skilled professionals on the planet.”

“Tom’s dedication and professionalism extends beyond the FAA. Tom has always given of himself and has helped to organize and motivate others to do the same. During Hurricane Andrew and the many natural disasters since, Tom has opened his home to people, helped to clothe them, and made sure they had food and water. Tom has spent considerable time and his own finances to shop, pack, and transport supplies to many that were in desperate need of help. Tom didn’t just do this when it was convenient; he would do this at midnight before a day shift and then do it some more before the following midnight shift. Tom was always there anytime there was a need.” Read more
Michael J. Buchanan, 1982-2019:
NATCA Mourns Loss of ARR FacRep
Michael J. Buchanan, a beloved NATCA brother, the FacRep and Legislative Rep at Aurora ATCT (ARR), a respected member of the esteemed “pink shirts” team of air traffic controllers at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, and a highly decorated and experienced emergency management officer in his native Bellwood, Ill., passed away on July 29. He was 36.

Affectionately known as “MJ,” Buchanan had just completed working at this year’s AirVenture event. He was a member of the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE). He spent the last two years as FacRep at ARR, and one year as the facility’s Legislative Rep. He represented his facility and his Union at NATCA in Washington (NiW) last May, participating in several Congressional meetings including one with Illinois Senator and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin.

“MJ was a dedicated, hardworking FacRep and tremendous NATCAvist,” NATCA Great Lakes Regional Vice President Drew MacQueen said. “His hard work, dedication, and leadership without question impacted and improved the lives and working conditions of everyone he worked with at ARR." Read more
The NATCA Podcast:
NCF President Corrie Conrad
NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) President Corrie Conrad (Portland, Ore., ATCT, PDX), in the latest episode of The NATCA Podcast, reflects on this week's celebration of the 25th anniversary of NCF. She talks about the great work being done by member volunteers, their collective efforts put toward meeting the challenge of growing NCF, and the great personal rewards of donating time, resources, and energy to the Foundation. "It's a labor of love," she says. "I knew this would make my heart whole."
Suicide Awareness: NCF, NATCA 2020 Convention Promote Community Walks
NATCA is committed to continuing to do everything it can to raise awareness and to lift the veil on mental health and suicide. One of the charities identified by the NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) and our #NATCA2020 Convention Committee to be highlighted at our 18th Biennial Convention next year in Houston is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. AFSP is focused on raising awareness and is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. 

YOU CAN HELP . There are more than 400 Out of the Darkness community walks planned across the country between now and Convention, in big and small communities in all 50 states. All NATCA members have the opportunity to join AFSP’s effort to raise awareness and funds to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.



Already, these NATCA-led walks are planned. Click to learn more and sign up.


NCF will sponsor participants in the walks: up to four people per local for $250 each. Request NCF sponsorship .
NATCA News and Notes
Rinaldi Talks Modernization, Strengthening Aviation Workforce for the Future at Airports Conference
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi joined airport and aviation leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States at the annual Airports Conference of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia this week to discuss important topics affecting international aviation in these regions.

Rinaldi was a panelist on the Aviation Executive Forum, moderated by Houston Airport System Director of Aviation Mario Diaz. Other panelists included CEO of Quiport Andrew O’Brian, International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regional Director for Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security in the Americas Filipe Reis (pictured at left), and Airlines for America Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Senior Vice President Sharon Pinkerton (pictured on Rinaldi's left).

About the panel, Rinaldi said the following, “I spoke about the impact of new entrants – UAVs and commercial space – and how technology is evolving more quickly than we can implement it. I stressed how the technology companies don’t generally understand the limitations for us adding new technologies to a safety critical system like the National Airspace System. So the aviation community can better address these issues, it is vital that the leaders who attended this event understand these challenges related to aviation growth and modernization.”

During the panel, Rinaldi also addressed the pressing need for stable funding for the U.S. National Airspace System, modernizing aviation infrastructure globally to include new technology like remote towers, and developing a strong aviation workforce for the future. 

Presented by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the South Central Chapter of AAAE, and the International Association of Airport Executives (IAAE), the conference serves to initiate greater collaboration in safety between all stakeholders going forward, including dozens of countries from around the world. 
NSO Advanced Legislative Activism Training Class
Southern Regional (NSO) Vice President Jim Marinitti, Alternate NSO RVP Jason Arnold, National Legislative Committee NSO Rep Stan Parulski (Pensacola TRACON, P31), and Northern Florida State Coordinator Paul Behan (Jacksonville Center, ZJX) joined the Government Affairs Department staff and Special Counsel to the President Eugene Freedman for this week’s NSO Advanced Legislative Activism Training (ALAT) at the National Office. The class covered the Hatch Act, best practices for strengthening our legislative relationships, and Federal Aviation Administration appropriations and authorization.

Pictured from left to right: Behan, Arnold, Ray Castaldini (Bristol Tri City, TRI), Kevin Cotrell (Greer ATCT, GSP), Dennis Hilton (Gulfport, GPT), Parulski, James Trubisky (Louisville Standiford, SDF), Anthony Martin (Atlanta ATCT, ATL), Stephen Cooper (Charlotte ATCT, CLT), Leeann Carter (Sanford ATCT, SFB), Michael Long (Pensacola TRACON, P31), Dan Briscan (P31), James Walsh (Raleigh ATCT, RDU), Marinitti, Nichole Surunis (Atlanta TRACON, A80), Christopher Martinez (Myrtle Beach ATCT, MYR), Derek Knapp (Columbus, Ga., ATCT, CSG), James Clark (Fayetteville ATCT, FAY).
Register for the Upcoming OSHA Webinar
As a NATCA member, you have the right to know what chemicals are used in the building in which you work. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheets (SDS), as they are now called, provide us with information about chemicals used in our buildings. This information is required by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, State “right to know” laws and our contract with the FAA. This webinar will look at how to read and interpret SDS. During this course, we will look at how NATCA resources can help you interpret this important information. Register here.
Rinaldi at NHCFAE:
Strengthening Resilience Will Require Stable Funding
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi spoke last week at the National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE) Labor/Management Roundtable discussion at its annual training conference, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The discussion was moderated by NHCFAE President Faviola Garcia, with FAA Managers Association National Vice-President Andrea Stapleton and Professional Aviation Safety Specialists President Mike Perrone joining Rinaldi on the panel of aviation leaders. 

The audience of nearly 100, consisting of FAA employees from all of its organizations, heard from Rinaldi about NATCA topics related to the conference theme, “Strengthening our Resilience.” Rinaldi discussed the challenges NATCA members have faced over the past several years, including staffing, unstable funding and shutdowns, devastating hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Read more
NATCA-FAA Collaboration Leads to New Miami Childcare Center Success
On a hot Miami day made cooler by snow cones and water table activities, Miami Tailwinds Child Development Center (CDC) celebrated its new vendor, KIDazzle, with an Open House on July 27, 2019. The event was a huge success and an excellent example of NATCA-FAA collaboration.  

“This is the first ever open house at one of our FAA child care centers,” said FAA/NATCA Article 114 Child Care Rep Jennifer Malloy, who led coordination of the event. “Our controllers and their families love the convenience of having their children so close, and we are thrilled to be making the care received by our smallest members of our Air Traffic Control family even better.” 

NATCA and the FAA Office of Human Resource Management worked together with the Tailwinds Board of Directors, FAA Technical Operations, the Department of Transportation, and KIDazzle Child Care to form a collaborative team. The group transformed an ordinary child care facility into an aesthetically pleasing CDC where federal and community families could experience a nurturing and stimulating environment for their children while they are at work.
Baseball & Solidarity in Minneapolis-St. Paul
Minneapolis-St. Paul ATCT (MSP) NATCA members enjoyed a night of camaraderie at a St. Paul Saints baseball game. Even though the game was delayed by almost two hours and then ultimately suspended after two innings, a good time was enjoyed by all.
 
"We even were recognized on the big scoreboard to people cheering," said MSP Treasurer Joe Czech. "Thanks to our members coming out and enjoying the rainy night!"
Rinaldi, Marinitti Continue NATCA Visits to, and Support For, St. Thomas ATCT (STT)
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi and Southern Regional Vice President Jim Marinitti recently visited with members at St. Thomas ATCT (STT).
 
“Fortunately this time they were able to see the strides the island has made (since devastating 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria),” said STT FacRep Pat Cieniewicz. “NATCA helped the local then and continues to provide help.”
 
STT controllers are responsible for aircraft in Class C airspace, up to 3,000 feet, and within five nautical miles. They mostly work with controllers at San Juan CERAP, the combined center and radar approach control in Puerto Rico.
 
Rinaldi and Marinitti discussed political and budgetary uncertainty and other current legislative issues.
 
“St. Thomas is comprised of many new Agency hires and younger controllers. Having Paul and Jim there really helped them to understand the impact NATCA has on them and their workplace,” said Cieniewicz. “It was a great experience having them down and it was a great way to show the newer controllers what NATCA is truly about.”
 
Pictured left to right: STT VP Shalannah Smalls, Rinaldi, Cieniewicz, Marinitti.
Puerto Rico Member Meeting and Solidarity Event
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi recently attended a solidarity event in Puerto Rico along with Southern Regional Vice President Jim Marinitti. The event welcomed members from San Juan ATCT (SJU), Isla Grande ATCT (SIG), San Juan CERAP (ZSU), and NATCA members attending the National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE) conference.
NATCA IT Committee Tips
Beware of Free Wi-Fi
NATCA experienced a spam attack last week through a member's natca.net email account. The NATCA Information Technology Committee (ITC) believes a hacker gained access to the member's email account while being connected to a free, unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot. The member's password was immediately changed, but the damage was already done; the spoofer had already gotten the information they needed.

Prevention is critical to avoiding these types of attacks and can significantly reduce the likelihood of mailboxes being compromised in the future. Whenever and wherever possible, we ask that all members who use a NATCA email address refrain from connecting to free, unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots. Those supplied by major hotel chains and other large businesses should be fine, but it's those Wi-Fi networks "off the beaten path" that should raise suspicions.

An easy way to spot potential “malicious” Wi-Fi networks is to look to see if there are duplicate SSIDs (the name for a Wi-Fi network) listed. For example, if you are at Starbucks and you see “Starbucks,” “Starbucks Free,” or “Starbucks Guest," Wi-Fi networks, you should refrain from joining any of those. If you are unsure of which network is a guest and “safe” network to join, always ask to speak to an employee there who can help.
FAA Bans Some Apple Computers Affected by Battery Recall
Apple has determined that the batteries in some 15-inch MacBook Pro computers may overheat and pose a fire safety risk. The Federal Aviation Administration has banned these affected MacBook Pro laptops from flights both in checked and carry-on bags.

The affected computers are 15-inch MacBook Pro computers with Retina displays that were manufactured in mid-2015 and sold between September 2015 and February 2017. Apple is directing owners of these affected MacBook Pros to contact them to have their batteries replaced at no expense.

Owners can check to see which 15-inch MacBook Pro they have by choosing the “About This Mac” option from the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen. If your model is a "MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)," you should check the computer's serial number to see if it requires a new battery. Get more information and verify the serial number here:  https://support.apple.com/15-inch-macbook-pro-battery-recall . If you have questions about whether your computer might be affected or negotiating the battery replacement process, you can reach out to the NATCA IT Committee for assistance:  ITC@LIST.NATCA.NET .
Store Item of the Week:
Unisex Triblend Ragland Tee
Features of this product : Enjoy a baseball game with this great look. Combed ring-spun triblend 50% polyester, 37% cotton, 13% rayon; 4.4 oz/sq yd. Raglan 3/4 sleeve made with satin label, rounded bottom and side seam. Made in USA.

Price :  $26-$28.
Ships in 3-4 weeks.

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