NATCA members at Raleigh Durham ATCT (RDU) were recently interviewed by SAS at the North Carolina Department of Transportation hangar for Data On The Fly, a STEM-focused group for providing students with hands-on experience with Internet of Things, data, analytics, visualization, and lot of fun, all centered around aviation. Featured in the video talking about what it's like being an air traffic controller are RDU FacRep Nick Stott and RDU controllers Christina Phorimavong and Alicia Whitman. 

NATCA members at Raleigh Durham ATCT (RDU) share about being a controller

The purpose of the video is to engage STEM students that participate in this program with a better understanding of what air traffic controllers do in their jobs, how technology plays a huge roll in saving lives, and how it all relates to how STEM students will capture the same data that air traffic controllers see on their screens.To learn more about SAS Data On The Fly,  click here . 

NATCA family coast to coast, please support the Snowball Express 2018 Gold Star families! NATCA and NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) are gearing up to give our Gold Star families a heartfelt welcome during this year's amazing event, happening in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 8-12.  Click here  to  check out our Facebook event for more details.

We still need your help with publicity photos. We would love to see your facility promoting Snowball Express, like Chicago TRACON (C90) to the left. Simply print out posters like these, or design your own and snap a picture. Once that is done, email your photos to NATCA.SBExpress@gmail.com. 

Be as creative as you want, but remember to always Turn Off Tune In. 

	All pilots and flight attendants participating in this event are also volunteering their time for the Gold Star families.

Also, we would love for you to  print out this Snowball Express calendar (to the right) and the t-shirt poster (below) to display around your facilities.

Finally, if you haven't done so already, don't forget to buy your Snowball Express shirts. All proceeds will benefit NCF to help  charities  like Snowball Express and many others. Hurry, the last day to order these shirts is Dec. 14.

NATCA is proud to be a partner of this event and wants to help make this a special experience for these Gold Star children.  Snowball Express, a program of the Gary Sinise Foundation, honors America's fallen military service members by serving the families left behind. Snowball Express provides comprehensive support programs and helps the children who have lost moms and dads during military service by creating opportunities for joy, friendship, and communal healing. 

The FAA dedicated a Space Operations Control Room at the TMU Command Center (DCC) in early November. Commercial space operations had been operating out of a makeshift operations area, but the newly dedicated area gives these exciting operations their own permanent space in the facility.

Southern Regional Vice President Jim Marinitti (right) joined NATCA President Emeritus John Carr, the Executive Vice President Americas for the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA), at the IFATCA Americas regional conference. Hosted by the Haitian Air Traffic Controller's Association (APCAH) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, attendees discussed vital issues affecting safety and efficiency of air traffic in the region.

NATCA members gathered in Las Vegas for the newly revamped Occupational Safety and Health Administration/ Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OSHA/OWCP) class, presented by NATCA Academy and taught by OSHA Committee Chair Mike Odryna (Boston Center), OWCP Committee Chair Jason Grider (Fort Worth Center), OWCP Committee member Ray Adams (Newark ATCT), and OSHA Committee members Karena Marinas (Los Angeles Center), Deb Stewart (Corpus Christi ATCT), and Charles "CJ" Jacques (Philadelphia ATCT). Attendees learned the requirements and rights that apply to NATCA members related to OSHA and OWCP.