Kid in JFK Tower

boondr PHD without a degree North of the Equator

Doug,

I am curious why the National office had you issue a statement in the manner it did on this issue. I was kind of hoping for a "let's find out the whole story and not rush to judgement" stance as opposed to a near carbon copy of the Agency's statement condemning actions that had not yet been fully investigated.


-Thank You
Curious member

Doug Church Director of Communications Washington, D.C.

Curious member,

Why did we issue the statement in the manner that we did?

Because we do not condone this behavior. At all. It does NOT reflect on the extremely high level of professionalism that NATCA members display on the job each and every day. It is unfair to have this incident tarnish what you and the rest of our members do for the safety of the system and the flying public. We will not allow our high level of public credibility on matters of aviation safety -- built up over many years with the hard work of thousands of NATCA members every day -- to be put at grave risk by trying to defend something that is indefensible.

Whether fair or unfair, the court of public opinion has spoken and this incident has been mostly criticized and ridiculed from all corners and has probably unnerved a lot of people who fly or follow aviation. And let's not even discuss the late-night comics. Did you see the Jay Leno Show last night? First FIVE jokes. Did you see Letterman too?

This is NOT the picture we want painted for the public about who we are and what we do. My goodness ... we are only 18 days away from the sixth annual Archie League Medal of Safety awards, honoring the best NATCA member flight assists of 2009. How easy do you think our job is now trying to get people to pay attention to that? We're certainly going to try, I can guarantee you. Because THAT is what this union is all about -- extreme professionalism and extreme skill and determination that ensures safe outcomes for pilots and passengers on so many occasions.

NATCA is a labor union and we will vigorously defend the rights of this controller. However, we are also an aviation safety organization and we have staked our reputation on Capitol Hill and in the public as putting safety above all and conducting ourselves with the utmost level of professionalism at all times.

-Doug

Doug Church Director of Communications Washington, D.C.

By the way, our statement went out well before I ever saw what the FAA put out.

-Doug

boondr PHD without a degree North of the Equator

Thanks for the response Doug.


And thank you for the work you do on a daily basis. I may not be completely in line with you on this one, but I definitely understand and appreciate the hard work you do to promote our profession.

Doug Church Director of Communications Washington, D.C.

I really appreciate that. Thank you.

-Doug