NATCA’s Paul Rinaldi Celebrates “Communication and Collaboration” with ALPA

NATCA President Paul Rinaldi

August 6, 2014 - National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Paul Rinaldi spoke to attendees at the Air Safety Forum on Wednesday, highlighting what he termed the “matching philosophies” of the two organizations in regards to aviation safety. “It’s all about relationships,” he said. “And NATCA and ALPA have never had a closer relationship.”

That relationship, he explained, will be extremely important in the coming months and years as the NextGen system is developed and implemented. “Air travel is the safest form of transportation,” he stated before further expressing that the input of ALPA and NATCA—on the “front lines” of the pilots and controllers—is needed to make sure it stays that way. He said our current system, while safe and efficient, is also complicated and thus requires our two organizations’ early and constant attention and input to ensure it remains safe.

Rinaldi also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first commercial aviation flight (see the NATCA video, “Celebrating 100 Years of Commercial Aviation”) and asked attendees to imagine what might happen in the next 100 years. And, he promised that, no matter what comes in that next century, “NATCA and ALPA will work together to make sure safety comes first.”

According to Rinaldi, the biggest issue facing air travel is stable funding. He pointed to the shutdown of 2013 and the resulting furloughs and sequesters that led, he said, to decisions being made based upon money, not safety. He predicted future shutdown threats and preached the importance of working now to avoid funding issues. “The airspace industry deserves stable funding,” he insisted. “The public should demand it, and Congress should provide it.”

In closing, Rinaldi again praised the close relationship between ALPA and NATCA and looked forward to continued collaboration. “What we thought was impossible yesterday is an accomplishment today,” he said. And with the two organizations continuing to work together, more accomplishments are yet to come.