NAATS Press Release:

Reopen Our Doors to Our Customers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yesterday, the Union representing the Air Traffic Controllers in the Flight Service option, urged the Federal Aviation Administration to reopen the doors of the Flight Service Stations to the flying community. In a letter to Administrator Jane Garvey, Union President, Walter Pike, reminded the Agency that a part of the function of Flight Service is to provide face-to-face weather briefings to pilots to ensure pilots have a clear understanding of the weather, current and forecast, before they fly.

After the events of September 11th, 2001, the FAA issued a security directive prohibiting visitors at all air traffic control facilities. This closed off vital "walk-in" briefing service to pilots, forcing them back to the telephone with it's obvious limitations - the lack of visual weather depictions. In an effort to balance the safety of its controllers with the safety of the flying public, the Union urged the agency to sit down and discuss how they can effectively return to the full task they were hired to perform.

_____________________________

February 20, 2002

Ms. Jane Garvey
FAA Administrator, AOA-1
800 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20591

Dear Ms Garvey:

As you are aware, the FAA security directive issued shortly after September 11 2001 prohibiting visitors at flight service stations, enroute centers, approach facilities and towers remains in effect. Our information is that individual facility managers may opt to allow visitors but senior FAA management discourages this.

NAATS certainly agrees that Flight Service controllers are essential in providing air traffic control services and maintaining the national airspace system. This prohibition, however, effectively eliminates face-to-face or "walk-in" pilot weather briefings conducted by Flight Service Air Traffic Controllers. The safety of America�s air traffic controllers, and all FAA and federal employees, is of paramount concern to all of us. Unlike the centers and terminals, however, a key function of flight service requires us to provide some services in a face-to-face forum.

The nation has not closed its doors to the IRS, Postal Services or many other federal offices; the FAA should not lock pilots out of the nations Flight Service Stations. A mutual dependency and respect has long been established between our controllers and the aviation public we serve. Additional security is welcome and necessary at our flight service stations but denying essential services to our customers is an unnecessary restriction.

NAATS strongly believes that this restriction should be removed as soon as possible and that the aviation public should have access to our walk-in pilot weather briefing services. We�re prepared to begin working with you immediately for this purpose.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,



Walter W. Pike
President


Cc: AOPA President

Contact:

Walter Pike, President (301) 933-6228

National Association of Air Traffic Specialists (NAATS)

11303 Amherst Avenue, Suite 4

Wheaton, MD 20902-3902