NEWSLETTER E-MAIL ADDRESS:
From The President
by Wally Pike
NAATS President
Portions of this article have been distributed to the facilities via the email update. If you’re not receiving the email update please contact your regional representatives.
Pay Negotiations
We met with the management team the week of January 10. There was considerable discussion about the Parties' positions and the justifications for it. Basically you can sum it up by saying they want us in the core plan with any pay increases identified by corresponding offsets. Our proposal is that reclassification is more consistent with the Agency goal that employees should be paid for the actual work they perform with commensurate salary increases. We will next meet the week of March 13; the NAATS team remains firm in our conviction that we will get a fair agreement for your consideration and ratification.
Note - by now you no doubt have heard that PASS reached agreement with FAA management on their AF pay impasse. I haven't had the opportunity to talk with PASS President Mike Fanfalone but I have heard some of the details of their agreement. Following is what I understand their agreement to be subject to membership ratification:
- The agreement is consistent with the FAA core plan,
- 5% ATRA is rolled into base pay @ 4.1%,
- The PASS/AF OSI is guaranteed as a minimum equal to the general increase for all Federal employees or the FAA OSI whichever is greater,
- 5.5% increase in pay over 5 years, which breaks down as follows:
- 1. Year 1 = 0
- 2. Year 2 = .5%
- 3. Year 3 = .5%
- 4. Year 4 = 1.5%
- 5. Year 5 = 3%
Non-technical (admin) will receive a $500 payment but not the 5.5% increase.
OASIS
As has been the case lately, it's a mixed bag on the OASIS front.
The FAA successfully appealed the $10M budget for FY01. The new figure is $23M but there is still concern about the implementation schedule. OASIS Representative Jeff Barnes and I met with ARA-1 Steve Zaidman and several of the program people just after Christmas and we discussed how best to proceed with the program. It is essential that the Human Factors Team be free to concentrate on determining what the final OASIS product will look like and that they not be concerned about political considerations. While the HF Team will determine the final product that is deployed, there will probably be some difficult political decisions that have to be made. The responsibility for those decisions belongs to me, not the Human Factors Team.
Wally
Y2K Transition Passed With Flying Colors
Chuck Kuennen, Y2K Co-Representative
This achievement was the result of planning and hard work on the part of many FAA'ers. A lot of people said it couldn't be done, but once again, the FAA work force illustrated its professionalism, dedication and commitment. NAATS members can be proud that during the hour of the New Year's Rollover, Secretary Slater made special mention in his phone conversation with Administrator Garvey, that our President, Wally Pike, was one of those present at the Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center.
All of us in Flight Service can be proud of the fact that the ATS Y2K Program Office was staffed by many Flight Service representatives, a real testimony to the fact that we have many good people capable of functioning at higher levels, i.e., Robert Scarbrough, IPT, became the final ATS Y2K Program Manager; Gwenn Godfrey, PNM, was Special Assistant to the Program Manager, Mari Edminston, RAL, and Jodi Curry, AND, worked on the Communications /Outreach/Research and Analysis staff; Lisa Kurtz, PNM, worked on the International Interface Testing staff ; Deborah Wright, RDU, worked as an Air Traffic Specialist on the Business Resumption Team; Mike Maharian, AOO, International and Interagency ATS Representative; Walt Minter, AOO, Domestic and International Test Director; Kirk Hallet, ABQ, Interface with IG and GAO; Steve Hannah, ABQ, Donna York, ABQ, and Venoris Fuller, BDR, Technical Review Team and Systems Specialists; and Pat Less , ISP, and myself, Chuck Kuennen, RIU, represented NAATS on the Business Continuity and Contingency Planning Team and Business Resumption Team. If I left anyone out please forgive me as many of these folks were detailed during different times than myself.
Flight Service had several systems that were identified on the ATS Mission Critical Systems List that were compliant with exceptions. Workarounds and software fixes were identified and prioritized. Some systems, like the Flight Service Automation System (FSAS) of which FSDPS is a part of, we knew were going to have Y2K issues but they were going to be transparent to operations, such as the Position Log Daily Summary displaying 1900. All of these issues were addressed in Site Program Bulletins and will be fixed in future software applications or simply by having a technician manually reset the date. There is one concern that Pat Less passed on to me reference logs with incorrect dates. If any specialists happened to be involved in an aircraft accident around this time period, be careful to note any incorrect dates if you are going to sign a statement.
There were a few unexpected events during the rollover concerning AWOS's, Digital Aviation Weather Network (DAWN, Alaska's GWDS system), GWDS at AOO, EKN, DCA, BUF, MIV, IPT, ATL, MKL, LOU, GNV, COU, ICT, DEN, LWS, CXO, DRI, and WMSCR processing of FDC (Class 2) NOTAMS. However, none of these outages were significant and should not re-occur during the Leap Year Rollover because each system owner was notified and Airway Facility Division Managers and SMO's will be folliwing up.
The Leap Year Rollover should be even smoother and will not require special staffing considerations. On behalf of Pat and myself, I want to thank the ATS Y2K Program Office and NAATS for allowing us to be a part of the Business Continuity and Contingency Plan Team and Business Resumption Team.
There is an opening on the Public Relations Team (PRT) for one member. If you are interested in serving on the PRT, please send NAATS Headquarters a short resume. Duties include travel and attending user forums. No duty time is guaranteed so a member may need to use annual leave or RDO's. Expenses are paid by NAATS.
You may be asked to assist in presentations, writing stories and news stories and contacting user groups and the media. Please submit your resume by 2/14/00.
Larry Burdick
PRT Chairman
- Broadcast Message Box
- at AWA-CENTRAL
- Dated 10 January 2000
The General Services Administration (GSA) has published in FTR Amendment 88, dated January 7, 2000, the final rule which increases the mileage reimbursement rate for use of a privately owned automobile (POA) on official travel to reflect current costs of operation as determined in a cost study conducted by the GSA. Effective for travel on or after January 14, 2000, the POA mileage rate will increase from 31 cents per mile to 32.5 cents per mile. The mileage rates for privately owned airplane, 88 cents per mile, and privately owned motorcycle, 26 cents per mile go unchanged.
Please disseminate this information to your employees.
Point of Contact: Loretta Rollins, AMF-330, (202) 267-7360.
Suzanne Pellosmaa, NAATS OSH Rep.
California Ergonomics In a recent appeals court agreement, any company/business (regardless of how many employees) is required to create an ergonomics program to minimize RSI (repetitive injuries) when two or more employees report such injuries within a 12 month period. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney was very pleased with the courts decision and said it was a victory for working families in California and across the country.
More Money for OSHA Budget
OSHA gained a funding increase in the final appropriations bill for fiscal year 2000. Total money for OSHA reached $382 million, 20 million above the 362 million that would have been provided in an earlier measure that President Clinton vetoed. The newest figure also represents an increase of nearly 8% over the fiscal 1999 total of $354 million.
OSHA Proposes its Ergonomics Standard
OSHA has formally (finally) proposed its first ergonomic standard with a few modifications/changes from the draft that was released in Feb. 1999. The proposed standard would cover manufacturing and other jobs that involve manual handling. It would also cover general-industry jobs when a musculo-skeletal injury occurs. OSHA estimates the standard could prevent 300,000 such injuries a year. The debate over the standard continues as OSHA holds several hearings around the country this year. Disagreement still stands on whether or not a completed study is necessary by the National Academy of Science which would show the results of a congressionally-financed and mandated ergonomics research project.
LOCAL UPDATES
Controller Chair Survey
Recently I participated in a controller chair survey along with my facility manager, Chris Lenfest. The survey was initiated by FAA headquarters by a committee whose purpose is to handle the controller chair problems. The survey covered various topics to include types of chairs currently being utilized, maintenance schedules-if any, contracts still in use, number of chairs, condition of chairs, if any accidents have occurred, etc. We also prioritized what we felt were the major concerns reference to the chairs such as ergonomic issues, comfort, flexibility, features, etc. Hopefully every facility had the opportunity to participate in such a survey and if you did not, you may want to contact your regional director to see why the survey was not passed down to your facility. Reading the justification and the background of such survey, I hope the end results benefit our specialists with new controller chairs that are ergonomically correct and provide the comfort and ease needed to endure an eight or ten hour day.
President's 2000 Workers Initiative ProgramI am in the process of participating in weekly telecons throughout the month of January, 2000, originating at FAA headquarters, reference the President's 2000 Workers Initiative program. The program strives for safer and healthier workplaces and also in reducing worker's comp cases by dollar value and by the number of cases. What it basically comes down to is that the FAA has to come up with a 5 year implementation plan to address the goals set by the President to reduce workplace injuries and accidents and for more timely filing of workers comp cases. There has been a few initiatives on the part of the FAA to include a possible committee to oversee specific individual worker comp cases and a full-time AHR person was hired to centralize all coordination between the regions and headquarters and the DOL. A main point of the FAA is trying to get the worker back to work as quickly as possible. Another initiative of the FAA is a system called the WCIS-Workers Compensation Information System. When the system is working, it will electronically send the workers comp claim to the DOL and a claim number should be provided within two days providing there were no errors on the claim. The system should be tested soon using three regions as test sites, and it was mentioned that security encrypting was a problem at this time but it was being addressed. All federal agencies are suppose to have their plans completed and submitted by January 24, but at the first telecon it was said that the FAA will have to ask for an extension beyond this date. I will try to keep you updated in the next newsletter as to the outcome of these telecons.
HEALTH GRAM
Hepatitis C is a slow-moving but serious viral disease. It can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer if not treated properly. Treatment is most often a combination of interferon alpha which stimulates the immune system and an antiviral compound. There is a home test to check for hepatitis C which is now available at your local drug store for approximately $70, over the phone (888) 888-HEPC, or on the web at www.homeaccess.com. The test consists of taking a blood sample on the filter paper provided and then mailing it in to the appropriate laboratory that tests for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus. Test results are usually available 4-10 days after the test is received.
SAFETY CLIPS
Fatigued Drivers Cause Collisions
A recent report by the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research claims that fatigued workers contribute to about 15,000 deaths and 40,000 injuries that result from car collisions each year. Of those groups who are at highest risks include shift workers. More than 15 million people work non-daytime shifts. So if you are a shift worker, please try to keep a regular schedule for sleep, excercise, and proper nuitrition.
Smoke Detectors Save Lives
Properly installed and maintained smoke detectors can alert you to the presence of smoke. Recommendations include:
- Place at least one smoke detector on every level of your house and near sleeping areas.
- Replace smoke detectors that are more than ten years old.
- Keep smoke detectors away from heating and cooling ducts and at least 6 inches away from where the ceiling and walls meet.
- Replace batteries at least every 6 months.
Possible Fire Hazard
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that General Electric has recalled 3.1 million dishwashers with faulty switches that could cause a fire. Recalled models include GE and Hotpoint units with the model numbers GSD500D, GSD500G, GSD540, HDA467, HDA477, or HDA487. The recalled models also have a serial number that includes a second letter of A, M, R, S, T, V, or Z. For more information, call (800) 599-2929 or go to GE at website www.geappliancerecall.com.
NOTE Testing OASIS
Tal Haley, OASIS Representative, AOO AFSS
I recently attended a work group on the (NOTE) National Operation Testing and Evaluation of OASIS. The OASIS has improved, but it still has a long way to go.. The promised alert improvement, list improvement, and search improvement needs to be accomplished. The system at least needs the ICAO improvements before a facility with a larger flight plan area should get it. The following are notes on my participation in the work group.
Introduction and explanation of the change in the NOTE process this time around. Regression testing of some of the previous PTR's (Program Trouble Reports) found in the OASIS CHI (Human Interface), a total of 55. Regression testing was conducted during the first week to both familiarize the NOTE team and to validate the corrected PTR's. The second week was devoted to testing of the system with new functionality tests.
The regression testing was able to confirm the majority of OASIS CHI, outstanding (PTR's) were corrected. However there were 12 not validated with issuance of 2 new PTR's. During the regression testing I did notice many improvements in the system over last years version. The development of a one page FP mask, a better Flight Workspace (50 of them), and view sequences are the some of the improvements.
The testing of the new procedures started with development of view sequences and setting up graphics for briefing. This test was to be with full load from WMSCR. WMSCR crashed at 2arn and the people assigned to watch did not know how to restart. WX load started at 8am, this did not effect the charts, however it was impossible to compare current data to displayed charts. View sequences are not able to handle winds aloft, SUA's or NOTAMs. The VS are able to dynamically show WX and also can be sent by service B to another facility.
Next, I was in support of FD. The General Facility Message (GFM) list could not be cleaned up, as some messages have to be deleted in a certain order, to allow them to be removed. The Wx data list was impossible to be kept clean, as in a 12hr period over 700 messages were logged on it. The WX data list should be improved by the development of a new WMO (similar to AWP) header's list for the facility database. The next problem was in SAR procedures. OASIS was not able to detect a logged brief done with in a minute of a search request. Harris personnel indicated they would work on this problem. Last FD problem was in EVR (also acts as DD file), a message on the GFM list. involved in a SAR was erased and while the EVR did show the specialists looking at it, it did not show him erasing it.
Pre-flight was tested with the loading of several flightplans to give the system a load test based on prestored FPs. The load test filled with the loss of 18 FPs on the first test. The second test successfully transferred the FPs, but the roger system broke down and most were left on the suspense list as un-rogered. The system was only given 25 FPs in prestored format. The system is still unable to handle most ICAO flightplans, which is to be corrected in ECP-3 (method of labeling software versions).
In-flight was an improvement over last year, but it is the biggest change of SOP for the specialist. The test was in a bad WMSCR load and it was very easy to bog down the in-flight specialist. The system will take a lot of training and practice and it will take time to learn to use in-flight effectively.
SWA Pilot Praises Flight Service
Forwarded thru Mark Boberick, AALRegDir
Dear Mr. Boberick,
I am a pilot with Southwest Airlines and recently got some great service from Nashville Radio while at the BNA Int'l Airport. Memphis ARTCC was down for radar and just coming back up. We (the company) had filed a clearance several times and we couldn't get it out of the system. When we called Radio we had been waiting about 25 minutes. The customers were getting a little restless. We started to taxi out and had a clearance in 40 seconds!!! Unbelievable to say the least.
The reason for writing is to ask if you have a listing of FSS around the country. I thought it would be a good handy piece of information for our pilots at Southwest. I have seen several copies of you Flight Watch High Altitude frequency handouts and wanted to know if there was one for FSS. If one exists how can I get a bunch to put in the pilot lounges of several domiciles? Could we get copies of both handouts? ( I realize that is being greedy!) Thanks for the assistance and tell the guys & gals in BNA we were very impressed with the super service.
Sincerely,
David Patton, Captain, Southwest Airlines
Looking for Former
Alaskan Level II Employees
The Alaska region is attempting to contact
former GS-10 FSS Employees assigned
to AAL Level II FSS's on or after 4/18/96.
Please contact Regional
Director Mark Boberick at: [email protected]
or 443-280-0397.
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