The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS) represents approximately 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees throughout the United States and in several foreign locations. The largest PASS bargaining unit is the Air Traffic Organization Technical Operations unit, consisting of technical employees (systems specialists, electronics technicians and computer specialists) who install, maintain, repair and certify the radar, navigation and communication systems making up the air traffic control system.

The FAA has introduced a plan to modernize the National Airspace System (NAS) through development and deployment of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Although the FAA estimates a target date of 2025 to realize the full benefits of NextGen, it is starting to execute ideas and plans related to the new system. As the FAA continues on this path, it is critical that the men and women responsible for maintaining, certifying and protecting this country’s aviation system be meaningfully involved at every point in the process.

Prior to 2003, PASS worked closely with the FAA in its efforts to modernize the NAS. Involving the employees who use and operate the systems in the development of those systems greatly improves the final product and inevitably saves the agency money. Yet, in approximately 2003, the FAA began to systematically eliminate PASS’s participation.

At a 2008 hearing before the House Committee on Science and Technology, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) emphasized the importance of involving FAA stakeholders, such as FAA technicians, in the implementation of any new project, stressing that stakeholders will play a key role in implementing NextGen. In fact, the GAO specifically stated that PASS technicians are not playing a large enough role. “Although air traffic controllers and technicians will be responsible for a major part of the installation, operations, and maintenance of the systems that NextGen will comprise, our work has shown that these stakeholders have not fully participated in the development of NextGen. Insufficient participation on the part of these employees could delay the certification and integration of new systems and result in increased costs, as we have seen in previous ATC [air traffic control] modernization efforts.” [1]

Along with the incredible technical expertise that PASS members offer the FAA, they also provide an independent view of the FAA’s program management. These employees possess the skills and field experience needed to identify problems before the systems are deployed, and the FAA needs this expertise in order to field systems that are cost effective and safely meet the operational requirements of the NAS.

Congressional Action Requested

Section 205 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R. 915) and Section 321 of the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Act (S. 1451) both include language requiring the FAA to collaborate with FAA unions in planning, development and deployment of air traffic control modernization projects including NextGen. As such, PASS supports this language.