“John Carr is grasping at straws,” FAA spokesman Geoffrey Basye told AVweb on Tuesday. “The FAA remains at impasse in its contract negotiations with NATCA.” Basye said the FAA already has spent more than nine months in negotiations at a cost to the taxpayers of $2.3 million, and the two sides remain far apart on pay and work rules. The decision to declare impasse is “in accordance with the procedures Congress established in 1996,” he said. Congress has 60 days to review the proposal. “The clock is ticking. Congress can act on it, or the clock can run out. It’s out of our control now,” Basye said. If the clock runs out, the last offer will stand. “The FAA could not accept a proposal that mortgages the agency’s ability to modernize our aviation system and hire the next generation of controllers and safety inspectors,” Basye said.
FAA Reiterates Impasse Position
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA has declared an impasse in its contract negotiations with NATCA, citing significant disagreements on pay and work rules.
- The FAA believes NATCA's proposals would hinder the agency's ability to modernize the aviation system and hire new controllers and safety inspectors.
- The matter now goes to Congress for a 60-day review period; if no action is taken, the FAA's last offer will stand.
See a mistake? Contact us.
