The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has reacted angrily to Acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell’s comment at EAA AirVenture that it would “cost a billion dollars to give NATCA what they want” in a new contract with the agency. NATCA President Patrick Forrey told AVweb the union has met all the FAA’s financial goals set in previous negotiations. “The acting administrator’s comments Thursday, putting a ridiculous $1 billion price tag on Congress’ bipartisan attempts to restore fairness to the collective bargaining process are downright laughable and yet another insult to the men and women holding together our troubled air traffic control system under extraordinarily harsh working conditions,” he said. Meanwhile, in an exclusive video interview with Sturgell, AVweb’s Russ Niles touched on a variety of topics of interest to GA.
Sturgell said the biggest issue among pilots he’s spoken with at the show is the high cost of fuel but he also said it didn’t seem to affect attendance at AirVenture. Listen to Sturgell’s views on ADS-B subsidies for aircraft owners, relaxed medical standards and his future at the FAA in this AVweb-only interview.
