ATCA

10/14/2026

Just one day after U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called on Congress to pass the Modern Skies Act upon its introduction in both the U.S. Senate and House, we were honored to welcome Secretary Duffy to our 40th anniversary Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award Soirée at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Secretary Duffy helped us honor our award recipient, his longtime friend and former Congressional colleague, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves.

The occasion – and the venue – were the perfect backdrops to recognizing the historic legislation that, if passed and signed into law, would complete the funding needed to finish the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS). It comes one year after Chairman Graves’ leadership was instrumental in providing $12.5 billion as a critical first step in the work to build BNATCS – a top priority for government and the air traffic management industry that ATCA represents.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Chairman Graves for more than 15 years going back to my days in Congress,” Duffy said. “I couldn’t be more grateful for his friendship and partnership over the years. Chairman Graves is a champion for our airspace. His district loves him. The industry loves him. No one has done more to drive for change of how we build a brand new air traffic control system than Sam.”

10/08/2026

🤩 We’re still riding an emotional high after last week’s 40th anniversary Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award Soirée, held for the second straight time at the awe-inspiring National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

It was a wonderful occasion to present our highest honor to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy joining us to celebrate Chairman Graves’ remarkable career as one of the most influential aviation advocates in modern Congressional history.

“I’m truly grateful to be only the third Member of Congress to receive the Air Traffic Control Association's Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award,” Chairman Graves said. “Aviation is a passion of mine and something I’ve worked tirelessly to strengthen, so this award is incredibly humbling.

“Named after one of the fathers of the U.S. air traffic control system, the award is on permanent display in the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, and I’m thrilled to have my name added to it. Thank you to ATCA for this incredible honor!”

In the photo with Chairman Graves on stage are previous Glen Gilbert Award winners Dan Elwell, Frank L. Frisbie, P.E., Teri Bristol, and Michael Huerta.

10/07/2026

09/24/2026

ATCA President and CEO Stephen Creamer’s message yesterday on a workforce panel at the Regional Airline Association (RAA) Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., was simple:

🎯 The technology entering the system is our best chance to make training outcomes consistent, measurable, and faster – and ATCA members are building it now.

The discussion, moderated by Erik Strickland, RAA’s Vice President of Safety, Operations and Regulatory Affairs, centered on how the industry is developing and retaining a high-quality workforce. Training approaches and strategies to improve retention were emphasized.

"As a trainee, I got a lot out of a few of my instructors and not much from the rest,” said Creamer, a former air traffic controller. “Today's technology can take the luck out of training. AI-assisted replays show every student exactly where they varied from the handbook, so instructors can coach to it."

Creamer also made these points:

◘ We need to get engagement early, keep them engaged, and feeling respected.
◘ AI-enhanced tools offer opportunity for more consistent training outcomes, and for new engagement opportunities with pilots as they work to controller certification. The combined training between pilots and controllers would mean that they get a chance to practice with each other.
◘ We need to offer them the opportunities to be exposed to other diverse experiences as part of their work experience throughout their career.

09/23/2026

President and CEO Stephen Creamer represented ATCA this week at the 45th FAA Managers Association Convention and Managing the Skies Expo in Orlando, Fla.

It’s a critical time for everyone at the Federal Aviation Administration, including the more than 1,500 FAAMA-represented managers and supervisors across the National Airspace System (NAS).

Training, preparation, and working together with FAA leadership and integrators to modernize the NAS was on everyone’s minds as discussion surrounding the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) took center stage:

🔦 A spotlight on FAA managers and supervisors’ role in leading the change in the field for BNATCS

❗️Emphasis on the importance of effectively leading the training process, particularly the workforce training stream and the BNATCS training stream

👑 Leading through change management, focusing on structured steps, timelines, project plans, and task ex*****on

09/22/2026

👀 LOOKING AHEAD TO 2027 👀

We’re already planning our two signature events in 2027 and we invite you to add these to your aviation calendars and join us!

📌 ATCA Technical Symposium | April 27-29, 2027
The NAS We Can Build: Turning Modernization into Operational Possibility

Join us at the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center and Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City for a dynamic program focused on the technologies shaping the future of aviation. Registration opening soon.

Visit our ATCA Tech webpage for information about sponsorship opportunities and hotel reservations: https://www.atca.org/tech-symposium

📌 ATCA Connect | Fall 2027

We’re bringing this event back to Washington, D.C., with a renewed focus on getting industry leaders together to exchange ideas, build connections, and tackle the issues shaping the future of air traffic management. More announcements coming soon about exact dates, speakers, sessions, and sponsorship opportunities.

09/22/2026

ATCA is a proud member of the Modern Skies Coalition Steering Committee.

Upgrading our ATC system requires significant federal investment, as safety for all deserves nothing less. Tell congress now is the time to modernize our skies.

09/21/2026

🚨 SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT! 🚨

🏆 We’re excited to announce that U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will attend the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award Soirée on Sept. 29 at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. He will deliver remarks as we honor our award recipient, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves.

Secretary Duffy has known Chairman Graves for more than 15 years, going back to their shared time in Congress.

✨ Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available! More information on both here: https://www.atca.org/glen-a-gilbert-memorial-award

09/18/2026

The Runway SAFE-T Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and supported by ATCA, passed the Senate Commerce Committee this week.

The bill would strengthen airport surface safety, improve training and technology for ground vehicle operators, and aim to reduce runway incursions and other surface safety incidents. It now will head to the Senate floor.

ATCA has long championed stronger runway safety standards, and we are proud to support the Runway SAFE-T Act. Preventing runway incursions, one of aviation's top safety risks, requires both trained personnel and the right technology.

Introduced in August, bill aims to improve airport vehicle training and expand the use of surface safety technology.

09/16/2026

ATCA President and CEO Stephen Creamer is at NATCA Communicating for Safety (CFS) in Las Vegas this week. It’s an important gathering of air traffic controllers, Federal Aviation Administration officials, and ATCA members from across the air traffic management industry exhibiting to attendees at a pivotal time in the effort to modernize with the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS).

The success of BNATCS is going to be directly tied to how effectively we as an industry can come together and address the biggest challenges we’ve ever faced.

Controllers play a pivotal role in this. NATCA Program Management Organization Dan Hamilton said during ATCA Tech last spring, “This is the time where you really have to refine that relationship between the controller and the machine.”

This week at CFS, that relationship is one of the key topics being discussed.

"I’m at CFS because moving fast and safely starts with conversations like the ones happening here between ATCA members and the controllers who run the system every day," Creamer said.