The Next Rep, 2022 Spot Leave, and 1330B

C Area,

Acting Rep

After discussing it with Amy, Drew, Devin, Kieth, and myself.  Starting next year Devin will be the acting rep until Kieth is re-certified in the area.  The intent behind this is to provide us with a rep that’s in the area while Kieth is in a training status and help with bridging the transition from the end of my term to Kieth’s appointment/term. I will still try to help where I can in a limited acting alternate rep role during this interim.  Moving forward, Carly will still handle NATCA’s responsibility with our schedule.

Spot Leave

Currently we can’t open the schedule for future non-published spot leave requests until we’re done bidding all rounds for CPCs and Trainees. As soon as we’re done bidding, we’ll coordinate a time with management to open up the schedule for everyone. Just to be clear, any spot leave request made for future non-published schedules will be deleted and we’ll have to re-enter any requests made.  

1330B

In case there’s any confusion with web schedule’s 1330B shift.  It is a 10 minute beginning of shift flex.  Meaning we can sign in anytime during that 10 minute window (1320 to 1330). In the past some of you may remember we had 1330NF shifts that allowed a 10 minute beginning of shift flex.  This shift was changed in web schedule to 1330B to differentiate it from the 16NF and 0000NF shifts that are true no flex shifts.

Thanks

James Darlington

C Area Rep

904-347-3065

All Members Meeting Friday

C Area,

Just a reminder there is an all members meeting tomorrow with our RVP Alex Navarro at 10am in the East/West conference room and virtually.

TELCON INFO:

Friday, November 19th @1000 PST

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)

+1 253-240-0613,,335054440# United States, Tacoma

Phone Conference ID: 335 054 440#

Round 3 and AWS

C Area,

Just a heads up, we should be able to start round 3 later tonight.

Carly has offered to help with recurring shift swaps and AWS requests. Below I’ve attached the form we’ll need to put the requests together and present to management. If you’re interested please fill it out and give it to Carly before this Thanksgiving.

Click Here for Recurring Shift Swap and AWS form

Please feel free to reach out with any questions

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Trainee Round 2 2022 BWS

C Area,

We’ve agreed to keep 2 slots per day year round for the trainees. Should be able to start round 2 later tonight or tomorrow at the latest.

Thanks

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Quick Update

C Area,

I was hoping to have an update today on round 2 leave slots for trainees and shift swap/AWS forms for 2022 but unfortunately there is a slight delay. Expect more on those later this week.

Thanks

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

2022 BWS Leave Slot Redistribution

C Area,

We’ve finished redistributing the CPC leave slots, and the gist is we moved 37 slots in total.

Reduced slots in part of February for IST, September for refresher training, part of July, and August.

We were able to add those slots back around mid winter break, a few around spring break, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a some other holidays.

We tried to add some more slots around spring break but due to data-com training next year we weren’t able to add more. We ended up agreeing to leave it at 3 slots rather than reduce or add more as a compromise.

Exact dates listed below.

Reduced

Feb 6th to 19th (IST)

July 16th and 17th

July 23rd

July 29th and 30th

August 1st to 3rd

August 8th and 9th

August 14th

August 20th to 26th

September 19th to 23rd (refresher)

Added

Feb 20th to 26th

March 22nd and 23rd

March 26th

March 29th and 30th

May 30th

Oct 10th

Oct 29th to 31st

Nov 11th

Nov 20th to 23rd

Nov 25th and 26th

Dec 18th to 24th

Dec 26th to 31st

We should be able start round 2 for CPCs sometime this evening.

Still finalizing a few things with before we can start round 2 for trainees, but should have more updates on that this weekend.

If there are any questions please feel free to give me a call.

Thanks

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Trainee Line Adjustment 2022 BWS

C Area,

Due to an oversight on my part we’ll be bidding 8 R-Side lines and 1 D-side instead of what I sent out previously. The 8th R-Side line will go to Wed/Thur. Specifics below.

8 R-Side lines with 1 on every crew but 2 on Wed/Thur

1 D-Side lines on Sat/Sun

All trainee line shift start times will be 1500, 1330NF, 0800, 0700, 0700

We’re working on updating bidATC and should be resuming the bid in the near future

If you have any questions please feel free to give me a call anytime

Thanks

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Trainee Lines 2022 BWS

C Area,

I don’t have an exact date on when we’ll start bidding trainee lines but we’re hoping to start sooner than later.

Unless there are any last minute changes, expect the trainee lines as follows

7 R-Side lines with 1 on every crew

2 D-Side lines with 1 on Sat/Sun and 1 on Wed/Thur

All trainee line shift start times will be 1500, 1330NF, 0800, 0700, 0700

If you have any questions please feel free to give me a call anytime

Thanks

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

2022 Schedule Update

C Area,

Before we start bidding wanted to update the previous posted schedule for anyone to reference. Everything should be up to date in bid ATC as well, but if there are any changes before we start bidding I’ll let you know.

We’re basically going with the 34 line schedule that has 1330NFs (with a 10 min flex) all week that was posted in the previous update with 2 minor changes. The 1600s on Saturday are changed to 16NF rather than just noted as 16NFs, and only the two 16NFs and one 1530 are highlighted to rotate each week with a note covering the rotatoin. Outside of that, everything else is the same.

Click here for the 2022 schedule

Once we’re done with round 1 for CPCs we’ll start bidding trainees and I’ll have a trainee schedule sent out beforehand.

If there are any questions please let me know.

Thanks

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

SGET and C Area Meeting

C Area,

SGET

There is a SGET detail posted by the ART computer to build scenarios for data comm. The solicitaions lists it’s for anyone that is SGET certified but there may be a possibility to get a waver for this if anyone is interested. Please let myself or your supervisor know if you have any questions or are interested.

C Area Only Local Meeting

Tomorrow (October 6th) at 1:00pm local Amy, Drew, and myself will be hosting a C Area only meeting to cover the details and process for appointing the next C Area rep.

This will be a great opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns.

The meeting will be both virtual and in person at work in the QC conference room, again on October 6th at 1:00pm local.

Click here for the virtual meeting link.

Thanks 

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Article 5s, schedules, C Area meeting

C Area,

Article 5s

There are two solicitations by the ART computer, one is for IST and the other is for data comm.  The exact dates are on the sheets.  If you have any questions and/or are interested please let me or your supervisor know.

2022 Schedule 

We are not complete with schedule negotiations so this is subject to change.

I wanted to post the last 2 proposed schedules we are negotiating.

The only difference between the two is 1400s or 1330NFs on the weekends.

All 1330NFs will have a 10 minute flex like we had in years past.

Besides 1330NFs replacing 1400s for briefings the other somewhat bigger guideline changes is having 3 1500s and 2 1600s instead of the current 2 1500s and 3 1600s.  

Saturday swing will have 1 1530 and 2 1600NF shifts that will rotate.

Overall guidelines largely remain the same with some date adjustments to the summer and winter guides.

Again these are subject to change and expect more to follow.

Click here for proposed schedule A

Click here for proposed schedule B

C Area Only Local Meeting 

On October 6th at 1:00pm local Amy, Drew, and myself will be hosting a C Area only meeting to cover the details and process for appointing the next C Are rep.

This will be a great opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns.

The meeting will be both virtual and in person at work, again on October 6th at 1:00pm local.

We’re trying to book the east West conference room or the QC conference room.  Once we have a room booked I’ll send out an update.

Click here for the virtual meeting link.

Thanks 

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

General Updates

C Area,

Unfortunately I don’t have any official news on next year’s schedule or when we’ll be bidding. I’m hoping to have more of an update in the coming weeks. However, one of the bigger proposed guide changes we made was to swap the number of 1500s and 1600s. Our proposal is to have 3 1500s and 2 1600s instead of the current 2 1500s and 3 1600s.

The A Area has asked me to send out an update to everyone requesting RNT arrivals on the CHINS forced down to FL240 instead of pilot’s discretion to FL240. This is due to the restriction to cross RADDY at 110 which is not published on the plate. There is a NOTAM out to address this but sometimes pilots miss it and aircraft end up high at RADDY. The plan is to update the CHINS arrival to show this new crossing restriction at RADDY for RNT arrivals but I don’t know when that will be published. For now, it’s just a request to start them down if we can.

Lastly, if anyone has any questions or are interested in being C Area rep next year please let me know.

Thanks

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

PP21 and PP22 adjustments

C Area,

With airlines canceling flights and traffic projected to drop off after labor day we have agreed to publish PP21 (starts 9-26) M-F Day -1 (at 10).  Also, all of PP22 will be published at winter/off-peak guides. If there are traffic increases or other changes we have agreed to revisit this.

Schedule negotiations for 2022 are taking place.  Expect updates on 2022 guides, lines, etc once finalized.  Unfortunately, at the moment we don’t have an exact date on when we’ll start bidding.  Thanks in advance for your patience on this.

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

New ZLC LOA Changes Coming

C Area,

As many of you are already aware we’ve been trying to address ZLC ZSE Seattle routing for a while now. The gist of the changes are as follows but expect to be officially briefed by management this week if you haven’t been already with more details and effective dates. 

Seattle turbojet aircraft south of Q152 (think near J16) will be routed no further than PDT on the CHINS arrival.  No more direct SUNED without an apreq from ZLC.  This should include aircraft from 16 on the CHINS as well.  There will be some exceptions if ZLC is giving us in-trail spacing that will be covered in the LOA further. 

Seattle turbojet aircraft north of Q152 (again think near J16) will be routed no further than MLP on the GLASR arrival.  There is an exception that ZLC 20/19 can route Seattle turbojet aircraft direct GEG if they are north of MLP.  This change should help alleviate the departure arrival conflictions we see today when aircraft are direct TEMPL from 48.

We also added control for speeds.

Lastly, I’d like to thank the airspace office (Paul) and our C-Area airspace supe (Eric) for all their support with these changes.

If there are any questions please feel free to reach out.

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Transitioning to full MOU guidelines

C Area,

In somewhat consideration with the national email for facilities that are still 5x5 to go back to BWS by June 6th, we have agreed to go back to full MOU guidelines by the middle of PP13.

To start the PP, we agreed to -1 of MOU guides in the first week on M-F day and swing to help ease the transition into full MOU guides by the second week of PP13.

To be clear, weekends and the second week of PP13 are full MOU guides.

I’ve attached a copy of our 2020 MOU with guidelines below.  And, just as a reminder due to national COVID requirements these guidelines were carried over from 2020 to 2021 with no changes.

Summer guides are as follows 

M-F Day 11, Swing 9

Sat Day 10, Swing 8

Sun Day 10, Swing 9

Winter guides are as follows 

M-F Day 10, Swing 9

Sat Day 9, Swing 8

Sun Day 9, Swing 9

Click here for the 2020 MOU with guidelines

Click here for the 2021 MOU

If there are any questions please feel free to reach out.

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Quick Update

C Area,

There are two article 5 solicitations next the the sign in computer. One is for tech refresh which involves training controllers on new equipment. The other is for an R-Side class in the training departing starting sometime in August. Expect more information to be posted in CEDAR regarding both of these but if you are interested or have any questions please let me or your supervisor know.

Route Channelization Order change idea. It came up in conversation to release control to the B Area for speeds and in return we would get control for speeds. Nothing is offically in the works right now, but if there are any concerns to this idea please let me know.

Lastly, if anyone is interested in filing an AWS request please let me know.

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Guideline Update

C Area,

Starting PP11 (May 9th) we have agreed to raise the Mon-Fri guide on both the day and swing by 1.  This is for anticipated traffic increases as we get further out of the pandemic and closer to the summer.

The updated guides are as follows 

Mon-Fri Day 9 Swing 8

Sat Day 8 Swing 6

Sun Day 8 Swing 7

For reference, this is basically -2 on the day and -1 on the swing of MOU guides.

Expect the guides to be continually evaluated with regards to future traffic increases. 

If there are any questions, please feel free reach out to me.

Thanks 

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

General Updates

C Area,

Training

In the next few weeks the training supplement will be amended so that we can officially train on C-High.  All 4 sectors will need to be in the training plan in order to do this. One way I see this working, someone is already training on 7/11 and is close to a check ride.  The entire training team (which includes the trainee, OJTIs, and supe) can agree to add the other high sectors so the trainee can get some exposure to C-High before being certified on 7/11.  Again, that’s just one way but the key is the decision is up to the entire training team.

MIA map testing during a check ride is currently on hold until NATCA and management can discuss ways to address MIA awareness.

EA

Under BWS there still is the possibility to be go home early on spot EA. Starting tomorrow (Sunday) we will have a paper EA tracker broken up into 15 minute increments by the headset boxes. We will be policing this ourselves and there is no management involvement in tracking EA. The idea is, when EA is available anyone can check the tracker to see who has the least amount that is up to go home early. Once that person is approved to go home early they (or someone else) will mark each 15 minute box they were able to leave early.

If there are any questions please let me know.

James Darlington 

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Transitioning Back To BWS

C Area,

We’ll be transitioning back to BWS (Basic Watch Schedule) between March 24th to March 27th and basically back on BWS by March 28th.

In order to make this the most amicable and equitable transition feasible, we’ll basically go from a 5 on and 5 off schedule prior to the 24th.  Then a 2 on and 2 off schedule March 24th to March 27th.  And, finally BWS on March 28th.

This means the end of PP7 (that’s already published) will be adjusted and is currently being worked on. After PP8 is published we’ll need to go back and check PP7 in web schedule for our updated schedule.

The reasoning behind going from 5x5 to 2x2 to BWS allows us to keep RDOs from being split as much as feasible, and reduces the number of people with a 6 day work week, which can naturally happen during a transition from one set of RDOs to another.  Transitioning this way also mitigates someone going from working 5 days on a COVID schedule, 1 RDO, and 5 days on BWS.

We’re still discussing how EA will look on BWS.  The hope is we can get a certain number of people approved on EA the night before their next shift and/or people to be sent home early.

Lastly, we are still trying to address training on C High, certification MIA testing, and the ZLC LOA.  Expect more to follow on those.

If there are any questions or concerns with the schedule transition please feel free to reach out to Carly or myself.

Thanks for everyone’s understanding and patience with this process.

James Darlington

NATCA C Area Rep

904-347-3065

Looming BWS

C Area,

Wanted to let everyone know we’re discussing going back to BWS (Basic Watch Schedule or 5x2) anywhere from sometime in March to sometime in April.
Part of the discussion(s) include bid leave, and anticipated traffic increases.
Personally, I’d prefer to take more of a wait and see approach with how things develop traffic wise but we also can’t be in a position to where we’re unable to staff to traffic as it increases. As we all know, BWS is ultimately inevitable and may happen sooner than later.
To be clear, no official date at this point has been set just wanted to update everyone that the conversation is taking place.
Expect a more detailed update when a date to return to BWS has been determined.

Also, we haven’t finalized any C Area EA when we go back to BWS, but it’s my understanding it’s still a possibility.

Thanks

James Darlington
NATCA C Area Rep
904-347-3065