Amid ATC Delays, NATCA Urges Against ‘Sickouts’

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), stressing that it does not condone federal employees participating in a coordinated activity that could harm capacity in the National Airspace System, has urged members to “avoid any actions that could reflect poorly on you, our union or our professions.”

The statement comes amid reports of temporary tower closure and delays that occurred at multiple U.S. airports—including those in Nashville, Dallas, Chicago, and Burbank—due to staffing issues caused by sick callouts. Air traffic controllers are among those exempt from furlough during the government shutdown, but are expected to work without pay. In 2019, controller “sickouts” were partially credited to the ending of a 35-day shutdown.

NATCA has repeatedly urged lawmakers to avoid a shutdown and is now appealing for the reopening of the government. NATCA president Nick Daniels stressed this during a press conference with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy this week. “We need to bring this shutdown to a close so that the FAA and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction aside and focus completely on their vital work,” Daniels said. “This work includes fulfilling Secretary Duffy's goals of accelerating the hiring of air traffic controllers and modernizing our air traffic control system. Both of these initiatives are long overdue and require our immediate and full attention. We do not have the luxury of time to waste on the unnecessary distractions created by this shutdown.”

However, NATCA also this week overlaid a message on its webpage that it “does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS, or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent. Air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals take their responsibility to protect the safety of the flying public very seriously.”

It noted that such job actions are not only illegal but also undermine NATCA’s credibility and weaken its ability to advocate for controllers. “We must also recognize that in the current political climate, federal employees are under heightened scrutiny,” NATCA also warned.