women air traff ic controllers hotsheet Autumn...THE women air traff ic controllers hotsheet A Publication of the Professional Women Controllers, Inc. autumn 2012 vol. 6 no. 4 IGNITE

THE

women air traff ic controllers hotsheet

A Publication of the Professional Women

Controllers, Inc.autumn 2012vol. 6 no. 4

IGNITE THE SPARK!Philadelphia 2013 35Th Anniversary Training Conference Preview

03 Changes and Challenges 08 Why? A PWC Elevator Speech 11 INSIGHT: Q&A with Maria Hofbauer

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19 REGIONAL NEWS Great Lakes, Eastern, and New England

Message from the PWC Historian

16 OpERAtION (SAFEE) FLIGht: South Florida Aviators Aircraft Fly-In and Education Expo

Order Manna Gift Cards Now!

15 PWC 2013 Scholarship Application Instructions

PWC 2013 Scholarship Program Application

11 INSIGHT: Q&A with Maria Hofbauer

09 IGNITe THe Spark! Philadelphia 2013 35th Anniversary National Training Conference

women air traffic controllers hot-sheet: a publication of the professional women controllers, inc.autumn 2012 vol. 6 no. 4

03 VIew From THe Tower Changes and Challenges

05 Thank You, PWC and FAA!

PWC Corporate Members

06 PWC 2013 Officer Nomination Form

PWC Awards Program

PWC Award Nomination Form

08 Why? A PWC Elevator Speech

Professional Women Controllers, Inc. P.o. box 950085 oklahoma City, oK [email protected] | www.pwcinc.org

VISIoNProfessional women Controllers aim to achieve a balanced workforce that reflects the demographics of society and creates a safe environment where all air traffic professionals have passion for their career, can excel and feel a sense of community at work.

mISSIoNProfessional women Controllers is a resource that provides support, training, encouragement and camaraderie for all air traffic professionals. PwC advocates balancing work and family life, recruiting and retaining excellent employees, developing people, enjoying work and maintain-ing a positive sense of community.

oFFICerSPresident, Robin RushVice President, Terri watermanSecretary, Aimee wrightDirector of Resources (Treasurer), Tina Santiagomembership Director, Diana Eldridge

reGIoNaL DIreCTorSAlaska Director, VacantCentral Director, Christina CalvertEastern Director, Veronica VaughanGreat lakes Director, Connie AtlagovichNew England Director, Sarah laporte ostranderNorthwest mountain Director, Pam SheelerSouthern Director, VacantSouthwest Director, VacantWestern-Pacific Director, Kate Davis

appoINTeD oFFICerS, proGram maNaGerSweb Page Administrator, Cheryl brewerwATCH Editor, Patty SwenorPublic Affairs Officer, VacantHistorian, Sue TownsendParliamentarian, Constitution

& By-laws, maria HofbauerNational Conference Chair, Rose merchantEducation & Career Development

Program manager, Sandy HolcombElections Committee, Judy Noblemembership & Recruitment Program

manager, Diana EldridgeSales Coordinator, Pat TinerCorporate Recruitment Program manager,

Diana Eldridge2013 Conference Co-Chair, Veronica Vaughan2013 Conference Co-Chair, Jane Kolias2014 Conference Co-Chair, meagan Garmon2014 Conference Co-Chair, maria Hofbauerlogistics Coordinator, PattiAnn Pickhard

The Watch

pUBLISHerKathleen Cummins mifsud

maNaGING eDITorPatty Swenor

CoNTrIBUTorSRobin Rush, meagan Garmon, Karen Pontius, Terri waterman, Veronica Vaughan, maria Hofbauer, Sue mostert Townsend, Connie Atlagovich and Sarah laPorte ostrander

DeSIGNSagetopia, 703.726.6400, www.sagetopia.com

CoVer Rafael lozano-Hemmeropen Air (2012)Courtesy of the Association for Public ArtPhotograph: James Ewing © 2012

The Watch, a benefit of membership in the Professional Women Controllers, Inc., is published quarterly. To become a member, go to www.pwcinc.org.

The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and should not be construed to be the opinion of the Professional women Controllers (PwC). Suggestions and opinions expressed in The Watch are not necessarily endorsed by PwC. Nothing in these pages is intended to supercede operator’s or manufacturer’s policies, practices or requirements, or to supersede government regulations.

© 2012 Professional women Controllers, Inc. All rights reserved.

17 Action on TOP 5 Reduces Major Air Traffic Risks

the wATCH autumn 2012 3

VIEw fRom THE TowER

Greetings, everyone! I hope this finds you all doing very well. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage

everyone to start planning for next year’s conference in Philadelphia from April 8-11, 2013. This conference very likely will be different from years past.

Here’s the background: In July of this year, the Deputy Secretary of Transportation stepped in and directed the FAA not to support training confer-ences of two employee associations, the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE) and the National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE), along with the training conference/conven-tion of the FAA Managers Association (FAAMA).

The Deputy Secretary cited the recent Government Services Administration (GSA) Conference scan-dal and the possible negative impact to the Acting Administrator’s Confirmation Hearings as the reason for his decision. This came as a shock to all of us and caused some extreme hardships to these organizations. It is my understanding that this likely will be the case for future conferences. Let me stress that senior leadership from the FAA and the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) did not agree but had no choice except to follow the Department of Transportation’s direction. Also, all of the association Presidents are working together to try to change this short-sighted direction, and we all agree that our conferences should and will continue.

PLAN NOW FOR 2013 PWC CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA However, in the meantime, early planning is necessary to ensure

your attendance. If nothing changes between now and then, excused absence will not be approved, and employees attending the conference will have to be on Regular Days Off, approved Leave, or a combination of both. Please do not let this deter you. There still will be excellent training provided as well as opportunities to connect with old friends, make new friends and network with colleagues from across the country. The 2013 Conference Committee is hard at work ensuring that the agenda and activities will be top notch. I look forward to seeing you all there.

PWC BOARD MEETS IN CLEVELANDPWC’s Board of Directors met in Cleveland for three days in early September. See page 19 for photos and more details about the meeting. Work continues on our new logo design. Final feedback was submit-ted to our consultant, and the artist is working to incorporate our feed-back and ideas. Unfortunately, we did not receive much participation in the Logo Design Contest. Only one submission was received. However, we have received feedback that a new logo is still warranted and would help modernize PWC and assist with our goals and strategic plan. As soon as your Board of Directors finalizes the design, we will let you know.

LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP (LCD) TESTS CAREER TOOLS WEBSITEMuch work has been accomplished in our Leadership and Career

Changes and ChallengesRobin Rush, President, Professional Women Controllers, Inc.

L to R: Sadie P. Alvarado, President, National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees, and Robin Rush, President, Professional Women Controllers

At the RICk DuChARme RetIRement PARty: Sadie P. Alvarado, President, National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees; Robin Rush, President, Professional Women Controllers; Roosevelt Lenard, President, National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees; and Rich Ducharme, ATO Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Retired.


Development Partnership (LCD). You may remember from my previ-ous articles that this workgroup was established at the request of then Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Rick Ducharme. We have been meeting once a quarter in conjunction with the National Employee Forum.

As a result of our work, a Career Tools website is in test mode and ATO facilities and offices have been picked to pilot the Career Progression Planning tool set. PWC member Kurt Proctor is assisting with the Pilot Program at Salt Lake City Center. If the Pilot Program comes to your facil-ity or office, please take the oppor-tunity to use the tools and provide feedback to ensure a successful launch of the program ATO wide.

Speaking of the LCD, in early August, I attended the NHCFAE National Training Conference in Miami and presented an overview of the newly developed Career Progression and Career Tools web-site to the attendees. They were very excited about the progress the ATO is making in its efforts to provide employees with the best tools for career planning and progression.

During this conference, I also had the opportunity to meet with CTI students from the local area. Together with other FAA employees, we answered questions about our careers and our path to getting here and about what it is like to work for the FAA. It is truly heartwarming to see the excitement and enthusiasm from these future FAA employees. Congratulations to the National Hispanic Coalition on a very successful conference despite the less than ideal circumstances leading up to it.

RICK DUCHARME RETIRESIn late August, I attended Rick Ducharme’s retirement party and what a walk down memory lane it was. Over the years, Rick supported the FAA Employee Associations and truly believed in and fostered diversity and inclusion. He told us that he will continue to be involved in the aviation arena.

As you may know, Rick is an avid golfer. Together with NBCFAE, NHCFAE, NAAN (Native American Alaskan Natives), and TWO (Technical Women’s Organization), we presented Rick with a gift certificate to a Players Tournament Club (TPC) Golf Course of his choice. We wish Rick continued success and happiness in his retirement.

On October 1, 2012, Dulles, Virginia-based Metron Aviation announced the appointment of Rick Ducharme as Executive Vice President of Industry Relations. According to the announcement, “Metron Aviation is privileged to have Rick join the Metron Aviation Executive Team. He is recognized as a forward-thinking and vocal leader of the aviation commu-nity who takes a big picture strategic view toward advancing aviation via key programs such as NextGen. His proven track record of successfully managing high-performing organizations and achieving sustainable results perfectly aligns with Metron Aviation’s mission – to deliver our customers the highest standards of research, mission analysis and systems guided by a deep under-standing of operations and stakeholder needs.” Rick added, “I am delighted to join this robust team and contribute to innovations that will yield operational benefits to improve the quality, effi-ciency and safety of global aviation.”

QUARTERLY FAA EMPLOYEE FORUMIn September, I attended the quarterly Employee Forum. During this meet-ing, we discussed the significant change of direction for Employee Association Conferences with the new Assistant Administrator for Human Resource Management, Carrolyn Bostick. She pro-vided feedback to us regarding the agen-das and the optics of these conferences in today’s tough economic times and tight government budgets. The Employee Forum is working on a business case for our conferences and will present it to Carrolyn. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please let me know.

WELCOME PWC’S NEW AND RENEWED MEMBERSPlease help me welcome the follow-ing new or renewed members: Brandi Nesladek, Doris Dehne, Sylvia Quinn, Vanessa Shiners, Nikki Politis, Kayla Pittman, Stephanie Benton, Travis Mortensen, Priscilla Munoz, Diana Hanley, Kerryaine Yarber-Hiller, Tarah R. Park, Amanda Rose Gorman, Jessica M. Hernandez and Dana T. Guidish.

BEST WISHESCongratulations to Linda Dohrenwend, Supervisor, Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), and longtime member of PWC, on her retirement in August. She is starting a new adventure in New England. We will miss you, Linda!

Congratulations to Shyan Bailey on her successful completion of her performance validations at the Academy. She will report to her new facility, Los Angeles ARTCC. Keep up the hard work, Shyan!

Finally, I want to wish everyone a safe and happy fall/winter season! ✈

On October 1, 2012, Dulles, Virginia-based Metron Aviation announced the appointment of Rick Ducharme as Executive Vice President of Industry Relations.


A s many of you know, I have been an air traffic controller at Orlando International Tower since 2008.

In addition, I was PWC Southern Regional Director for the last two years and attended the last three PWC National Training Conferences.

Just over a year ago, I discovered a lump in my neck. And, before taking test after test, I was quite involved in my career. Ultimately, one test led me to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida and then to surgery to remove my entire thyroid in September 2011. Pathologists discovered incidental cancer and as a result, I lost my medical.

In November 2011, I was informed that I would be on Leave without Pay (LWOP) until I got my medical back. So, beginning with the end of November 2011, I have been home on LWOP with two children under the age of five.

Until my health returns and I can get my medical back, I was and still am at the max amount of hours of leave possible. I reached out to controllers and asked for donations of leave time through the FAA’s Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP) – and, we have been overwhelmed with the response.

“I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUgH.”All of you have worked as hard for your leave as I did, and I know the value of your leave time, too. For that reason, I cannot thank you enough for all the donations I have received thus far through VLTP.

I am very thankful and impressed by the kindness and generosity of the people I work with locally and from FAA people across the nation. I know giving up your own leave is not an easy decision, but I speak for my husband and our two children when I say thank you from the bottom of our hearts! ✈

Thank You, pwC and Faa!By meagan Garmon, PWC 2014 Conference Co-Chair pwC CorporaTe

memBerS • adacel Systems, Inc.

• advanced aTC, Inc

• air Traffic Control association (aTCa)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield association (BCBS)

• The Boeing Company

• Clancy JG International

• Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)

• Crown Consulting, Inc.

• Faa managers association, Inc. (Faama)

• The Federal Long Term Care Insurance program

• GeICo

• Harris Corporation

• Joint Venture Solutions (JVS)

• Livingston Federal employee retirement planning

• Lockheed martin TSS

• mIT Lincoln Labs

• National active and retired Federal employees association (NarFe)

• National Black Coalition of Federal aviation employees (NBCFae)

• National Hispanic Coalition of Federal aviation employees (NHCFae)

• raytheon aTmS and Homeland Security

• robinson aviation, Inc. (rVa)

• The Safety Company, Inc.

• Sensis Corporation

• SerCo management Services

• Sky one Federal Credit Union

• Sra International, Inc.

• Systems atlanta

• Technical women’s organization (Two)

• washington Consulting Group (wCG)

• women in aviationI reached out to controllers and asked for donations of leave time through the FAA’s Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP) – and, we have been overwhelmed with the response.


PROFESSIONAL WOMEN CONTROLLERS, INC. 2013 oFFICer NomINaTIoN Form

This is the year to elect the offices of president, Secretary, membership Director and regional Director for the following regions: alaska, Central, eastern, and

Great Lakes. You may nominate yourself or someone else. The nominee must have the following qualifications for office: president – three (3) consecutive

years of active membership in the Corporation, plus experience with the Corporation’s Board of Directors as either an elected or appointed officer or as a

program manager; Secretary, membership Director and regional Directors – one (1) year of active membership in the Corporation. all nominees must sign

their form for it to be valid. each term of office will be from June 1, 2013 through may 31, 2015. The next election for the office of Vice president, Director

of resources, and the regional Director (New england, Northwest, Southern, Southwest, western-pacific regions) will be april, 2014.

» PLEASE PRINT

I, _________________________________________________________________________, wish to nominate ______________________________________________

for the office of ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(Specify President, Secretary, Membership Director, or Regional Director, including the region)

NomINee’S Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NomINee’S aDDreSS: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NomINee’S pHoNe: Home: ( ) ________________________________________work: ( ) ______________________________________________

SIGNaTUre oF NomINee: ____________________________________________________DaTe: _________________________________________________________

(Nominee must sign to validate/accept nomination)

» INSTRUCTIONS FOR BIO PACKAGE

on a separate sheet of paper, respond to the items below. The information you provide will be used as part of the ballot package. Type answers (double-

spaced) and spell out any unusual contractions. Be brief but complete. Questions 1 through 3 shall be in narrative form in the third person. Questions 4

and 5 will be printed as quotes.

1. Nominee’s Faa/air Traffic background.

2. Nominee’s organizational (both pwC and others) background.

3. other information nominee considers important. (training, skills, experiences, etc.)

4. “I am interested in becoming/continuing as/returning as a member of the pwC Board of Directors because...”

5. “as a member of the pwC Board of Directors, I would like to ...”

Submit completed nomination form along with narrative statement to the address below to be received by February 15, 2013. The nominee will be sent

an acknowledgement confirming receipt of the nomination.

Judy noble, elections Chair

1001 n. Vermont St. #108

Arlington, VA 22201

[email protected]

NOTE: All newly elected officers will be expected to attend officer transition training on the second day of the Board of Director’s meeting following

the National Training Conference. When signing this nomination form, you agree to make a good faith effort to attend this training if elected. Also,

candidates should discuss their interest in holding elected office with their Manager to ensure support is available for the required duties and travel


T he Awards Program is an effort to highlight the unique contributions our mem-bers make to the Agency and our Organization, both nationally and regionally. Nominations will be accepted from any PWC member. Nominations shall be in

writing and contain appropriate supporting documentation including background, work history and PWC mission correlation. Awards will be presented only when qualified candidates are found and may not necessarily be awarded each year. Award nominations shall be submitted to the Vice President, postmarked/emailed no later than February 15, 2013. All awards will be presented at the PWC National Training Conference.

(Note: Only the President may nominate an Honorary Member. The PWC Board of Directors will determine the selection of the nominee.)

pWC pROFESSIONAL OF thE YEAR AWARdThis award is PWC’s top award category. The individual shall have been a member of PWC for at least three years. The individual shall have demonstrated by words and actions, exceptional incentive, great motivation, and superior accomplishments in achieving PWC goals and ideals. Nominations shall include specific documentation to support such actions and deeds. Recipient shall not have received this award within the past five years.

pWC pRESIdENt’S AWARdIndividuals shall be outstanding PWC members who have demonstrated support for the President above and beyond the norm. The specific criteria for this decision are solely at the discretion of the President. Up to two people per year may receive this award. Recipients may receive this award in consecutive years.

pWC NAtIONAL COmmENdAtION AWARd The National Commendation Award may be given to an individual or a group. This award may be presented each year for achievement in any of the following areas:

1. PWC Recruitment

2. Supporting EEO/Diversity programs

3. Education/Outreach

4. Superior service and support for PWC

5. Volunteerism in aviation related activities

A maximum of three National Commendation Awards may be given annually.

pWC REGIONAL dIRECtOR’S AWARdIndividuals shall be outstanding PWC members who have demonstrated support for their Regional Director above and beyond the norm. The specific criteria for this decision are solely at the discretion of each Regional Director. Each Regional Director may present one award per year. ✈

pwC awarDS proGram

professional women controllers, inc.

award nomination form

Name oF NomINee

awarD CaTeGorY

FaCILITY/reGIoN

NomINaTeD BY

JUSTIFICaTIoN (be specific):

Use additional pages if necessary.

ForwarD CompLeTeD NomINaTIoNS To pwC VICe preSIDeNT. SeND aN emaIL reQUeST To [email protected] For THe CUrreNT SUBmISSIoN aDDreSS.

DeADLIne: nomInAtIonS muSt Be PoStmARkeD no LAteR thAn FeBRuARy 15, 2013.


A mentor once told me to always have an “elevator speech” in my pocket to respond to questions such as:

“What do you do?” or “Why do you do what you do?”

After being sworn in as PWC Vice President, I began thinking about the “Why?” And recently, I’ve spent some time re-reading and thinking about PWC’s Mission statement to make certain that I could clearly verbalize why I am a PWC member.

Membership in any employee orga-nization is something I equate to joining a professional club or organization. You don’t just perform your job requirements – you also learn about managing social interactions and expanding your experi-ences outside of work. Community-based organizations can help you develop the work/life balance that is so important as you grow older.

PWC has helped me gain a perspec-tive on what working for the FAA encom-passes. As an organization, PWC has broadened my view of where I worked and what others think about what we do. No matter what issue is confronting a facility, it is a comfort to know that I can pick up the phone or turn on the computer and instantly communicate with another FAA employee who not only knows what I am experiencing but who also can give me a fresh perspective on why I am feeling a certain way. In fact, my PWC colleagues can even help me change what I am feeling to something more positive.

For many years, I’ve been going to PWC conferences and have never been disappointed in what I am able to learn. Not every speaker is world famous or the best thing since “sliced bread,” but every year I’ve learned something new, useful or relevant, and I’m proud to take that information back to my facility to share.

The networking that is at the heart of PWC conferences, local meetings or socials is invaluable in motivating us to look at our world differently. Talking to contractors and to FAA managers and FAA customers gives us a deeper insight into the valuable and essential job we perform and keeps us motivated past the daily frustrations of “they don’t know what they’re doing or understand the impact.”

While serving on the PWC Board of Directors, I acquired new skills and abilities through participation in local and national projects that took me light years beyond my FAA job title. These skills, such as administrative and organizational development, leadership, coaching, training development, writing, researching, public speaking and more, served me well as I moved to different jobs with more responsibilities and even into retirement as a consultant.

PWC NEEDS THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF ALL MEMBERSAs PWC Vice President, I hope to continue to grow and contribute, giving back and paying forward new skills and abilities as well as new ways of communicating and working together. But working forward, our organization needs more than just the Board. We need all of our membership actively participating in our future.

We need members of work-groups willing to write white papers or research reports around the work and life issues that are important to us. We need members who step forward to help Regional Directors put on regional/facility training or write newsletters. We basically need more active membership in every area of our organization.

Ours is an organization that proves the phrase, “You get out what you put in.” If you have an interest in develop-ing or working on anything that could benefit PWC, please let your Regional Director know. If you have ideas about how PWC can remain relevant to all of our members, please let us know. All Regional Directors, or any member of the Board of Directors, can be reached from the www.pwcinc.org website.

MY PWC ELEVATOR SPEECHHere is my elevator speech – let me know what you think of it:

“ I actively participate in and continually recruit for Professional Women Controllers – an organization that believes life-work balance, and all the elements that align with it, is essential for a healthy workplace for all employees. I love being a part of an organi-zation that believes all employees should come to work every day knowing that they are capable of great things.” ✈

PWC mISSIon StAtement

pwc is a resource that provides support, training, encouragement, and camaraderie for all air traffic professionals. pwc advocates balancing work and family life, recruiting and retaining excellent employees, developing people, enjoying work, and maintaining a positive sense of community.

a pwC elevator SpeechBy terri Waterman, PWC Vice President


It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 18 months since Philadelphia was selected as the site for PWC’s 35th

Annual Training Conference. We have a great committee and are doing every-thing we can to bring you the best and most innovative conference ever.

Many of you have learned that the FAA (along with other government agencies) has withdrawn support for Employee Association Group confer-ences. What this meant for several conferences this year was that attendees ended up using their own leave to attend, and the FAA did not provide speakers.

While we are continuing to develop an agenda that will be submitted for

training approval in case the FAA reverses their current position, we believe it is prudent to proceed as if the FAA will continue in the current posture of not supporting Employee Association conferences.

There will be people who will be unable to attend, if they have to use their own leave, and that is understand-able. This is not something that anyone expected to happen. However, we believe this is another opportunity for us to demonstrate our solidarity and our com-mitment to PWC’s purpose, our vision and our mission:

PurPose: To encourage women to enter the air traffic control profession;

assist in professional and personal development; maintain accountability, responsibility and professionalism; and promote a better understanding, cooper-ation and coordination among individu-als toward the continual improvement of aviation safety.

Vision: To achieve a balanced work-force that reflects the demographics of society and creates a safe environment where all air traffic professionals have passion for their career, can excel and feel a sense of community at work.

Mission: As a resource that pro-vides support, training, encourage-ment and camaraderie for all air traffic

PWC’s 35th Anniversary National Training Conference

Ignite the Spark!aprIL 8-11, 2013 | SHeraToN SoCIeTY HILL | pHILaDeLpHIaSubmitted by Veronica Vaughan, PWC 2013 Conference Co-Chair


professionals, PWC advocates balancing work and family life, recruiting and retaining excellent employees, developing people, enjoying work and maintaining a positive sense of community.

YOU’LL LOVE THE HISTORIC SHERATON SOCIETY HILL HOTELPWC attendees will be staying at the historic Sheraton Society Hill Hotel, located in the heart of historic Philadelphia. Newly refreshed after a multi-million dollar "www.sheratonso-cietyhillhotel.com/renovation" renovation, the hotel now offers a contemporary space, complete with upgraded ameni-ties, enhanced "www.sheratonsocietyhillhotel.com/Restaurants" Philadelphia restaurants and an open, inviting layout. The hotel is offering a conference rate of $155 per night from Saturday, April 6 through Friday April 12.

Just steps from the Sheraton Society Hill’s front door, you’ll stroll along cobblestone streets and visit America's most historic square mile, which includes such sites as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, Independence Visitors Center and Penn’s Landing, just four blocks

away. Streets surrounding the hotel are filled with world class restaurants, enter-tainment, nightlife and shopping.

PHILADELPHIA – WHERE BIg CITY ExCITEMENT MEETS HOMETOWN CHARMFamous as the birthplace of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Philadelphia offers much more than cobblestone streets and historical land-marks. Cultural, culinary, artistic and ethnic treasures abound in this city and its surrounding countryside.

What makes Philadelphia so memo-rable is its unique blend of experiences that you have to discover in person. By day, explore four centuries of history and architecture, beautiful neighborhoods, remarkable museum collections and end-less shopping. After the sun sets, the city heats up with acclaimed performing arts, amazing dining and vibrant nightlife.

“YOU SAY MORE THAN YOU THINK” Author, media personality and body language expert Janine Driver will deliver the keynote address: You Say More Than You Think: How to Use “The New Body Language” to Get What You

Want. Ms. Driver’s presentation will help people better understand themselves and the impact of their non-verbal commu-nication on others. Attendees will learn how to read others hidden emotions and build better relationships through the use of cutting-edge “New Body Language” communication practices.

Plus, Ms. Driver has generously donated a full tuition scholarship to the Body Language Institute (BLI), a value of $1,495.00 as a silent auction item. According to Ms. Driver, “At BLI we train you in the all-important non-verbal skills needed so that when you walk into a room people pay attention and when you speak, people listen.” For a sneak peak at our keynote speaker, go to www.lyintamer.com!

JOIN US IN PHILADELPHIA!PWC’s 35th Anniversary Conference will have something for everyone. You’ll experience exceptional training and myriad opportunities for learning. The networking and camaraderie are always a large part of our conferences and may be even more important in these new times. Hope to see you there! ✈

AS SHOWN ON THE COVER

“ oPen AIR” PHILADELPHIA is a giant interactive 3-D light installation coming to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for a limited time in Fall 2012. Every night, enormous three-dimensional light formations will light up the night sky as participants use their voices and gPS positions to activate 24 robotic searchlights. The concept reminds us of the 2013 PWC theme, “Ignite the Spark!”

JAmES EwING © 2012; CouRTESy of THE ASSoCIATIoN foR PublIC ART


How is PWC’s mission to provide support, training, encouragement, and camaraderie for all air traffic professionals specifically related to what you do in your personal and professional life? Even though I have received more formal education than anyone would ever need to find a job, PWC has nonetheless supple-mented training gaps in areas that would not appear obviously deficient at first glance. For example, a couple of decades ago, during a PWC training conference, one of the workshop sessions I attended was on how to create an Individual Development Plan (IDP).

After the IDP workshop, I started thinking about how to reconcile my personal goals with my professional goals, which as I expected, turned out to be a daunting task. Like this work-shop, there have been many others throughout the years that have benefit-ted me personally and professionally. Training has included anything and everything, from ‘dressing for

success’ to ‘dealing with difficult people’ to future FAA initiatives.

I routinely share with facility employ-ees, family, and friends, my appreciation for the awareness that these workshops have brought me. So my being a PWC member has been a win-win for everyone that I’ve come in contact with. Many times over, I have been thanked for taking what I learned from the PWC seminars and teaching it to others. One example, Daphne Jefferson, the appointed Administrator for the Office of Financial and Administrative Management for the U.S. Department of Labor, was an ATC Training Specialist and my subordinate once upon a time. Awhile back, Daphne thanked me for being the first to tell her about an IDP. It is rewarding to know that the information I learned from PWC benefitted Daphne, as it has others.

PWC’s mission also includes advo-cating a balanced work and family life, recruitment and retention of excellent employees, development of people, enjoyment of work, and maintaining a

positive sense of community. What PWC activities have you observed

or participated in that support this mission?In my twenties, I was under the impression that I could do it all. Yes, my lofty goals, even though somewhat unrealistic were: FAA Administrator, wife, mother, community

volunteer, religious activist, and marathon runner – concurrently. Well, one of the tidbits I learned along the way from PWC is that success and happiness are not synonymous and most importantly, that to do something very well, you have to give it sufficient time. Had I accomplished all or most of the things listed, I may have been defined as successful by some, but it would not necessarily have guaranteed my personal definition of happiness.

During a PWC seminar I attended years ago, there was a speaker who explained that life (measured in time) was like a delicious pie and the individual slices of the pie are representative of the areas where you choose to invest your time. The catch is that if you make one of the slices fatter, inherently, the other slices will be thinner. This visual representation of life as a pie (with a limited diameter) divided into slices made me realize that dedicating more time to one area of my life would mean that other areas are not receiving sufficient required attention.

This reality check was like a much needed slap on the side of the head with a ‘dah’ statement attached. For me, the key was to consistently focus and give my undivided attention to what mattered most. Which is why today, I have two terrific children, a wonderfully supportive husband, a very rewarding staff job and volunteer my time as PWC Parliamentarian; all the while knowing that after multiple knee surgeries, I will not be a marathon runner nor capable of fast tracking my career enough to be the next FAA Administrator. Yet, I am very happy

InsightQ&a with maria HofbauerWith this issue, The WATCH is initiating a new feature – an in-depth interview with a PWC leader.

Well, one of the tidbits I learned along the way from PWC is that success and happiness are not synonymous and most importantly, that to do something very well, you have to give it sufficient time.


and feel very successful . So yes, a bal-anced work and family life is attainable, and PWC gets that!

PWC encourages women to enter the air traffic control profes-sion and assists members in profes-sional and personal development; in maintaining professionalism; and in promoting cooperation and coordi-nation among individuals toward the continual improvement of aviation safety. In a practical sense, how has this worked for you? I see PWC as a sisterhood of very self- motivated, very bright women who are not afraid to take on the tough chal-lenges. I am a strong proponent of PWC and encourage all women in ATC to collaborate with each other toward each other’s success. Learning from and men-toring each other sometimes helps with the unwritten rules of the job. One of the benefits of establishing a nationwide network from the various ATC options is that you learn the commonalities and differences of the job.

When I transferred into the terminal option seven years ago, it felt as if I were starting anew, even though I had been with the FAA for over 25 years. I had to relearn the 7110.65 (WIP) and a host of other FAA documents. When I am with PWC members, I usually walk away with a more holistic/broader understand-ing of air traffic. Even though I haven’t separated airplanes since the 1980s, I feel that my job as an ATC Support Specialist at Miami Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) has been vastly enhanced as a result of their shared experiences.

Through PWC, I have met a caring group of people who have coached, men-tored and supported me throughout the years. When I first joined PWC (in the 1990s), I was encouraged by their vision... a group of air traffic professionals that have a passion for their careers... yep, that’s me! I’ve had a love affair with aviation and air traffic control since my teenage years (a long, long time ago), and when I was first selected as an ATC Co-Operative Education Student during my college

years, I was ecstatic! PWC took some of my enthusiasm and put it to work. PWC taught me how to work with a diverse group of professionals to accomplish goals that benefit the whole.

In the past several decades, through PWC, I have been a part of raising aware-ness in areas such as child care facilities, inconsistencies in medical determinations, and part-time employment opportunities. That’s what making a difference is about! Change doesn’t happen overnight in the FAA, but if you consistently stay on track with what you want changed, eventually, someone listens and takes action. PWC’s presence in high - level decisionmaking is critical to ensuring awareness of issues of particular interest to PWC members.

So what have I learned from PWC? PWC has shown me how I can make a difference in my work environment and that through networking, we can unite our voices and address areas of com-mon interest.

How do you describe the benefits of PWC to other FAA women?The more involved you are in PWC, the more you will benefit. Generally speaking, training for an FAA position normally occurs AFTER you have been selected for the position. If you don’t have the skill set needed to be competitive for the position you seek, how do you acquire such skills? One answer is PWC. As a PWC Regional Director in the late 1990s, I learned how to assemble regional training conferences (which included drafting an agenda, giving speeches, finding instructors, delegating tasks, organizing activities, coordinating with volunteers, and following-up). Some of these skills carried over into FAA jobs I held as Supervisor, Operations Manager, Support Manager and acting AATM.

I would strongly urge any PWC member to take the initiative and vol-unteer for opportunities that become available in PWC (and the FAA). If there are no vacancies on the PWC Board, don’t let that stop you. The Board is routinely in need of volunteers to help with train-ing conferences. For example, Meagan Garmon and I, as co-chairs, could use all the help we can get for the 2014 National PWC Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Overall, volunteerism is extremely reward-ing, particularly in PWC... knowing that your actions helped a controller move up the chain or helped someone achieve their goals are beyond satisfying.

Aside from being on the Board of Directors or volunteering for National or Regional Training Conferences, as a PWC member, you can coordinate with your PWC Regional Director and hold your own PWC Social at your facility or at another FAA facility. Being a PWC member can be very rewarding if you just have the initiative and volunteer your time.

Describe your role as a Point of Contact (POC) for Safety Management System (SMS) in the South Florida District.I see my role as one of maintaining safety awareness in the District – a safety promoter. This may sound like a vague response, but my intent is for people to think ‘SMS’ when they see me. My personal goal is to raise safety culture awareness. In 2005 when I was first exposed to the SMS process, there were a lot of naysayers in the FAA that felt this “program” would be temporary.

The fact is that even though safety is everyone’s job, not everyone had bought into it; our safety culture was lacking depth. I was sold on SMS, when I first learned that the process ensures complete inclusion and a comprehensive, proactive evaluation of safety concerns. As I see it, SMS is a continuous loop, where the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) is constantly being evaluated. How can anyone not get excited about that?

Safety has always been a part of the FAA’s mission. The greater need to debug our airspace from potential risks to ensure that our technically - sophisticated NextGen initiatives are successful is the difference between then and now. Today’s complex and highly-evolved technologies will benefit greatly from panels of experts, in various disciplines, evaluating how NextGen initiatives can be integrated with existing procedures and older technology.

However, if your question regarding my role as a point of contact for SMS is intended to elicit a more specific response,


well then, here it is ... As the South Florida District SMS POC, I receive emails and phone calls from facilities in the district (FAA and Federal Contract Towers (FCTs)) with Safety Risk Management (SRM) questions regarding preliminary assessment options or to confirm the need to schedule SRM panels.

In addition, I support the dis-trict Air Traffic Managers (ATM) by ensuring that their SMS training needs are met. I develop SMS power points for the district and assist the facili-ties with the drafting of Safety Risk Management Decision Memorandum (SRMDM). I developed the District SRM Implementation order which informs ATMs of their SMS require-ments. I assist facilities with uploads to the Hazard Tracking Site and SRM Tracker site and have co-hosted/facilitated the SRM class: “Facilitating a Terminal Safety Risk Management Program (SRMP)/Preparing an SRMD.”

Also, I have written numerous articles for the “Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Mitigator”– a “risk management for the real world” monthly publication, and try to supply a ‘life in the field’ perspective to SMS. Some of the articles I’ve written are: ‘SMS Training and the District Order;’ ‘Remember the Days-Back to SRM Basic;,’ ‘Don’t Eat the Layers of Cheese;’ ‘The Airport Burden and Clichés;’ ‘Your Attitude, Not Your Aptitude, Will Determine Your Altitude;’

‘Something to Think About;’ and ‘Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.’

Since you’ve been an educator, how do you use the knowledge from that background in your FAA work?There is some truth to the old adage that Knowledge is Power. However, I would take that one step further and say that, Knowledge Shared is Extreme Power. Most people who have been on-the-job training instructors (OJTIs) or have taught any class will tell you they learned more about a subject after they had to teach it. So it’s not that I’m altruistic, I teach because I know there’s a lot I don’t know. Some of the skills I acquired outside the FAA, (particularly from my M.B.A. and J.D.), are applied in my day to day job.

For example, I have facilitated several OJTI classes, SRM panels, and written, researched and prepared numer-ous staff study projects for evaluation. Education is really about acquiring a sense of self confidence in knowing one’s capabilities. Some would humorously say that since I have so much education, I must have been lacking a lot of self-confidence. Sadly, there may be some truth to that.

You see, I was a Cuban refugee in the 1960s. I was nine years old and didn’t speak a word of English when

I emigrated from Havana, Cuba to Los Angeles, California. I have many fond memories and recall humorous moments generated by my overall lack of knowledge. For example, there was the Easter egg hunt in fourth grade which didn’t make sense to me until the objective was clearly explained. Imagine, not knowing the basic concept of an Easter egg hunt is to find an egg! So what I have tried to do in the past, particularly when I was a faculty profes-sor, was to use my true-to-life stories to inspire and motivate others. Sometimes, humor is the best educator.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?Yes, in March of 2013, a new FAA program is being rolled out that I’m very excited about. It may make the difference in career planning for many. It’s called the ATO Career Progression Plan (CPP). There is an in-depth website, currently being tested, that offers a visual display of career paths in the ATO. It contains approximately 68 ATO positions (40 managerial and 28 non-managerial), and identifies optional paths for one to navigate to reach their ultimate career goals.

The program does not show all the ATO positions or possible paths; presently, there are 138 career paths identified. The site is intended to pro-vide interested employees with guid-ance for career progression planning. When operational, the CPP site will be an excellent resource that not only contains a career progression path but also provides specific developmental aids to assist someone who may want to explore other job opportunities in the FAA.

At the very least, it facilitates the exploration and preparation of various career paths. CPP is intended to sup-port the IDP process. The idea is to first create an IDP on eLMS and then use the CPP site in support of the IDP goals. As I mentioned, the site presently is being tested, but if you want a preview, here is the link: https://myatocareertest.faa.gov. ✈

For example, there was the Easter egg hunt in fourth grade which didn’t make sense to me until the objective was clearly explained. Imagine, not knowing the basic concept of an Easter egg hunt is to find an egg!


PROFESSIONAL WOMEN CONTROLLERS, INC.

SCHoLarSHIp appLICaTIoN INFormaTIoN aND INSTrUCTIoNS

eligibility requirements• Candidate must be a member of PWC or the spouse, son,

or daughter of a member. Any field of study is allowed.

• The Jacqueline Smith Burdette Career in Aviation Scholarship does not require PWC membership.

• Recruitment candidates are encouraged to become student members, but it is not required. A recruitment candidate must be a female enrolled in or selected to commence an FAA recognized air traffic training or air traffic co-op program.

application period and DeadlinesThe application filing period is october 1, 2012 through February 15, 2013. To ensure acceptance, the completed package shall be mailed to the pwC p.o. Box, postmarked by February 15, 2013.

application package Instructionsplease ensure that the application package is complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The application package must include the following:

APPLICAtIon: The application form must be completed, with no blanks. If an item does not apply indicate so with “N/a”.

SeLF-ASSeSSment eSSAy: (should not exceed two pages): please describe the following:

• Long and short range career goals, and how you expect a PWC scholarship to contribute toward them

• Opportunities this educational experience creates for you.

• Professional and personal accomplishments

• Community involvement and leadership activities, volunteer work, membership in organizations, extracurricular activities, public speaking experiences

LetteRS oF ReCommenDAtIon:

• Submit two letters of recommendation from individuals not related to you. These letters should discuss your personal and academic achievements.

• Submit a third letter from a teacher or academic official if you are enrolled in college or another accredited program or flight school.

oFFICIAL tRAnSCRIPt/PRooF oF enRoLLment:

• Submit an official transcript if you are already in college, or proof of enrollment in a school you are about to enter.

• For new college students, proof of actual registration will be required prior to disbursement of funds.

• If accepted into an FAA recognized air traffic training program with planned enrollment in the future, provide a letter of acceptance from the school. Submit a document from an instructor if enrolled in a flight school, etc.

General InformationSelection consideration will be based upon the completed package. The national scholarship committee will screen and select applicants. Selection guidelines may be found in the pwC Sop. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the National Training Conference. The scholarship winner’s name and photograph will be used for publication. If selected, please submit a photograph immediately.

responsibility of recipientsScholarship recipients should provide an oral report at the General Business meeting during the National Training Conference the following year. This report is intended to update the membership on the recipient’s progress, stating how the scholarship was used. In the event that attendance is not possible, a written report shall be provided to the Scholarship Committee Chairperson no later than march 31, 2013 prior to the Conference.

The PWC Scholarship Program was established in 1991 to assist members in completing their higher education and to recognize and reward academically superior performance. Later, it was expanded to include eligible immediate family of PWC members. The Recruitment Scholarship was established in 2000 to support PWC’s purpose of encouraging qualified women to enter the air traffic profession. PWC scholarships are available on a competitive basis to undergraduate, graduate, and technical students.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN CONTROLLERS, INC.

2013 memBer & reCrUITmeNT SCHoLarSHIp appLICaTIoN

CHeCk oNe pWC member or immediate family member Woman aspiring to become an air traffic control specialist Jacque Smith Burdette Career in Aviation Scholarship (pWC membership is not required, only a desire for a career in aviation.)

Name

address

City State Zip

Home phone

e-mail

occupation and title If Faa, facility name/level

Facility/work address

work phone

Check pWC Affiliation: Active Student Associate Non-member Family

If a family member, indicate name/relationship of the pwC member

Highest academic degree and where obtained

Course(s) to be taken

Start date Completion date

Name of school

phone

address

City State Zip

Contact name/title of school official

Tuition Cost estimated cost of books and supplies

Have you received a pwC scholarship in the past? If so, year/amount?

I certify that the information in my application is true and reflects an honest appraisal of my ability to complete the goal requested herein. If awarded a scholarship, I understand that I am required to report to the pwC General membership at the annual business meeting to inform them of my progress. I agree that if I do not participate in the above named course of study, I will reimburse pwC this scholarship award amount.

Signature Date

Completed scholarship package must be POSTMARKED by February 15, 2013.mail application package to: professional women Controllers, Inc., p.o. Box 950085, oklahoma City, ok 73195-0085

any questions, email pwC’s Scholarship Chair karen pontius at [email protected]


For some aviation enthusiasts, the start of this summer was nothing short of amazing. Unlike any other

year, the May 2012 SAFEE event that was held in Miami was the culmina-tion of a long, thought-out vision that became a reality.

The South Florida Aviators Aircraft Fly-in and Education Expo (SAFEE) is about energizing people of all ages with the marvels of aviation. The plan-ning for this two-day event starts eight months before its fruition and involved community leaders, employee associa-tions, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), National Air and Space Administration (NASA), FAA, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), local colleges and several dozen other aviation supporters.

SAFEE REACHES 1,000+ MIDDLE AND HIgH SCHOOL STUDENTSSAFEE, in part, is an inaugural effort to reach out to middle and high school students by exposing them to the oppor-tunities available in the aviation industry. Some of the features of the event include an aviation theme art contest for middle and high school contestants, classroom instruction with a full range of subjects (from aviation safety to preparing to

apply for aviation-related careers), a model plane fly-in/demonstration and an aircraft fly-in.

From planning to implementation, PWC was at the forefront of the event. Louisa Ocasio (Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center Supervisor), Sue Townsend (PWC Co-Founder and Historian) and I made part of the avia-tion magic a reality. The success of the event was obviously visible in the eyes of the veterans, young adults and children who attended.

Housed under a hanger at Opa-Locka airport, the SAFEE event had aircraft displays, aviation exhibits, avia-tion contests, flight simulators and over 40 aviation-oriented booths. PWC was proud to be the first to participate and to contribute with funds, personnel and a booth at the event.

More than a thousand students were bused from local participating public schools, primarily from lower income neighborhoods, to attend Operation SAFEE Flight. As the first-ever, large scale aviation education juncture in South Florida, it was rewarding to posi-tively impact people of all ages through aviation. This event was so well received that discussions are already are underway for next year. ✈

order manna Gift Cards now!

holidays weddings vacations

Thank you for your continuing support of pwC’s manna express fundraising program that benefits the National Training Conference. we are now “Igniting the Spark”

to go to philadelphia next april 2013!

MANNA NOW HAS $25 gROUPON gIFT CARDS!

Plan ahead for your vacation – marriott, Hyatt, Choice Hotels, all things Disney to name a few are available, and 6 Flags cards are available for discounted $32 tickets!

For staycations, select amC, Loews, and regal theater cards.

For graduation, shower, and wedding gifts – macy’s, Bergners, Bed, Bath& Beyond, williams Sonoma/pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and many, many more.

to treat yourself and your family every day – Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, Chili’s, panera, payless Shoes, TJmaxx, The Gap, old Navy, iTunes, GameStop, and many, many more!

with over 450 gift cards to choose from, manna has just the cards for you! For the complete list of cards and vendor guidelines, visit www.mannexpress.net.

For more information, call pam Brophy at 630-696-6739 or send an email to [email protected].

South Florida Aviators Aircraft Fly-In and Education Expo

operation (SaFee) FlightBy maria hofbauer, PWC Parliamentarian

L to R: Maria Hofbauer and Sue Townsend on the exhibit floor at Operation SAFEE Flight in Miami; Louisa Ocasio, Sue Townsend and Maria Hofbauer at PWC booth for Operation (SAFEE) Flight.


WHAT IS THE TOP 5?The FAA’s TOP 5 is a list based on the severity of a risk along with the relative likelihood of it occurring.

To date, these are the most dra-matic results we have achieved with the Safety Management System (SMS), and these changes demonstrate that we are measuring success based on the number of things we fix – not by the number of incidents counted.

Risks being mitigated include:• The speeds and angles involved in

arrival sequencing;

• Arrival sequencing when aircraft are flying at the same altitude toward parallel runways;

• Go-arounds.

In the first risk, aircraft were being vectored at a speed or angle that led them to overshoot the final approach. To mitigate the issue, facilities will create speed requirements where vec-tors are provided to intercept parallel approach courses. (See Figure 1)

For the second risk, (Figure 2) arriving aircraft headed to parallel runways were occasionally overshoot-ing the final, potentially putting them on a path toward the other plane flying at the same altitude.

To resolve the issue at airports with parallel runways separated by 4,300 feet or more, controllers will now issue headings that allow the aircraft to intercept extended center-lines of the runways at an angle of 30 degrees or less. This mitigation will affect the Core 30 airports, which are the nation’s busiest, as well as other airports.

In the third risk, (Figure 3) unex-pected go-arounds sometimes put an arriving aircraft in conflict with departing traffic. Facilities will create procedures that require controllers to issue control instructions as necessary to establish the required separation.

Safety Risk Management panels, with representatives from manage-ment and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), at each of the 35-40 facilities where go-arounds pose a hazard, will develop procedures to keep go-arounds from flying too close to departures.

Mitigations are still being devel-oped for the other two TOP 5 risks – aircraft flying at unexpected altitudes and coordination issues between operational employees.

action on Top 5 reduces major air Traffic risksBy Velvet kennedy, Senior technical Advisor for Safety and technical training and top 5 Program manager, Air traffic organization (Ato), FAA

moves to alleviate three of the most serious risks to air traffic were put into place September 28, 2012 – a leap ahead in the Faa’s approach to safety. Beginning in July, some 20,000 air traffic controllers have been trained on the air traffic changes to mitigate the risks.

RISK 1 Aircraft vectored at a speed or angle led them to overshoot the final approach

RISK 2 Arriving aircraft headed to parallel runways occasionally overshoot the final, putting them on a path toward the other plane flying at the same altitude.

RISK 3 Unexpected go-arounds sometimes put an arriving aircraft in conflict with departing traffic

The FAA’s TOP 5 is a list based on the severity of a risk along with the relative likelihood of it occurring.


HOW ATO ZEROS IN ON TOP 5 RISKSThe Risk Analysis Process is one of the key elements in identifying the TOP 5.The aim of the process is to provide a standardized scoring system for events that can be used to identify the areas of highest risk in the system. That way the ATO can compare events objectively, and decide which ones represent the most pressing risks to safety.

“We run a safe operation already, but we can never put safety on pause and say ‘good enough,’” Chief Operating Officer David Grizzle said in a message to employees this spring. “Our TOP 5 list is important because it identifies poten-tial issues before they turn into problems.”

Here’s how the process works.• If more than 34 percent of the required separation between two aircraft is

lost, it is considered a Risk Analysis event.

• A panel made up of experts on the type of facility where the event occurred, an airline transport pilot, and a NATCA representative examine the event using criteria including proximity, closure rate, repeatability, and severity.

• The panel rates the event on a risk matrix and, at the same time, identifies the causal factors behind it. The causal factors behind the events that rate “high” on the risk matrix are considered for the TOP 5 by a group of safety experts.

Several experts in the Office of Safety and Technical Training are studying even more advanced ways of weighing the causal factors and tying them to levels of risk, according to Art Sheffield, manager of Quality Assurance for ATO Safety.

In addition, safety experts look at the data from the more than 50,000 Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) reports and tens of thousands of manual and electronic reports of safety incidents. That data gives them a more complete understanding of the causal factors and helps them determine the TOP 5. ✈

aBoUT THe aUTHor: Velvet kennedy was named Senior Technical advisor to the Vice president of aTo Safety and Technical Training in 2009. as Senior Technical advisor, she is responsible for providing national-level advice, expertise and technical support to enhance safety within the aTo, recommending and assisting in the implementation of tactical and strategic initiatives to address safety issues. She leads risk and mitigation reviews within the Safety management System to facilitate corrective measures that improve effectiveness and efficiency of the National airspace System (NaS).

previously, kennedy was the Certification Standards Branch manager within the air Traffic Safety oversight Service. There, she was responsible for developing and implementing the Credentialing and Control Tower operator Certification programs for personnel who provide direct safety-related air traffic control services and technicians who certify NaS-dependent equipment and systems.

She also was responsible for conducting safety audits and assessments to ensure compliance with national air traffic standards.

Her experience includes over 25 years as an air traffic controller with the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense and the Federal aviation administration.

JoIn noW!professional women

controllers, inc. membership application

New member

renewal-membership #

PLEASE FILL IN ALL INFORMATION:

Name

address

City/State/Zip

phone (H)

(w)

region/Facility

Facility address (if not Faa)

position Title

e-mail

month/Day of Birth

recruited by

request Dues withholding Form (also available at www. pwcinc.org)

CATEgORIES OF MEMBERShIP

Active – aTCS employed by an aTC service provider $156

Active – Faa employees $156

Associate – Non-air traffic control specialists $78

Associate – Faa employees $78

Corporate – organizations or corporations $400

Student – must meet enrollment criteria $30

Alumnus – retired aTCS $50

FORM OF PAyMENT

master Card Visa

Check (payable to pwC, Inc.)

account Number

expiration Date

Cardholder’s Name (print)

Billing address

authorized Signature

(Sign as name appears on card)

Mail form to:professional women Controllers, Inc., p.o. Box 950085, oklahoma City, ok 73195-0085


GREAT LAKESCleveland Hosts Successful PWC Autumn 2012 Board Meeting

Submitted by Connie Atlagovich, PWC great Lakes Regional Director

PWC’s second quarter Board of Directors’ (BOD) meeting was held in the Rock-n-Roll capital of the world, Cleveland, Ohio. The Board spent the first day, September 10th, at Cleveland Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). Vince Shobe, Air Traffic Manager, opened the meeting and shared his views on the chal-lenges facing the FAA.

The second day, September 11th, was spent at Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). Cindy Alexander, Air Traffic Manager (ATM), and Drew MacQueen, National Air Traffic Controllers Association

(NATCA) Facility Representative, opened the day at the facility. A Remembrance of 9/11 was held at 10:05 at the facility memorial with the PWC Board joining the ceremony.

Training was held at Cleveland ARTCC on Wednesday morning. Antoinette Hart, AGL-14A, gave the training on navigating USA/Jobs and Managerial Factors. Many employees attended and appreciated the time that Antoinette spent covering the information.

Thanks to Jennifer Dovenberger, Supervisor at Mansfield ATCT, for being the proxy for the Director of Resources and Kayla Flores for being the proxy for the Western Pacific Regional Director (RD).

Cleveland rocked with the Board of Directors!

regional News

toP RoW, L to R: Christina Calvert, Central RD, and Aimee Wright, Secretary, share a laugh at PWC dinner social in Cleveland.

toP RoW, StAnDInG, L to R: Christina Calvert, Central RD; Jennifer Dovenberger, Supervisor at Mansfield ATCT; Pam Sheeler, Northwest Mountain RD; Kayla Pittman, Robin Rush, President; Aimee Wright, Secretary; and Sarah Laporte Ostrander, New England RD; bottom row, seated, L to R: Veronica Vaughan, Eastern RD, and Rose Merchant-Bennett, National Conference Chair, at the PWC Board meeting in Cleveland.

Bottom RoW, L to RAimee Wright, Secretary; Terri Waterman, Vice President; and Robin Rush, President, working hard at PWC’s Board meeting in Cleveland.

Tina Santiago, Director of Resources, and Maria Hofbauer, Parliamentarian, at the PWC Board meeting in Cleveland airport.

PWC’s second quarter Board of Directors’ (BOD) meeting was held in the Rock-n-Roll capital of the world, Cleveland, Ohio.


EASTERNPlanning a New Kind of PWC 2013 Conference

Submitted by Veronica Vaughan, PWC Eastern Regional Director and 2013 Conference Co-Chair

Wow, it’s been a very busy time lately. We are really starting to gear up for PWC’s 35th conference in Philadelphia April 8-11, 2013. We will be staying at the completely remodeled Sheraton Society Hill, located in the heart of historic Old Town Philadelphia. A great group of people have volunteered to work on the PWC conference committee.

Many people also may be aware that the FAA has withdrawn support for Employee Association conferences. This means that even if the Agency still approves PWC’s conference agenda as training, attendees will not be granted excused leave but will have to take some other type of leave.

PWC will continue to submit a conference agenda to the FAA and request that it be approved as official training. We will still provide our mem-bers with an educational and exciting experience in Philadelphia. We hope that many PWC members will be able to join us.

Rather than look at this as a nega-tive, we are choosing to view this as a great opportunity. We have more free-dom with our agenda and activities and are asking for your input. What would you like to see or to participate in at the PWC 2013 conference? Please let me know at [email protected].

We are still finding disconnects in our member database, and this is a

serious, ongoing issue. If you are an Eastern Region PWC member or a PWC Corporate Sponsor and have not received emails from me, please let me know. You could be missing out on exciting news or opportunities!

At the quarterly PWC Board of Directors’ meeting in Cleveland, we worked on some more exciting modernizations to the organization... including the addition of Facebook and Twitter! Thanks to everyone for your input on the updated PWC logo; we are all excited about our progress and look forward to unveiling every-thing to the membership!

NEW ENGLANDBidding Time!

Submitted by Sarah LaPorte Ostrander, PWC New England Regional Director

It’s that time of year again folks. As we wrap up summer, and welcome the colors of fall, that can mean only one thing... bidding time! That’s right! If your facility hasn’t bid leave already, don’t forget to request PWC’s 2013 annual conference being held in Philadelphia from April 8 to11.

The conference offers top notch training, networking and good old fash-ioned fun. If your air traffic/aviation batteries are in need of a little recharge, I highly recommend attending the 2013 PWC Conference.

In late January, you can also look forward to an ANE night out, and I’m looking forward to serving as your new regional director! ✈

message from the

PWC historian

PWC CONFERENCE PROGRAMSI am STILL trying to collect copies of all the conference programs, because I want to complete the set, and then get them and all issues of The wATcH copied and posted to the website.

So…I’m asking all pwC members to please search their records for conference programs, and send them on to me.

Sue TownsendSue mostert townsend pwc Historian 4997 Stone Castle Drive Venice, FL 34293

The conference offers top notch training, networking and good old fashioned fun. If your air traffic/aviation batteries are in need of a little recharge, I highly recommend attending the 2013 PWC Conference.

Documents

women air traff ic controllers hotsheet Autumn...THE women air traff ic controllers hotsheet A Publication of the Professional Women Controllers, Inc. autumn 2012 vol. 6 no. 4 IGNITE