FAA COO Russ Chew Earns "Enthusiastic" NATCA Backing For "Bold, Smart" ATO Blueprint

NATCA President John Carr has "warmly greeted" the unveiling of the FAA's new Air Traffic Organization with open arms, calling the initiative "bold and smart" and the architect, FAA Chief Operating Officer Russ Chew, "innovative and thoughtful."

"Many people in the aviation community, including myself, thought the COO was just here to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. Russ's plan gives us a realistic chance at missing the iceberg," Carr said.

Calling the ATO blueprint a "shot in the arm to the FAA," Carr praised Chew for raising the curtain on a new dawn for the agency that rightly resists the temptation to split air traffic from the FAA organizational chart, astutely proposes a bottom-up structure that corrects the current overly-complicated management structure, ambitiously sets a two-month timeline to complete the first phase and wisely calls for union participation as a priority as part of the people-first theme of the new ATO.

"Under Russ's leadership, we have a once in a lifetime chance to make real and lasting change to the organization," Carr remarked. "I stand ready to assist and NATCA offers its full cooperation. Given the time, budget and authority, there is no doubt in my mind that Russ can create a masterpiece that not only can we all be proud of, but more importantly will result in untold benefits for everyone who uses our beloved National Airspace System."

FMI: www.natca.org