OCTOBER 2007 NEWS

1. Letter to Editor - Rich Peiffer respond's to Oct 22 sotry, St. Pete Times, October 25, 2007

APRIL 2007 NEWS

1. Brandon Handy (OP), the TPA VRA who quit Monday morning, March 26, 20007, interviewed with Aero-News Network on April 2nd.  (http://aero-news.net/index.cfm, click on Areo-Casts for submenu which lists interviews).  He did a great job for NATCA.  This link will take you directly to the interview:  http://www.aero-news.net/podcasts/casts/3/ann-special-feature-2007-04-02.mp3.  Click here to read Brandon's resignation letter to the FAA.

MARCH 2007 NEWS

1. St. Pete Times, Front Page Section A, March 3, 2007:  "Gates fires Army secretary" Article details outpatient care problems at Walter Reed Hospital.  Note: Article refers to Major General George Weightman, the facility's commander, dismissed from duties on Thursday, March1.   Memorable Quotes:

     "At least two committees are mobilizing to investigate the Walter Reed situation.  Friday, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued a subpoena to compel Weightman to testify at a congressional hearing Monday.
     The committee also released an internal Army memorandum reportedly written in September in which the Walter Reed garrison commander, Col. Peter Garibaldi, warned Weightman that "patient care services are at risk of mission failure" because of staff shortages brought on by privatization of the support work force at the hospital."

DECEMBER NEWS: 

1. Dec. 30, 2006, Associated Press, Tampa Tribune article: "Plane Not Warned About Tornado" (FAA rules prevent radios in Towers which could have alerted air traffic about tornado activity. (see below)
    
2. NATCA Press Release:  Daytona Beach Tornado: FAA Ban On Weather Communications Equipment and Radios Compromises Safety Of Its Employees and the Flying Public
    
3. St. Pete Times, pg3 main section, Dulles International:  Article highlights portions of a letter from NATCA to management regarding another "well-thought-out" plan which disregards common sense and safety. 
    
4. SEATAC International Airport:  Great Seattle TV story about FAA mismanagement in wake of storm last week. Features Dan Olsen of Seattle TRACON.  http://www.komotv.com/news/4934876.html 

1. Channel Fox 13's video detailing the Radar Room lighting issues (click on image to right).  PDF file contains a copy of the Fox 13 news page with a short article
    
2. Link to Channel 8 News Video - highlights the question, why are supervisors suddenly having problems bumping into chairs in the radar room after 30 years of a dimly lit room?  FAA has ignored pleas to fix under console lighting and to turn down the overhead lights which has resulted in several ATCs declaring Article 65 (not responsible for actions due to lighting conditions)  Excellent news coverage - over 4 minutes of video!
    
3. St. Petersburg Times article detailing the lighting problem at TIA
    
4. Tampa Tribune article regarding the TIA radar room lighting issue

SEPTEMBER NEWS:

1. 09/17/06 (Sunday) Tampa Tribune - Commentary Section - front page  (click here for the image of the article)
    
2. 09/12/06 Tampa Tribune Editorial

APRIL NEWS:
BANNER TOWING
On May 15, 2006, TPA, PIE, SRO Towers united to promote getting out NATCA message through the use of banner towing.  The banner tow circled Tampa, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Sarasota Airports. Below are video clips of both private video of the banner tow and  the news coverage.

CHANNEL 10 NEWS AT 6 PM,  April 20, 2006. 
Local President Pat McCormick "getting out the message."
View This Video Clip (or click the image to the right)

Movie editing by Theresa McCormick - "Theresa's Internet Designs"