LOU 2019-02 in the Collective Agreement provides an opportunity for members to attend pre-approved conferences as a FAM Flight destination. Following a pause to the program due to COVID, a subsequent LOU was signed in August 2022 to resume the program and extended LOU 2019-02 and the current FAM Flight period to December 31, 2024. A new 3-year FAM Flight cycle will begin on January 1, 2025.
The following is a list of pre-approved conferences for the 2024 calendar year:
- PWC – Professional Women Controllers – April 10-13, 2024 – Louisville, KY – www.pwcinc.org
2. Canadian Women in Aviation Conference 2024- May 13-16, 2024 – Montreal, QC – https://cwia.ca/
3. Communicating for Safety 2024 – September 16-18, 2024 – Las Vegas, NV – https://www.natca.org
4. ATAC 90th Canadian Aviation Conference – November 5-7, 2024 – Vancouver, BC – www.atac.ca
If you are requesting a conference, you will be entitled to 2 travel days as well as 1 FAM Day to attend one day of the conference. Any additional days you wish to attend will be at your own expense (NOTE: Gander ACC may be entitled to 1 extra travel day depending on the destination chosen).
As an update to the listed USA/long-range destinations listed in the CA, other than Paris (Reims ACC), NAV has been unable to secure official FAM visits to any of those destinations. There have been indications that the FAA and NATS may soon be accepting visitors, but that hasn’t happened yet. We will be sure to announce it once that occurs.
If there is another conference or alternate destination that members feel they can make a business case for, they are still welcome to do so with their manager. Those will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Lastly, as a reminder, members are there on business representing both NAV Canada and CATCA. It is expected that they visit the unit/conference on the date and time scheduled and act professionally to ensure the program’s continued success.
We understand this is a frustrating process for all members and we appreciate your patience while we continue to address the issues with the FAM Flight Program at the National level.
On Behalf of the Executive Board;
Nick von Schoenberg
President
Scott Loder
Executive Vice President