Modernizing Air Traffic Control: Interview with NATCA President Nick Daniels

About this episode

The episode features an interview with NATCA President Nick Daniels discussing the challenges faced by air traffic controllers and the support from airline unions for aviation safety.

Air Traffic Controllers are critical to safe airline operations, but they have faced a chronic lack of support and infrastructure funding. ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi sits down with Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). In their conversation about the challenges that controllers face on the job, Daniels discusses how NATCA continues to fight and advocate for their members as they face increasing pressure and outdated equipment. The fight for aviation safety unites all airline unions, and Ambrosi and Daniels talk about how their two unions are supporting each other to protect their members and keep aviation safe.

People in this episode

Host: Capt. Jason Ambrosi

Guest: Nick Daniels

Topics covered

• Air Traffic Control
• aviation safety
• union support
• infrastructure funding
• challenges for controllers

Keywords

• air traffic control
• aviation safety
• NATCA
• union support
• infrastructure funding
• airline operations
• controllers challenges

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l

More episodes of Air Line Pilot Podcast

• How AMAS Helps ALPA Members Stay Healthy and Flying · April 30, 2026 · 24 min
• Drones and Commercial Aviation: The Growing Threat and Counter-UAS Solutions · March 17, 2026 · 38 min
• Mergers, Growth, and Negotiations: Pilot Groups and Canada Update · February 12, 2026 · 42 min
• 2025 in Review · December 31, 2025 · 24 min
• Building One ALPA Through Strategic Collaboration · December 18, 2025 · 12 min
• Aviation from a Journalist’s Perspective: A Conversation with Elan Head · November 19, 2025 · 21 min