It amazes me how all these videos only direct their attention to the use of a fan-tabulous system by Air Traffic controllers. Sure you guys mention the advances of techonolgy, the teamwork efforts, communication, training, on and on, with a small hint of the technical work force who maintains the equipment. Why do you even bother making the technical workforce (AF) watch this stuff? The concept you-all are tring to sell or convince is the Air Traffic division and the outside world, not the Airways Facility people who, at my level the ARTCC, is at this very moment seeing what it all takes to provide what will drive this wonderful system (ERAM). I see the huge changes on a daily basis. But the TRAINING part for the AF technical work force is a joke, maybe you all should talk to the people in OKC or Washington Head Quarters who have all the money, and make them watch this video. In the recent past 2 years, more training has been pulled, reinstated, pulled, reinstated, revamped, etc. etc. (you get where I'm going) that we here in the real world are wondering if we will be properly trained to maintain this equipment. "Safety" also means taking care of your people, and as I see it, we here at LA ARTCC are understaffed, lacking training, the time off to accquire the training, (not through any fault of our managers) but because the DOT decided a long time ago not to hire people. Now the FAA is paying through the nose in OT. We are pulling more OT in I don't know how long to cover watches on both the HOST room floor and the Automation units. Now that the new fiscal year has started, quotas have been given to go to "legacy courses" go figure. So gentlemen, I did not need to see a con-job video to know what is really going on and what it is going to take to get to its end. The system that will push this concept is not working, HOCSR will be around longer than anticipated and the training is still lacking because we are short on people and OKC is back-tracking, offering legacy courses again and getting ERAM courses are still up in the air because of prerequisits that are still evolving. You guys have forgotten the "little people" down here in the basement and God only knows what is going on at the Tower and Approach levels.

Reference comment by Cyd Chapman: I was initially hired into ATC in 1977, was fired as a PATCO controller in 1981, and was fortunate enought to return to the agency in 1999. Somewhere during my enforced hiatus from the agency and upon my return in 1999, I had an "A-ha!" moment where I realized that ATCs make up a very small portion of the FAA and those people who run and maintain the NAS. Tech Ops people definitely do not get any acknowledgement and they should. I think it would be very educational and beneficial to take turns shining the spotlight on each and every department/division within the FAA and highlight their share of the efforts invested in maintaining the NAS--whether it's administrative or technical or people involved in helping the organization as a whole become better as being an organization. We are all working together. In reality none of us are more important than anyone else. Controllers couldn't be controllers without the pilots or the tech ops people or the admin people or the managers that take care of everything else so that controllers can separate airplanes.

rah rah bish bomb bah.
I hope al lof these new systems work better than ERAM.
good luck
bob

I am a first in the NEX-GEN new hire program Air Traffic Safety Specialist. I Think the ATO operations is a overhelmingly a vast operation, as I have seen with experience, and as presented in (NEW-HIRE) orientation program. And the forces, that make and maintain, and support the orginaization should be commended. The NAS and (OKC) is great place to train and and prepare to be a part of the elaborate ATO workforce. All in All its a great encounter and a great experience.

I wonder if the pay for performance plan that was promised to us who were hired in the last few years will finally come to fruition as the organization expects us to perform at this level to achieve thier goals. I am all for the next gen plan, but lets kick in with the pay for performance, or let it go by the wayside as DOD has done.

Questions/comments from employees at ZOB after viewing Module 1, 2 & 3:

What costs were involved to create Leading Edge?
What happened to Leading From Where You Are At? Nothing evolved. No change noticed.
Why are we watching this? Management does not walk the talk.

In response to do you feel valued by your manager? Overall NO. Not treated as professionals. Do not hire good people and get out of their way.
Need to improve communication and be treated as a team. No longer work as team because it is an individual environment.

Thanks, looking forward to the next few years.

Thanks to all who commented. We, and especially I, read them and take them seriously.

We do have warts. We can pretend otherwise but it serves no purpose. And there is still truth in what is being relayed here. But there is change occurring as well. Not everywhere and not as quick as some of us may like. I travel a lot. I try to stay as connected to the operation as a person in my capacity can. And while not perfect, or anywhere near it, at least the dialog is happening.

Thanks for coming to the site...it is a start.

James

I thought these videos are a good first start in changing the agency's culture. As I read some of the comments I empathize with those comments centered around training funding especially on the technical side as we move into a NextGen state. Where are the career paths and committment to develop existing staff's careers? It was stated our jobs are going to change yet where are the details on that?

One Faa.

After watching the first module only, I have to ask Why is this mandatory training for AF. It has nothing to do with AF, its all Air Traffic and its all management feel good, warm fuzzie feeling BULL.
Do not waste my time making something as ridicoulous as this mandatory.

Excellent Program