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This is a copy of an update from Jack Nimmo to the managers regarding
A76. Don't ask me how I got it. There is some interesting insight here if
you read between the lines. __________________________________________________________________ Fellow Managers, A-76 is certainly a hot topic! On September 24th we will complete the regional briefings on the A-76 process. As the briefings progressed in time, the audiences at the briefings grew. Everyone knows this is serious business. We are tentatively scheduled to brief the Eastern Region on the 24th at 9:00am - the last of the regional briefings. We're also scheduling a briefing for all interested parties in the Headquarters Building but that date has not yet been confirmed. The entire FSS family and those that interface with us need to be aware of what A-76 is and is not. The trips have been very beneficial to those charged with making the study of the AFSS functions using the A-76 process. As the teams have traveled, we've made stops at several AFSSs and an FSS. (San Diego, Hawthorne, Ft. Worth, Leesburg, Kenai, and Seattle AFSSs, and Palmer FSS) More facilities will be visited in the next phases of the study. In fact, we're working on visits to Conroe AFSS, Miami IAFSS, and potentially DeRidder AFSS this month. Our objective in site visits is to point out not just the routine functions of an AFSS but also to see the uniquenesses like equipment (Model 1, OASIS, DAWN, etc.), geographical location (transborder flight plan areas, mountainous terrain, island environments), flight watch facilities, and the list goes on. The contractor (Grant Thornton) is expert in the use of the A-76 process but in a learning mode on the work of the AFSSs. They are getting the picture. So are the Budget people in FAA that are charged with conducting the study. We appreciate the hospitality of all the facilities and efforts of the tour guides and demonstrators. The learning process will continue. How do we deal with morale in your facilities? It's tough! Grant Thornton confirmed what we knew would happen when the study was announced. Everyone is in a panic mode and full of questions that usually center on personal impact. One of my objectives over the next few months will be to support the communications activities as much as possible. Yesterday the working group met to discuss general approaches to communicating. Next week a Communications Committee that includes Kate Breen, the NAATS A-76 Liaison, meets to review a communications plan that Grant Thornton has developed. For the time being, I represent the field managers on the communications group. You can anticipate receiving information from a variety of sources in the near future. We recognize the need to keep everyone in the loop. NAATS will be asked to help in informing our workforce. But, you as the manager of your facility have a key role in setting a tone of calm and resolve to focus on the day to day job. Our pilots deserve continued excellent service. Distractions can lead to mistakes and we can't afford them ever but especially right now. Our AFSS team is excellent at rising to the occasion and we need to do that now and will. A list of frequently asked questions is being compiled from the briefings. More questions will come. Next week we will be deciding how to best distribute questions and answers and to provide a medium to funnel more questions in as we get them. The unknown is often more apprehensive than the known. That is certainly evident by some of the reaction I've read to briefings already conducted. At this early stage of the process only generic answers can be given to some very specific questions we may receive. We plan to provide factual information in a timely manner. The spotlight is on A-76 so you will not operate in the dark. In several of the briefings you were told of future involvement by bargaining unit members, managers, staff, and employees across the spectrum of the AFSS option. Critical input will be needed in defining the tasks to be performed by the AFSS of the future in the PWS. Creative approaches will be needed in developing an MEO that is both cost-effective and responsive to the customer. It is the work of these groups that will put the specifics into the answers to questions we're receiving. People in Headquarters or even Regions will not be sufficient to define our role. It will require the collective YOU from the field and from the pilot community. We are just beginning a long process that will be complete and not rushed to conclusion by artificial deadlines. The next two years could be very miserable if we sunk into a victim mentality. We're not going to do that. This is an opportunity to highlight the importance of the tasks we do. That is the silver lining in what could be viewed as a very dark cloud. This is just a quick informal update to let you know that more information will be coming soon and often. Feel free to share this information with your employees. As always, I enjoy hearing from you personally so give me a call at (202) 267-9037. Jack |