Definition
A United States labor union that represented federally employed air traffic controllers from 1968 until it was decertified in 1981. PATCO is best known for the August 1981 strike, in which roughly 13,000 controllers walked off the job over pay, hours, and working conditions. President Ronald Reagan ordered the strikers back to work, and when most refused, he fired about 11,300 of them and barred them from federal service. The Federal Aviation Administration then rebuilt the air traffic control workforce using supervisors, military controllers, and newly trained hires.
Plain English
PATCO was the union for U.S. air traffic controllers. In 1981 they went on strike, the President fired the strikers, and the FAA had to rebuild the controller workforce from scratch.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation history discussions, especially when reading about the 1981 air traffic controller strike and its effect on the U.S. air traffic system.
Why Pilots Care
The strike and subsequent mass dismissal of controllers caused lasting effects on controller staffing, training pipelines, and labor relations that still influence today’s ATC system.
Intuition Check
PATCO is not a current air traffic control facility, clearance, or procedure. In this context, it refers to a former organization and the historical strike associated with it.
Example Sentence 1
The PATCO strike of 1981 led to the firing of more than 11,000 air traffic controllers and a years-long rebuilding of the workforce.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots studying the history of aviation learn that the PATCO events changed how air traffic services are staffed and managed.