Air traffic controllers spent $300K lobbying in 1Q

The controllers union, which has been in a contract dispute with the Federal Aviation Administration since 2006, also lobbied on agency funding and modernization issues, training initiatives, system safety and efficiency, and more, according to the form posted online April 21 by the House clerk's office.

NATCA spent nearly $1.3 million lobbying in 2007.

The union has repeatedly criticized the FAA for what it considers to be a shortage of workers as experienced controllers retire faster than the government expected. Controllers in training comprise 25 percent of the national work force, up from 15 percent a few years ago.

The FAA contends it has replaced the departing controllers with new hires, which require about three years to fully train.

Besides Congress, NATCA lobbied the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development in the first three months of the year.