Air Traffic Control Association

What Air Traffic Control Association does

Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) is a non-profit professional organization founded in 1956 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, that represents the U.S. industrial base designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining the air traffic management (ATM) system operated by the FAA. It serves as the convening body for 100+ corporate members spanning aerospace and defense primes (L3Harris, Peraton, GDIT), avionics and surveillance firms (Sunhillo, UFA, Aireon), integrators (IntegriSys, Volanno, CSSI), and industry associations (Airlines for America), as well as individual aviation professionals, controllers, students in Collegiate Training Initiative programs, and government stakeholders including the FAA, DOT, and Congress.

ATCA's core offerings are member services rather than software products. Revenue is generated through tiered annual corporate membership dues (five tiers based on ATM revenue, plus Associate tier for government and academia), individual Professional/Student/Professor memberships, event registration and sponsorship (ATCA Connect annual conference, ATCA Tech Symposium with 400+ attendees and 30 exhibitors), a newly launched members-only digital portal hosting webinar recordings and publications, the ATCA Career Center and Career Learning Center for workforce development, an annual awards program anchored by the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award, and scholarship programs supported by industry sponsors. Distribution is multi-channel: LinkedIn thought leadership, Daily Headline News email newsletter, webinars, conferences, Capitol Hill advocacy through the Leadership Council, and direct engagement with FAA leadership via Industry-Government Roundtables.

The organization plays a central advocacy role in U.S. ATC modernization, including the FAA's Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) initiative, and is a member of the Modern Skies Coalition, a 35+ organization group lobbying for FAA modernization funding and opposing ATC privatization. In 2025, ATCA transitioned leadership to Stephen Creamer, a former FAA senior executive and ICAO Air Navigation Bureau Director, appointed a refreshed Board including Michael Hawthorne (GDIT) as Chair-Elect and Carl Burleson (former FAA Acting Deputy Administrator) as Treasurer, and expanded partnerships with primes such as Leidos, L3Harris, and NAV CANADA through Concept Solutions for cross-border ATM interoperability.

Name

Air Traffic Control Association

Legal name

Air Traffic Control Association

Website

https://atca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Non-profit professional association founded in 1956 representing the U.S. air traffic management industrial base, delivering membership services, advocacy, conferences, and workforce development programs to 100+ corporate members and aviation professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ATCA generates revenue primarily through tiered corporate and individual membership fees. Corporate memberships are structured based on annual ATM revenue ($400M+, $100M-$400M, $30M-$100M, $10M-$30M, <$10M) with corresponding benefits including event registrations, membership seats, directory listings, and discounts on exhibits/sponsorships. Individual memberships include Professional, Student, and Professor categories with member-only access benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) is a non-profit professional membership organization that represents the U.S. industrial base for air traffic management. It sells tiered corporate and individual memberships, hosts signature events including the annual ATCA Connect conference and Tech Symposium, runs webinars, administers an awards program, and provides career services and scholarships to support the air traffic management community.

Product overview

ATCA (Air Traffic Control Association) is a non-profit professional organization that does not offer a unified software product but rather provides a suite of member services, events, and programs supporting the air traffic management industry. The organization's offerings include the ATCA Member Portal (members-only access platform), the ATCA Career Center (job board with career resources), the ATCA Scholarship Program, the ATCA Awards Program, various ATCA Committees, webinar series, and signature events including the ATCA Tech Symposium and ATCA Connect. ATCA serves as the voice of the U.S. industrial base that designs, develops, deploys, and maintains the world's largest air traffic management system operated by the FAA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,350 applications in 24 hours during record-breaking air traffic controller recruitment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• LeidoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025Leidos awarded $75,000 to ATCA Scholarship Program, demonstrating commitment to investing in aviation's future workforce. Leidos is also featured in ATCA panel discussions on AI-Enabled Decision Support in NAS Operations with Senior Director/FAA Account Manager Michael Hawthorne serving as ATCA Board Vice-Chair.
• NAV CANADAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2024NAV CANADA partnered with Concept Solutions (CS), LLC on an initiative to transform air traffic management for military flights and enhance coordination with the U.S. NAS. Phase 1 implemented automated ADS-B accommodation capability; Phase 2 introduced an Altitude Reservation request management system. This partnership demonstrates cross-border ANSP collaboration for operational capability deployment.
• FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)coreOthersATCA works closely with FAA on BNATCS modernization, providing industry expertise and advocacy. The association testified to House Aviation Subcommittee on ATC infrastructure and staffing, and supports FAA's modernization efforts through industry collaboration.
• Modern Skies CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerATCA joined the Modern Skies Coalition, an advocacy coalition of 35+ aviation organizations urging Congress to modernize FAA air traffic control, fund NAS safety, workforce, and facilities, and oppose privatization of ATC services. Coalition advocates for FAA exemption from government shutdowns.
• L3Harris TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerL3Harris is building the telecommunications foundation for BNATCS, implementing transition from legacy copper/TDM systems to fiber, advanced wireless (LTE), and LEO satellite solutions. Kathy Zangari Crandall and Michael Popp provide TDM Infrastructure Replacement (TIR) status updates through ATCA webinars. Jim Eck serves as ATCA Board Member representing L3Harris.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation): Global trade association representing air navigation service providers (ANSPs) worldwide. The most direct international peer to ATCA, sharing a focus on ATM/ATC modernization, technology adoption, and policy advocacy for ANSP operations.
• American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE): Professional association for airport executives and management personnel. Similar to ATCA in structure (membership-based, Washington-based, advocacy-focused) and in representing a key stakeholder constituency in U.S. aviation operations and policy.
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): Trade association representing U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturers. Directly comparable to ATCA's representation of the U.S. ATM industrial base, with similar advocacy, policy engagement, and member-driven programming tied to FAA and DOD aviation priorities.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): Leading business aviation association serving companies and professionals in the business aviation sector. Comparable to ATCA in operating as a tiered-membership trade association with policy advocacy, major events (conventions/exhibitions), and member services focused on aviation operations.
• Airlines for America (A4A): U.S. airline industry trade association representing major passenger and cargo carriers. Highly comparable to ATCA as a Washington-area aviation membership organization with tiered corporate memberships, Capitol Hill advocacy, and FAA engagement on modernization and safety priorities.
• General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA): Trade association representing general aviation manufacturers. Directly comparable to ATCA in representing an aviation manufacturing/industrial segment through membership dues, policy advocacy, and engagement with FAA on regulatory and certification matters.
• Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA): Trade association representing airport operators in North America. Closely comparable to ATCA as an aviation industry membership association with regulatory advocacy, congressional engagement, and member programming tied to FAA policy and infrastructure modernization.

Broad incumbents

• International Air Transport Association (IATA): Global trade association representing the airline industry across 190+ countries. Comparable to ATCA as a leading aviation membership organization but much larger in scope and global reach, with overlapping policy advocacy and standardization work relevant to ATM modernization.

Emerging players

• Helicopter Association International (HAI): International trade association for the vertical aviation/helicopter industry. Comparable to ATCA as a vertical-segment aviation membership association with advocacy, signature events (HELI-EXPO), and policy engagement tied to FAA and international aviation priorities.
• Flight Safety Foundation: Independent, nonprofit international organization focused on aviation safety research, analysis, and advocacy. Comparable to ATCA as an aviation-focused nonprofit with advocacy and thought leadership, though more specialized in safety rather than industrial base representation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atca
• Xx.com/ATCA_now
• Facebookfacebook.com/AirTrafficControlAssociation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Air Traffic Control Association