ZKC Kansas City Center

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome Letter 3 Kansas City Center Today 4 ZKC Organizational Chart 5 Our Expectations of All Employees 6 Policies 7 Local Area Information 12 Online Resources 15 ZKC Directory 16

Welcome Letter

Welcome to Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZKC). You have now entered into an exciting industry that offers a dynamic working environment. I am sure you will find assignment to our facility both enjoyable and rewarding.

In the previous 12 months, ZKC handled over 2 million aircraft operations. Our airspace consists of approximately 195,000 square miles, covering all or parts of 10 states. There are 12 FAA and 3 Military terminal approach control facilities that lie within our airspace. There are nine contract towers in our jurisdiction as well.

One of the great benefits of working at ZKC is the choice of places to live and the numerous activities available to you and your family. The facility is physically located in the Kansas City suburb, Olathe, Kansas. Olathe is 1 of more than 40 cities that make up the Kansas City metropolitan area. Kansas City is a bi-state metropolitan area that straddles the Missouri-Kansas state line. Approximately 1.9 million people reside in the Kansas City metro area.

Kansas City has everything you expect to find in a metropolitan city – great places to eat and shop, accredited schools and universities, top-notch medical care facilities, museums, parks, and golf courses.

Kansas City is a great sports town, home to Royals baseball, Chiefs football, and IRL, Craftsman Trucks, Busch, and NASCAR racing action at Kansas Speedway. You can also see the T-Bones minor league baseball, indoor and outdoor pro soccer, and a new Arena League football team.

Olathe is one of the area’s fastest growing communities, with a population in excess of 122,000. The city of Olathe has been successful in keeping up with demands of growth by having the necessary municipal resources, schools, medical care facilities, and numerous places to live and work.

Paul Infanti - Air Traffic Manager Kansas City ARTC Center

Kansas City Center Today

Welcome to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Traffic Organization (ATO), and to Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The facility is one of 20 Centers located throughout the United States. Kansas City Center (ZKC) employs over 500 people, including 320 Air Traffic Controllers.

The original Kansas City Center was commissioned on February 1, 1942, and was located at Kansas City Municipal Airport with 15 employees. The first Air Traffic Manager, then titled “Center Chief,” was Arnie Leathers.

Late in 1942, the Center was relocated to the 16 th floor of the Kansas City, Missouri, City Hall. On April 30, 1962, the Center moved to its current location in Olathe, Kansas. The new, larger building allowed for further expansion and new equipment. On July 1, 1964, St. Louis Center was decommissioned, and consolidated with Kansas City Center.

Today, Kansas City Center airspace encompasses approximately 192,000 square miles, including portions of: Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Arkansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and most of Missouri. Kansas City Center shares airspace boundaries with seven other centers, and works with 15 different approach control facilities. We also have more then 10 different areas of Special Use Airspace, which are used by the military for training purposes.

Kansas City Center is divided into six areas of specialization. Each area consists of between six to nine radar positions. Every radar position is defined by lateral boundaries as well as vertical boundaries. This airspace designs helps to distribute air traffic to allow for safe and efficient movement through the Center.

ZKC Organizational Chart

Our Expectations of All Employees

• Kansas City Center leadership team expects all employees to: • Come to work, be on time. • Be prepared – mentally and physically • Understand leave policy and manage your leave appropriately • Be cooperative and professional • Treat people with respect and dignity • Take initiative • Be accountable • Lead by example – be a good role model • Do not tolerate or engage in any form of harassment or discrimination • Actively participate in training • Know your airspace, systems and equipment • Use prescribed phraseology/correct facility and equipment names • Follow rules and procedures • Be open to feedback – provide honest information

Policies

*All policies are subject to change. Please contact your Front Line Manager (supervisor) with any questions.

Safety and Security:

Security guards are stationed at the entrance to the facility. Each vehicle is required to display the appropriate placard, and each individual is required to display an FAA ID badge prior to entering the property. You will be issued yours in the first days of your arrival at ZKC. If you come to work in borrowed/rented vehicle, stop at the guard shack and they will provide you with a temporary parking pass.

ID: ID’s are issued as part of your in-processing to ZKC. It must be displayed above the waist at all times while on the premises. Stop at the guard shack and display your ID each time you come to work. Should you forget your ID, stop at the guard shack and they will provide you with a temporary ID, which must be returned to the guard when you leave work for the day.

Lockers and Mail Slots:

Lockers and mail slots are assigned by the Administrative Office. DO NOT have personal mail sent to this facility.

Time and Attendance Procedures:

For Stage II and III, until you are sent to the floor for your D-side training, you are assigned to the Training Department. Requests for leave will be considered, but training is a priority; not just yours, but your peer developmental(s) as well. For leave requests made prior to 0630 local, call the Watch Manager (913-254- 8500). If you are unable to reach anyone at this number, call the Training

Department (913-254-8471) after 0630 local. You are expected to make contact and advise management of your situation. Once you are assigned to the operational floor you will work 8 hour days. All leave goes through your Front Line Manager. Your Front Line Manager will cover those policies with you at that time. You are allowed ½ hour for lunch. Once you are assigned to the floor, you will be in a paid lunch status working 8 hour days, because you are subject to recall to the control room and must be available for the full 8 hour shift. Your Front Line Manager will cover the lunch and leave policies with you when you are assigned to your area of specialization.

Medical Certificate & Physicals:

It is a requirement to meet the medical standards to perform Air Traffic Control duties, including while you are in training to become an Air Traffic Controller. You will be required to complete a physical bi-annually until age 40, then annually from there on out. Your physical will be scheduled during regular work hours. Your Front Line Manager will notify you of your scheduled physical appointment time, and it is your responsibility to arrive on time. If you wear corrective lenses or contacts, please remember to bring these with you at the time of your physical.

Drug Use:

Use of illegal drugs is prohibited. If you should be using prescription drugs, over the counter medications, or herbal remedies please check with your Front Line Manager as to whether or not work it is permissible while taking these medications. Some medications require a certain amount of time between when the medication was taken and when you can work.

Drug and Alcohol Testing:

As an FAA employee in a safety related field, you are subject to random drug and alcohol testing. On the days that drug and/or alcohol testing is being administered, no leave is approved until it is determined that you are not on the list to be tested or your testing is complete.

DUIs:

We trust that you will not drive under the influence, however, should you receive a DUI, it is required that you report this to the Air Traffic Manager through your Front Line Manager.

Conduct and Discipline :

The FAA has a rather lengthy policy on Conduct and Discipline which you are required to follow. Upon your arrival, you will receive a copy for your review. If you have any questions, please ask your Front Line Manager or Personnel Office.

Dress Code: NATCA/FAA Contract Article 69

Section 1. Members of the bargaining unit shall be well groomed and attire themselves in a neat, clean manner which will not erode public confidence in the bargaining unit workforce or detract from the professional image of Agency employees.

Section 2. The mode of attire for the workplace shall be business casual. Examples of such clothing include casual slacks (e.g. khakis, cords), dress slacks, dresses, skirts, blouses, dress shirts, casual shirts with collars or banded/turtle necks and/or sweaters. Neckties shall not be mandatory in any facility. Shoes shall be neat and clean. Articles of inappropriate attire include, but are not limited to, jogging suits, shorts, sweats (pants, shirts, shorts), jeans, tee/tank/muscle/sleeveless shirts (for men), tee/tank/halter/tube tops (for women), and shirts with large lettering and/or slogans. Clothing having sexual connotations, written or pictured, is not permitted. Revealing, ripped or disheveled clothing of any kind is unacceptable. Hats and caps are not to be worn inside the facility. Flip-flops, flat sandals and athletic shoes are prohibited. Buttons or clothing displaying political advertising and/or slogans that are in violation of the Hatch Act are not permitted; however, the display and wearing of Union insignias such as pins, pocket penholders or tie tacks shall be permitted. Apparel shall not be considered inappropriate solely because it displays the Union logo or insignia.

Section 3. Employees, while working midnight shifts, shall be exempt from the requirements of Section 2.

Section 4. If an employee reports for duty dressed inappropriately, on the first occasion the Agency may require the employee to obtain and change into appropriate attire. Should that necessitate the employee leaving the workplace, it shall be done while the employee is in leave status and using accrued annual leave, accrued credit hours, or accrued compensatory time. Should there be a recurrence, it shall be dealt with as misconduct and the employee will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Agency directives and this Agreement.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

EAP is a program made available to all FAA employees and their families. This service is free of charge. The Human Resource Office has information about EAP upon request.

Positive Work Environment:

We strive to provide a pleasant work environment, free of harassment, foul language, bullies, etc. We want all our employees to feel comfortable and safe in their workplace. As a result, we take harassment of any kind very seriously, and it will not be tolerated. Please exercise a professional demeanor at all times. As with all policies, if you have any questions, please contact your Front Line Manager.

General Performance Appraisal Document:

This documents your performance and is signed after a discussion with your Front Line Manager. While assigned to the Training Department, the Training Manager is your Front Line Manager. This is an opportunity for dialogue between

you and your Front Line Manager as to what expectations are and whether or not you are meeting those expectations.

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA):

NATCA is the Union for Air Traffic Control Specialists. Membership in NATCA is optional. The NATCA office location will be covered in the facility tour.

Phone Usage in Operations:

Area Operations Phones: The FAA phone in each area is intended for business use. Examples of recognized business uses include schedule questions, leave requests, medical questions, coordination between FAA facilities, and emergencies. This phone number should not be given out as a “work contact number” to private parties or other businesses. Employees should not expect Front Line Managers to routinely accept personal messages. Please explain this to your family and friends. Phones Provided Outside of Operations: The facility has several locations where phones are provided for making free local phone calls. Cell Phones and Personal Digital Assistants: It has been determined that cellular telephones can cause audio rectification interference to air traffic controller headsets. This harmful interference has the possibility of seriously degrading, obstructing, or interrupting radio frequency transmissions. Due to the safety implications related to this issue, cellular phones shall be completely powered off, not left on vibrate or in silent mode. This includes the entire DSR control room. Prior to entering the control room cellular phones and PDAs must be turned OFF.

Local Area Information

Olathe Profile

Olathe was founded by Dr. John T. Barton in the spring of 1857. He rode to the center of Johnson County, Kansas, and staked two quarter sections of land as the town site. He later described his ride to friends: "...the prairie was covered with verbena and other wild flowers. I kept thinking the land was beautiful and that I should name the town Beautiful." Purportedly, Barton asked a Shawnee interpreter how to say "Beautiful" in his native language. The interpreter responded, "Olathe." Olathe was not the first city established in Johnson County, but it quickly became the largest and was named the county seat in October 1859. The city's early days were filled with violence, as pro-slavery forces from nearby Missouri often clashed with local abolitionists. These conflicts were known on a large scale as Bleeding Kansas. As the 1850s came to a close, and as Kansas entered the Union as a free state in 1861, the violence lessened. However, a year later Confederate guerillas from Missouri led by William Quantrill surprised the residents and raided the city on September 7, 1862, killing a half dozen men, robbing numerous businesses and private homes, and destroying most of the city. Quantrill launched the raid because the people of Olathe were known for their abolitionism. Olathe served as a stop on the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail. Catering to travelers was the main source of income for local stores and businesses. The Mahaffie House, a popular resupply point for wagons headed westward, is today a registered historical site maintained by the City of Olathe. The staff wears period costumes, and stagecoach rides and farm animals make the site a favorite among children. Visitors participate in a Civil War re-enactment, Wild West Days, and other activities there. After the construction of the transcontinental railroad, the trails to the

west lost importance, and Olathe faded into obscurity and remained a small, sleepy prairie town. In the 1950s, the construction of the Interstate Highway system and, more directly, I-35, linked Olathe directly to nearby Kansas City. The result was tremendous residential growth as Olathe became a part of the Kansas City Metro Area. In the 1980s, Olathe experienced tremendous commercial growth, which also drew more residents. It is estimated that Olathe's population surpassed 100,000 in 2001, and current projections show Olathe's growth continuing as the city expands into the farm fields south, west and north of town.

Climate

Temperatures range from an average low below 20 °F (−7 °C) in January to an average high of nearly 90 °F (32 °C) in July. The temperature reaches 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 36 days per year and 100 °F (38 °C) an average of 3 days per year. The minimum temperature falls below freezing (32°F) an average of 102 days per year. Typically the first fall freeze occurs between mid-October and the first week of November, and the last spring freeze occurs between the end of March and the third week of April. The area receives over 40 inches (1,000 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received in May and June—the April–June period averages 30 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 28½ to almost 53 inches. There are on average 96 days of measurable precipitation per year. Winter snowfall averages about 17 inches, but the median is 11 inches (280 mm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 10 days per year with at least an inch of snow being received on seven of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 25 days per year.

Attractions in and around the area

There are endless amounts of activities and attractions in and around the Kansas City area, here are just a few to get you started:

• Kansas City Royals (Major League Baseball) • Kansas City T-Bones (Minor League Baseball) • Kansas City Chiefs (Football) • Kansas City Wizards (Soccer) • Kansas Speedway • Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun • Crown Center • Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art • Liberty Memorial Museum • Negro Leagues baseball Museum

Online Resources

Local Area Resources www.olatheks.org www.jocogov.org

Chamber of Commerce www.olathe.org

Local News www.kansascity.com www.theolathenews.com

Olathe Schools www.olathe.k12.ks.us

Local Sports Teams

Baseball: Kansas City Royals www.kansascity.royals.mlb.com

Football: Kansas City Chiefs www.kcchiefs.com

Soccer: Kansas City Wizards www.web.mlsnet.com/

ZKC Directory

Manager’s Office 913-254-8403

Facility (Watch Desk) 913-254-8500

Facility Night & Weekend 913-254-8500

Training Department 913-254-8471

Guard Shack 913-254-8699

Personnel Office 913-254-8412