2011 US Code
Title 5 - Government Organization and Employees
Part III - EMPLOYEES (§§ 2101 - 10210)
Subpart A - General Provisions (§§ 2101 - 2954)
Chapter 21 - DEFINITIONS (§§ 2101 - 2109)
Section 2109 - Air traffic controller; Secretary

For the purpose of this title—

(1) “air traffic controller” or “controller” means a civilian employee of the Department of Transportation or the Department of Defense who, in an air traffic control facility or flight service station facility—

(A) is actively engaged—

(i) in the separation and control of air traffic; or

(ii) in providing preflight, inflight, or airport advisory service to aircraft operators; or

(B) is the immediate supervisor of any employee described in subparagraph (A); and

(2) “Secretary”, when used in connection with “air traffic controller” or “controller”, means the Secretary of Transportation with respect to controllers in the Department of Transportation, and the Secretary of Defense with respect to controllers in the Department of Defense.

(Added Pub. L. 92–297, §1(a), May 16, 1972, 86 Stat. 141; amended Pub. L. 96–347, §1(a), Sept. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 1150; Pub. L. 99–335, title II, §207(b), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 594.)

1986—Par. (1). Pub. L. 99–335 amended par. (1) generally including within term “air traffic controller” or “controller” references to a flight service station facility and to employment providing preflight, inflight, or airport advisory service to aircraft operators and striking out provision that regulations prescribed by the Secretary be used in determining who is an air traffic controller.

1980—Pub. L. 96–347 substituted “controller; Secretary” for “controller” in section catchline, and in text included employees of the Department of Defense within the meaning of air traffic controller or controller and defined “Secretary” to mean Secretary of Transportation with respect to controllers in the Department of Transportation and Secretary of Defense with respect to controllers in the Department of Defense.

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–335 effective Jan. 1, 1987, see section 702(a) of Pub. L. 99–335, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8401 of this title.

Section 3 of Pub. L. 96–347 provided that: “This Act [amending this section and sections 3307, 3381 to 3385, and 8335 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 8335 of this title] shall take effect on the later of—

“(1) October 1, 1980, or

“(2) the ninetieth day after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 12, 1980].”

Section effective on 90th day after May 16, 1972, see, section 10 of Pub. L. 92–297, set out as a note under section 3381 of this title.