Assessment of Staffing Needs of Systems Specialists in AviationAssessment of Staffing Needs of Systems Specialists in Aviation Within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Airway Transportation System Specialists ATSS) maintain and certify the equipment in the National Airspace System (NAS). In fiscal year 2012, Technical Operations had a budget of $1. 7B. Thus, Technical Operations includes approximately 19 percent of the total FAA employees and less than 12 percent of the $15. 9 billion total FAA