44 years ago, on August 3, 1981, nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers, members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), walked out after contract talks with the Federal Aviation Administration collapsed. Just two days later, President Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 air traffic controllers who had ignored his order to return to work. Reagan branded the strike illegal. He threatened to fire any controller who failed to return to work within 48 hours. Federal judges