Oklahoma City

DOT Secretary announces plan to 'supercharge' ATC hiring to combat staffing shortage

US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a new plan to supercharge the hiring of air traffic controllers, following a tour of the FAA's Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.

Secretary Duffy met with FAA officials and academy students to highlight the critical role air traffic controllers play in keeping the American people safe.

“Today’s visit reaffirmed how being an air traffic controller is one of the best, most rewarding jobs in America, and that the next generation at the Academy is the best in the world," he said.

"I witnessed firsthand the dedication, skill, and rigor that our future air traffic controllers bring to their training and the urgent need to do all that we can to recruit more people to join in our shared mission of safety in our skies.”

“This staffing shortage has been a known challenge for over a decade, and this administration is committed to solving it. The new streamlined hiring process is just the first step to deliver on President Trump’s agenda to prioritize the American people’s safety and modernize the federal government.”

The FAA is opening its hiring window from Thursday, February 27th to March 17th, making it more efficient than ever to apply and more affordable to begin training.

In support of President Trump’s priorities for keeping Americans safe in aviation, the Academy will:

Raise the bar on safety by recruiting the best and brightest through a merit-based process.
Candidates that receive the highest score of “Well Qualified” on their Air Traffic Skills Assessment Test (ATSA) will be given priority for the Academy.
Increase starting salaries by 30% for candidates who go to the Academy.
Within about three years of graduating the Academy, the average certified professional controller makes over $160,000 per year.
Streamline hiring to improve efficiency by changing the current 8-step hiring process at the FAA to a 5-step process.
This change will accelerate the time-to-hire for these critical positions by shaving more than four months off the old process.

Once these trainees successfully pass through the Academy, they’ll be assigned to a tower or other facility across the country, where they’ll work with experienced air traffic controllers toward their certification.

More details at: faa.gov/atc-hiring