The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it had signed an agreement with the University of North Dakota to become the latest school to enter the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program.
The school joins Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Tulsa Community College and the University of Oklahoma as the first schools to offer the same curriculum and advanced technology offered at the FAA Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Officials with the FAA said students in the AT-CTI program must pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) before receiving their official endorsement certificate from the Enhanced AT-CTI school, as well as meet medical and security requirements and pass performance verifications. After meeting these requirements and receiving an endorsement certificate, graduates can report directly to an FAA facility to begin their training.
The Enhanced AT-CTI program is different than the standard AT-CTI program, officials said, where graduates go to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City but can bypass the introductory Air Traffic Basics Course. This is different than the Standard AT-CTI program, where graduates go to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. Officials with the FAA said the agency is using modernized simulators to help new hired get trained more efficiently.
Prior to receiving an official endorsement certificate from an Enhanced AT-CTI school, graduates must pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA), meet the medical and security requirements, and pass the performance verifications. After meeting these requirements and receiving an endorsement certificate, graduates can report directly to an FAA facility to begin their training.
In September, the agency said it has a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers to meet demand. The shortage has led to flight delays, near collisions and carriers cutting back on their schedules. Currently, the agency has more than 14,000 air traffic controllers, with another 3,400 controllers in various stages of training.
The FAA said it will continue to take aggressive action to increase the number of air traffic controllers. The agency said in 2023, it hired 1,500 controllers and had hired an additional 1,800 this year. Officials said the goal for the agency was to hire 2,000 more controllers in 2025. The FAA said it has a year-round hiring opportunity for experienced controllers from the military and from private industry.