The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is hiring entry-level air traffic controllers, but it will take years of hiring to end the staffing crisis, the National Air Traffic Controls Association (NATCA) said.
“While our controllers do an outstanding job of ensuring our National Airspace System remains the safest in the world, the FAA struggles to adequately staff many of its largest, high-volume facilities,” NATCA President Paul Rinaldi said. “There is no margin to handle additional staffing declines without causing delays and affecting system efficiency.”
Since 2011, the number of certified professional controllers has dropped 10 percent to 10,532, marking a 28-year low. Staffing was at crisis levels in 2015 before rebounding slightly.
The FAA’s target is 12,896 certified controllers. It is currently 2,300 controllers short.
Applications were accepted for a week earlier this month. The FAA intends to fill 1,400 Air Traffic Control Specialist vacancies. The role is considered entry level and pays $100,000 a year.
Applicants will be divided into two pools. The first contains veterans and those who attended a Collegiate Training Initiative program, while the second pool is open to any applicant.
Those selected for the position will train for months at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City before being transferred to other training facilities.