U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced his department will “supercharge” the hiring of air traffic controllers to meet pressing needs.
After touring the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Duffy announced new policies aimed at bringing more people to the air traffic control field. Duffy said he hoped the new hiring opportunity would bring more of the country’s “best and brightest into the aviation community.”
“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,” Duffy 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 FAA will open its hiring window to become an air traffic controller between Feb. 27 and March 17. Officials said the agency aims to make the application process more efficient and the training process more affordable. Additionally, the agency will raise the bar on safety by recruiting through a merit-based process, that would give priority admission to the academy to candidates that receive a “well-qualified” score on their Air Traffic Skills Assessment Test. The FAA will also increase the starting salaries for candidates who go to the Academy by 30 percent. The FAA will also change the hiring process from an 8-step process to a 5-step process. Duffy said the change will accelerate the time-to-hire and shave more than four months off the process.
Once trainees successfully pass through the academy the agency said, they will be assigned to a tower or other facility and will work with experienced air traffic controllers toward their certification.
Several aviation industry groups applauded the move.
“We applaud Secretary Duffy for acting with urgency to address the longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers by rolling out the first step to deliver on President (Donald) Trump’s agenda to prioritize safety and modernize systems,” Airlines for America said in a statement. “The U.S. is almost 3,000 controllers short at a time when we are seeing record air travel volumes and increased reliance on air cargo shipments, and we are grateful for bold leadership that provides effective, workable solutions.”