The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently launched the Control Tower Operator Partnership (CTO-P), a new pathway to becoming an air traffic controller at a Federal Contract Tower (FCT).
Private companies run FCTs, which manage air traffic in small towns and around municipal airports, but adhere to FAA safety standards.
“We’re committed to boosting both the FAA and FCT controller workforces,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. “We look forward to partnering with organizations that will use the FAA’s rigorous standards to train the next generation.”
Under the partnership, graduates of FAA-approved institutions will be integrated into the FCT system to train to become certified controllers. Graduates will undergo on-the-job training at one of the 265 FCTS and, after obtaining 52 weeks of FCT experience, will be eligible for direct hire into the FAA.
CTO-P institutions will use the same FAA-approved curriculum as the FAA’s air traffic controller Academy in Oklahoma City. To become a partner institution, CTO-P institutions must meet specific requirements.
The FAA is on track to hire at least 2,000 controllers in 2025. In March, the FAA streamlined hiring and increased academy trainees’ starting salary by 30 percent.
The FAA also launched the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative to feed graduates to FAA facilities.