Overview
- The watchdog said the audit will begin in the coming weeks with work at FAA headquarters in Washington and at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.
- Inspectors will assess instructor availability, training facility capacity, trainee outcomes, and progress on updating the controller curriculum.
- The FAA Academy posted a trainee failure rate of more than 30% in fiscal year 2024, the inspector general reported.
- The FAA remains about 3,500 controllers below staffing targets, forcing mandatory overtime and extended schedules at facilities.
- Congress approved funding to hire 2,500 controllers this year as the FAA offers 20% retention payments and 30% higher starting salaries to speed hiring.