Overview
- The FAA's annual hiring window for air traffic controllers opens Friday, April 17 at 12 a.m. ET, with a new Department of Transportation video targeting gamers and pay advertised at $155,000 after three years.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the gaming-focused pitch is meant to reach young adults who share skills useful in high-speed monitoring and decision-making.
- The agency reports recent gains in hiring and a faster process, yet it remains thousands short of its target after a decade that saw controller ranks fall 6% as flights needing air traffic control rose 10%.
- Only about 2% of applicants become certified after two to five years of vetting and training, and a watchdog audit cites too few instructors, limited training capacity, an outdated curriculum, and high dropout rates.
- To widen and retain the workforce, the FAA is offering $5,000 for academy completion, $10,000 for hard-to-fill posts, 20% lump-sum bonuses for those who stay past retirement eligibility, and an under-31 age limit for first-time applicants.