DOT Secretary Sean Duffy has announced the launch of a new campaign aimed at reaching the next generation of air traffic controllers.
The campaign is supposed to target young adults who possess skills that are transferable to ATC. The FAA claims air traffic control is one of the U.S.’s most appealing career paths as it does not require a college degree and has a salary projection of over six figures within three years. Desirable skills include:
Demonstrated high cognitive functions
Multitasking
Spatial awareness
Strategy and problem-solving
“Safety is the FAA’s top priority, and that starts with hiring top talent and equipping them with world-class tools,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “We need the best people, the best training, and the best tools because we expect the best results.”
The FAA claims that it has seen the highest staffing level in six years, with approximately 11,000 controllers in service and over 4,000 trainees. It also claims to have almost reached 50% of its Fiscal Year 2026 hiring goal with almost 1,200 new controllers onboarded to date.
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“To reach the next generation of air traffic controllers, we need to adapt. This campaign’s innovative communication style and focus on gaming taps into a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller,” said Duffy. “Thanks to President Trump — we’ve already made incredible progress with the highest controller staffing levels in six years. There’s never been a more exciting time to become a controller and level up into a career with a strong purpose—keeping American families safe.”
The FAA will be opening its annual air traffic control (ATCS) hiring window at 12 a.m. on April 17. The hiring window will close once the FAA receives 8,000 applications. Applicants are encouraged to apply early on USAJobs.gov.
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