• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
General Aviation News

General Aviation News

Because flying is cool

  • Pictures of the Day
    • Submit Picture of the Day
  • Stories
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Products
    • NTSB Accidents
    • ASRS Reports
  • Comments
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ad
  • Events
  • Print Archives
  • Subscribe
  • Show Search
Hide Search

FAA puts out Help Wanted sign

By General Aviation News Staff · August 5, 2016 ·

The FAA will be accepting applications from entry-level candidates for air traffic controller positions from Aug. 8-15, 2016.

“We provide the safest, most efficient airspace system in the world and we need exceptional people to support our mission,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

The job vacancy announcement for the position of Air Traffic Control Specialist-Trainee will be available on USAJobs.gov, the federal government’s official job site. If you’re interested in applying, you can establish an online account today.

Photo courtesy DOT
Photo courtesy DOT

This is a highly competitive position. The agency expects more than 25,000 applications for approximately 1,400 positions during the seven-day job opening.

All applicants will need to meet basic qualifications and answer specific questions for this position once the job is announced.

Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCS) are responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of air traffic through the nation’s airspace. Developmental controllers receive a wide range of training in controlling and separating live air traffic within designated airspace at and around an air traffic control tower or radar approach control facility, or air route traffic control center. As a new ATCS, you will spend your first several months of employment in an intensive training program at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.

The FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 affected the ATCS hiring process. As a result of this legislation, candidates who graduated from a Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program are required to submit proof of graduation and an appropriate recommendation from the CTI institution. Eligible veteran candidates are required to provide a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active duty within 120 days of the announcement closing. The FAA strongly encourages potential applicants to take the necessary measures to obtain this information as soon as possible to receive consideration for ATCS positions.

Reader Interactions

Share this story

  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit Share on Reddit
  • Share via Email Share via Email

Become a better informed pilot.

Join 110,000 readers each month and get the latest news and entertainment from the world of general aviation direct to your inbox, daily.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Curious to know what fellow pilots think on random stories on the General Aviation News website? Click on our Recent Comments page to find out. Read our Comment Policy here.

Comments

  1. Paul says

    August 8, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Finally the powers that be appear to be coming to their senses and scrapping that ridiculous and plainly stupid diversity hiring program which rejected applicants with college training designed to give them a leg up on being hired as an air traffic controller in favor of hiring someone unqualified but possessing the politically correct gender and/or race in accordance with Obama PC.

© 2026 Flyer Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Comment Policy
  • Submit Press Release
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Photographer’s Guidelines