ATC hiring supercharged

OKLAHOMA CITY — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has unveiled a new plan to “supercharge” the hiring of air traffic controllers.

The announcement followed a tour of the FAA’s Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, according to FAA officials.

“The FAA is opening its hiring window to become an air traffic controller for the best and brightest in our country from Thursday, Feb. 27 to March 17, and we are making it more efficient than ever to apply and more affordable to begin training,” FAA officials said.

Duffy acknowledged that an air traffic controller staffing shortage has been a “known challenge for over the decade.”

According to Duffy, the streamlined hiring process has several features, including:

• Candidates who receive the highest score of “Well Qualified” on their Air Traffic Skills Assessment Test will be given priority for the academy.
• Increase starting salaries by 30% for candidates who go to the academy.
• Within about three years of graduating the academy, the average certified professional controller will earn over $160,000 per year.
• Streamline hiring to improve efficiency by changing the current eight-step hiring process at the FAA to a five-step process.
• This change will accelerate the time-to-hire for these positions by shaving more than four months off the old process.
• Once these trainees successfully pass through the academy, they’ll be assigned to a tower or other facility across the country, where they’ll work with experienced air traffic controllers toward their certification.

For more information: FAA.gov/ATC-Hiring