The US Government has launched a plan to “supercharge” the recruitment of air traffic controllers.
The FAA has acknowledged that it is understaffed for several years, with the most recent figures reporting a shortfall of up to 3,000 controllers, causing the agency to reduce the capacity offered to airlines in the Washington DC and New York areas.
The move was announced by US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy last week during his visit of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma. He said, “This staffing shortage has been a known challenge for over a decade, and this administration is committed to solving it.
“The new streamlined hiring process is just the first step to deliver on President Trump’s agenda to prioritize the American people’s safety and modernize the federal government.”
The FAA hiring campaign launched last week and will run until March 17.
The FAA said it is making the hiring process more efficient and more affordable by streamlining the current 8-step process to a 5-step process, reducing the time it takes by more than four months.
Starting salaries for candidates who go to the Academy are to increase by 30%. The average certified professional controller makes over $160,000 per year according to the US Government.
Candidates that receive the highest score of “Well Qualified” on their Air Traffic Skills Assessment Test (ATSA) will be given priority for the Academy.
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.