U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced on April 10 that the Federal Aviation Administration will open its annual hiring window for air traffic control specialists at midnight on April 17.
The initiative aims to attract young adults, particularly those with skills developed through gaming and alternative career paths, into one of the nation's key safety professions. The campaign is designed to reach candidates who may not hold traditional college degrees but possess abilities such as multitasking, spatial awareness, and problem-solving.
“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 U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. 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.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said, “Safety is the FAA’s top priority, and that starts with hiring top talent and equipping them with world-class tools. We need the best people, the best training, and the best tools because we expect the best results.”
The FAA reports almost 11,000 controllers are currently in service nationwide with over 4,000 trainees in progress. Hiring has increased by 20 percent from January through September last year compared to previous periods, while process improvements have reduced onboarding times by more than five months.
Applicants do not need a college degree; salaries can exceed six figures within three years on the job. The agency encourages early applications via USAJobs.gov as this year’s hiring window will close after receiving 8,000 applications.
