The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released updated plans on how it intends to hire, train and develop new air traffic controllers and aviation safety personnel.
The plan accounts for training with aircraft with electric and hybrid systems, increased drone presence, growth in commercial space travel and a number of technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI).
The latest Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan states that the FAA expects to hire at least 8,900 new air traffic controllers through 2028, including 2,000 in 2025.
The Aviation Safety Workforce Plan sets out the provision for hiring around 4,600 safety inspectors and engineers through 2034.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, said:Under President Trump’s leadership, the USDOT isn’t just solving today’s problems. By looking ahead and planning for the future of transportation, we can ensure America remains the global aerospace leader.
Putting the best and brightest in our towers and in the field will allow us to make flying safer, reduce delays and cancellations, and bring about a Golden Age of travel.
The aviation ecosystem is rapidly evolving and the FAA must adapt to unprecedented changes,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Our success depends on highly skilled and dedicated air traffic control and aviation safety inspector workforces and growing both is a top priority for the FAA.
The FAA has recently taken action to expedite both its air traffic controller hiring and training, with a recent ‘supercharged’ hiring initative in March seeing the qualification and referral of over 8,320 candidates to the controller aptitude exam.
Secretary Duffy also revealed a new package of actions to further speed up the hiring of air traffic controllers, including financial incentives, rewarding Academy graduates who are assigned to hard-to-staff facilities and expediting routine medical and security clearances.
The FAA has also committed to to a year-round hiring track for experienced controllers from both the military and private sectors, filling the FAA academy and expanding its capacity, expanding the Enhanced Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) and deploying new & upgraded Tower Simulation Systems at 95 facilities.
