US Transportation Secretary, Sean P. Duffy, has announced a plan to increase the hiring of new air traffic controllers throughout the country.
The announcement comes following the Secretary’s tour of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Centre in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in which Duffy met with a selection of officials and students.
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US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, said:Today’s visit reaffirmed how being an air traffic controller is one of the best, most rewarding jobs in America, and that the next generation at the Academy is the best in the world. I witnessed firsthand the dedication, skill, and rigor that our future air traffic controllers bring to their training and the urgent need to do all that we can to recruit more people to join in our shared mission of safety in our skies.
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 has announced the opening of a hiring window between 27 February and 17 March, with candidates given ‘Well Qualified’ scores on their Air Traffic Skills Assessment Tests (ATSA) will given priority for the Academy.
Starting salaries will also be increased by 30% for Academy graduates, with current averages sitting at 160,000 USD per annum.
The FAA has also stated it will be streamlining the hiring process, reducing the current 8-step training journey to 5-steps, with successful trainees set to be assigned to a tower or similar facility across the United States, wherein which they will work alongside experienced air traffic controllers to achieve full certification.