The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will officially open its annual air traffic control (ATCS) hiring window at 12:00 (Midnight) on 17 April.
To celebrate the occasion; the FAA has launched a new campaign that aims to reach out to young people capable of multitasking, in possession of acute spacial awareness, adept at strategy & problem solving, and display high cognitive functions.
Currently, the FAA is experiencing its highest staffing level in six years, with almost 11,000 controllers in service and over 4,000 trainees currently in preparation. The Administration has hired 20% more controllers from January to September in 2025 compared to the same time the year before, and has onboarded a record level of controllers, with 2,400 brought in since March 2025.
In the 2025 Fiscal Year; the FAA hit its hiring goal with the addition of over 2,000 new controllers. Thus far in 2026, the Administration has hit almost 50% of its goal for 2026, with 1,200 new controllers onboarded to date.
US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, said: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.
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.
