The Department of Transportation is implementing new strategies to address the long-standing staffing shortage of air traffic controllers in the United States. The initiative includes a revamped hiring process and increased salaries to attract more individuals to pursue careers in air traffic control.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited the Federal Aviation Administration’s Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City to discuss the new hiring approach. The hiring window opened on Thursday and will remain active until March 17.
In a statement, Duffy emphasized the administration's commitment to resolving the staffing challenges that have persisted for over a decade. The recruitment process will now be based on merit, aligning with the administration's focus on merit-based hiring practices.
President Donald Trump recently signed a memorandum terminating the FAA's previous hiring policy that promoted Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts. The agency aims to streamline the hiring process by reducing it from eight steps to five, expediting the recruitment timeline by more than four months.
As part of the new measures, the FAA is increasing starting salaries by 30% for candidates entering the academy in Oklahoma. The average certified professional controller currently earns over $160,000 annually.
Airlines for America, a prominent industry group, expressed support for the government's efforts to address the shortage of air traffic controllers. The organization highlighted the critical need for additional controllers amid rising air travel volumes and cargo shipments.
Despite the proposed delay in the mandatory retirement age for air traffic controllers, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association remains skeptical. The union argues that the current proposal would not sufficiently address the nationwide staffing deficit, which stands at approximately 3,600 controllers short of the required full staffing level.
