FAA to ‘Supercharge’ ATC Hiring, DOT Secretary Says

Following Duffy's announcement, the agency said its hiring window, which opened Thursday, will remain so until March 17.

The supercharge plan was announced after the DOT secretary took a tour of the FAA Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. As part of the tour, Duffy met with key FAA officials as well as academy students to discuss the role air traffic controllers play in keeping the traveling public safe.

“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," Duffy said in a statement. "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.”

The DOT secretary  also pointed out that the staffing shortage had been a "known challenge for over a decade, and this administration is committed to solving it.”

The FAA said that it was streamlining the hiring process that is currently eight steps to five, which will "accelerate the time-to-hire for these critical positions by shaving more than four months off the old process."  

Once trainees graduate from the academy, they will be assigned to an ATC tower or other facility across the country where they will work with experienced controllers as they gain skills toward certification, FAA said.