FAA extends initiatives to ‘supercharge’ ATC hiring
May 2, 2025
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has unveiled a new package of actions claiming to “further supercharge the air traffic controller workforce,” part of a long-awaited initiative (first launched in February) to increase hiring and training of new controllers. This, explained acting FAA Administrator Chris Rochleau, is a plan already beginning to pay off, with one of the first applicants set to start Academy training next month.
The FAA has upped its ATC recruitment actions in recent months; explaining its intention to hire “the brightest and the best” candidates as part of the larger plan to overhaul the ageing ATC system. However, alongside a shortened application process and promised salary increase, a further set of retention and hiring initiatives has now been revealed – something Duffy promised will bring the government “one step closer to reversing decades of staffing declines”.
These new initiatives include providing financial incentives of $5,000 to graduates and new hires for completing initial training milestones, rewarding academy graduates assigned to “hard-to-staff” facilities (a $10,000 lump sum), and reducing the time taken to complete routine medical and security clearances.
Additionally, endeavours to retain existing personnel will see controllers eligible to retire but under 56 will receive a lump sum payment of an additional 20% every year they continue to work. Veteran military controllers will also be able to ‘bypass the normal announcement process’ and given a preferred list of facilities to work at, commanding higher pay.
During a February 2025 tour of the FAA’s Academy at the Mile Monroney Aeronautical Centre, Duffy asserted that the Trump administration is committed to addressing the current staffing shortage – describing this as “a known challenge for over a decade”. Duffy added: “I witnessed firsthand the dedication, skill, and rigour that our future air traffic controllers bring to their training and the urgent need to do all that we can to recruit more people”.
Alongside a recruitment drive, Duffy’s new plan includes changing the current FAA eight-step hiring process to a five-step one, claiming to reduce the process by around four month overall. This, clarified Duffy, has enabled the FAA to refer more than 8,320 candidates to take an initial aptitude exam in recent months. “Thousands” of candidates have now progressed to the next stage of the process, with priority given for those scoring highest on the test.
He also announced that ATC starting salaries would increase by 30% for candidates attending the academy, confirming that “the average certified professional controller makes over $160,000 per year”.
In order to bolster the estimated 57%-73% of trainees graduating, the Oklahma Academy will also be establishing a ‘Learning Centre’ in June to offer further additional support to students.
