Sean Duffy boosts air traffic control training amid nationwide shortage

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is taking steps to address the nationwide air traffic controller shortage by expanding the number of schools that can participate in a fast-tracked air traffic control training program. Recent control tower mishaps and crashes have highlighted the urgent need for more air traffic controllers in the U.S.

The Federal Aviation Administration is currently facing a shortage of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers, prompting the Trump administration to add schools to a program that offers training equivalent to what students would receive at the FAA’s Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City.

The Enhanced Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program allows selected institutions to provide FAA Academy air traffic control training to their students, who then proceed directly to an FAA facility to begin their training. This eliminates the need for additional training at the Air Traffic Controller Academy.

In August, Nashua Community College became the fifth school to join the program, joining the University of North Dakota, SUNY Schenectady County Community College, Vaughn College, and Middle Georgia State College (Eastman). Secretary Duffy expressed his commitment to solving the air traffic controller shortage, stating, “Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re solving the air traffic controller shortage one step at a time.”

The initiative, launched under former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, has seen additional schools such as Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Tulsa Community College, and the University of Oklahoma join the program. Applicants undergo the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam and must meet medical and security requirements.

In addition to the AT-CTI program, the Department of Transportation has introduced a program that offers financial incentives to graduates and new hires who complete initial training milestones, particularly at hard-to-staff facilities. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the importance of investing in the next generation of air traffic controllers to ensure the safety and efficiency of the national airspace.

These initiatives aim to build a resilient workforce capable of handling the challenges of tomorrow, while addressing the immediate staffing needs in the air traffic control industry. The Department of Transportation’s proactive approach to training and incentivizing new air traffic controllers is critical to maintaining the safety and efficiency of air travel in the United States.

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