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From the Wall Street Journal: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the federal government would take steps to hire more air-traffic controllers and spend billions of dollars to upgrade the nation’s aviation system.
As part of plans to increase staffing, Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration would boost pay for students at its air-traffic control academy in Oklahoma City by 30% to $22.84 an hour in the coming days.
Duffy said Thursday the FAA would streamline hiring and shave more than four months from the process of training new air-traffic controllers.
“We have to pay young people more to stay in the academy,” Duffy said, after touring the FAA’s academy and meeting with students and staff. “If we have the best and brightest and we pay people more, we’re going to address one of the problems we have, which is the washout rate.”
The secretary touted what graduates can earn: an average of $160,000. Pay varies by location, and the FAA said the figure didn’t include overtime.
Sec. Duffy has taken over a department which has seen the FAA struggling with low staffing at its air-traffic facilities in recent years.
In a press release, Duffy announced:
The FAA is opening its hiring window to become an air traffic controller for the best and brightest in our country from Thursday, Feb. 27–March 17, and we are making it more efficient than ever to apply and more affordable to begin training.
In support of President Trump’s priorities for keeping Americans safe in aviation, we will:
- Raise the bar on safety by recruiting the best and brightest through a merit-based process.
- Candidates that receive the highest score of “Well Qualified” on their Air Traffic Skills Assessment Test (ATSA) will be given priority for the Academy.
- Increase starting salaries by 30% for candidates who go to the Academy.
- The average certified professional controller makes over $160,000 per year.
- Streamline hiring to improve efficiency by changing the current 8-step hiring process at the FAA to a 5-step process.
- This change will accelerate the time-to-hire for these critical positions by shaving more than four months off the old process.
Once these trainees successfully pass through the Academy, they’ll be assigned to a tower or other facility across the country, where they’ll work with experienced air traffic controllers toward their certification.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 27, 2025
Elon Musk announced on X, “There is a shortage of top notch air traffic controllers. If you have retired, but are open to returning to work, please consider doing so.”
There is a shortage of top notch air traffic controllers. If you have retired, but are open to returning to work, please consider doing so.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 27, 2025
The FAA also posted a plea for applicants: “Join our team to become an entry-level air traffic controller and help shape the future of aviation! Discover if you meet the qualifications through our merit-based hiring process, ensuring safety and efficiency of our nation’s airspace. Apply now through March 17.”
Join our team to become an entry-level air traffic controller and help shape the future of aviation! Discover if you meet the qualifications through our merit-based hiring process, ensuring safety and efficiency of our nation’s airspace. Apply now through March 17!… pic.twitter.com/5C1vYLVh2k
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) February 27, 2025
The FAA intends to hire more air-traffic controllers as the U.S. takes steps to upgrade its aviation system https://t.co/UECGWqqebe
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 27, 2025
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