DOT Secretary Announces Plan To Streamline Air Traffic Controller Hiring | Aviation International News

DOT Secretary Announces Plan To Supercharge ATC Hiring

Aviation organizations have expressed resounding support for the initiative

Controllers work inside a control tower — © FAA

By Amy Wilder • Writer

February 28, 2025

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy yesterday unveiled an initiative to accelerate the hiring of air traffic controllers after a recent visit to the FAA Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. With a streamlined process, the new hiring plan is designed to be more efficient and accessible for candidates.

Under the effort, the FAA is opening its hiring window for air traffic controllers from February 27 through March 17. NBAA, AOPA, and NATA are among the several aviation organizations expressing support for the initiative.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

AOPA

Bizav Traffic Impacted by UK Air Traffic Control Failure

Thousands of commercial airline flights were canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday

FAA Installs Surface Radars at Key Airports and Awards $74.3M to AT&T

KDCA and KEWR receive SMR-4 installations, while IDIQ AT&T covers coms

Surface Movement Radar installation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Merlin Clears a Certification Hurdle for AI in the Cockpit

Milestone covers the software that talks to air traffic control

Merlin’s Cessna Caravan in flight

Verti-Go Initiative to Lead European Airspace Update

Honeywell-led consortium to consider advanced air mobility integration

Vertical VX4 aircraft in flight

Wisk Tests 1:3 Supervisor Ratio for Autonomous Flight

NASA controllers used existing tools to manage simulated autonomous traffic

A controller monitors simulated traffic inside NASA’s air traffic control simulation laboratory at the agency’s Ames Research Center.

Modern Skies Coalition Urges $20B More for ATC Upgrades

Funds would build on $12.5 billion approved last year

Controllers work inside a control tower

FAA Taps L3Harris To Modernize Surveillance Network

Contract covers more than 700 ground stations nationwide

L3Harris will upgrade more than 700 FAA ground stations and operate the national aircraft tracking network through 2045 under a new contract.

FAA’s Wilbur To Improve Flight Delay Data Efficiencies

FAA completed an audit to strengthen NAS operations related to flight delays and cancellations

GAO cites hiring and training attrition and urges FAA to establish metrics, improve applicant status tools, and use collected data to guide changes.