Paving the Way for an Air Traffic Controller Ramp-up | Aviation International News

Paving the Way for a Controller Ramp-up

With the numbers ebbing, the FAA is working to build up its controller workforce

ATC tower — With numbers ebbing, the FAA is expanding efforts to expand its air traffic controller workforce.

By David Hughes

May 1, 2024

The FAA plans to fill every seat at the controller training academy in Oklahoma City and expand capacity in one of several agency initiatives to ramp up controller hiring and training. This effort comes as controller staffing constraints have come under the spotlight in the wake of a spate of high-profile close calls in the last year. But building up this workforce takes time and can be complex.

The controller academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) in Oklahoma City provides basic training for new hires. During the pandemic, it allowed new hires to complete the first course at home and then report to Oklahoma. However, the academy was closed for four months, and training at facilities was paused for eight or more months during the pandemic as the FAA focused on keeping ATC facilities open while dealing with Covid.

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