Nolen Advises To 'Go Where Audience Is' To Build Workforce
The FAA looked to TikTok and gamers to recruit air traffic controllers and results far exceeded the agency's expectations, FAA's Nolen said.
Air Traffic Controllers working in tower overlooking airport
An FAA campaign looked to TikTok and gamers to recruit air traffic controllers and results far exceeded the agency's expectations, according to acting Administrator Billy Nolen. (Photo: FAA)

FAA acting Administrator Billy Nolen stressed the importance of “thinking outside of the box” as the industry attempts to bring in new talent and build the workforce. The agency has learned that “you’ve got to go where the audience is,” Nolen said during an RTCA webinar on Wednesday. “Chances are the people we need are probably not on this [webinar].”

He cited as an example an FAA campaign to recruit air traffic control candidates. “When we were looking to…bring on the next generation of air traffic controllers, we went to TikTok influencers to help get the word out. We went to gamers to tell us…some of the skillsets.”

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