The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). [Shutterstock/TJ Brown]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA has successfully reduced the air traffic controller (ATC) hiring process by five months through a "supercharge" initiative.
The streamlined process prioritizes merit-based selection (highest ATSA scores), cuts red tape, and has already referred over 8,320 candidates to the aptitude exam.
The FAA has increased starting salaries for academy trainees by 30 percent to attract more talent, with average certified controller pay exceeding $160,000 annually.
According to a news release by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the FAA has qualified and referred over 8,320 candidates to the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) aptitude exam since the latest window closed on March 17.
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Caleb Revill is a journalist, writer and lifelong learner working as a Junior Writer for Firecrown. When he isn't tackling breaking news, Caleb is on the lookout for fascinating feature stories.
