FAA Seeks to Recruit Contracted ATCs to Its Ranks

Agency’s latest action to address a long-standing shortage would tap into a pool of privately managed air traffic controllers.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

FAA pilot program seeks to convert two federal contract towers to agency-owned facilities. [Credit: iStock/JasonDoiy]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is launching a pilot program to convert federal contract towers (FCTs) into directly managed FAA facilities, integrating their privately employed air traffic controllers into the agency's workforce.
This initiative seeks to alleviate the FAA's persistent shortage of air traffic controllers, which is estimated at approximately 1,500 under its newly revised staffing model.
The program aims to standardize training for these controllers, enabling potential relocation, and will initially transition two high-activity FCTs with funding authorized by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
The decision comes amid existing staffing challenges within the FCT program itself and without the involvement of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) in the FAA's updated staffing model.

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In its latest move to combat a longstanding shortfall of air traffic controllers (ATCs), the FAA will look to swell its ranks by dipping into a pool of privately managed controllers.

The agency on Monday said it will launch a pilot program to take ownership of federal contract towers (FCTs)—ATC facilities that follow FAA qualification and training requirements but are operated by non-agency personnel. The converted towers would be placed under direct FAA oversight, and their controllers would receive standardized training that allows them to either remain at their facility or be relocated to one of the agency’s approximately 300 other sites.