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FAA Still Looking for More Controllers

The FAA's air traffic controller hiring window remains open until September 20. Mitre
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA has opened a special hiring window for experienced air traffic controllers, distinct from its ongoing recruitment for new trainees.
  • Applicants must possess a minimum of 52 consecutive weeks of full-time air traffic control experience from various sources (e.g., military, private, or FAA facilities) within the last five years.
  • These experienced candidates are exempt from the 31-year-old cutoff for trainees but must be 35 or younger when officially hired.
  • The hiring window for these positions closes on September 20, requiring applicants to be U.S. citizens and willing to work at any FAA facility.
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Despite the FAA’s early-August job-vacancy announcement seeking candidates to fill 1,400 trainee controller openings, an effort that netted the agency tens of thousands of applicants, the agency said it won’t overlook another possible pool of ATC experience. The agency took the somewhat unusual step last week of publishing a job announcement specifically aimed at men and women with previous experience controlling air traffic in a tower or radar room.

Rob Mark

Rob Mark is an award-winning journalist, business jet pilot, flight instructor, and blogger.

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