Virginia College Becomes Latest to Join ATC ‘Fast Track’ Program

Shenandoah University is the 13th university and first from Old Dominion State to join FAA’s E-CTI initiative.

Jack Daleo

Friday, September 18, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The FAA is turning to universities in order to swell the ranks of air traffic controllers. [Credit: iStock/Jason Doiy]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is expanding its Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (E-CTI) with universities like Shenandoah to fast-track training for new air traffic controllers, allowing graduates to bypass the FAA Academy.
This expansion aims to combat a persistent and significant shortage of air traffic controllers, with the agency still thousands below its staffing targets.
The E-CTI program is a key component of a broader government strategy to boost controller numbers and retention, which also includes increased hiring, salary incentives, and diverse recruitment efforts.

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The FAA continues to expand its use of universities as hubs for training the next generation of air traffic controllers as it contends with a long-standing shortage of personnel.

Shenandoah University on Thursday became the 13th school and first in Virginia to join the agency’s Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (E-CTI). The program will allow graduates to bypass the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, where most ATCs receive initial training, and immediately begin instruction on the airspace they will one day oversee.