FAA Reinstates Flight Deck Training for ATCs

Air traffic controllers will be able to apply for jumpseat access to gain firsthand experience on flight deck operations.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Reinstatement of the Flight Deck Training program will give controllers jumpseat access to flights and a firsthand view of how their instructions impact flight crews. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is reinstating its Flight Deck Training (FDT) program, allowing air traffic controllers to observe flight operations from aircraft cockpits.
This initiative aims to improve controllers' understanding of pilot workload and the impact of ATC instructions, fostering better communication and enhancing overall aviation safety.
Supported by the FAA and NATCA, the program was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and will formally restart after Thanksgiving, with controllers able to voluntarily apply for limited annual access on participating airlines.

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Air traffic controllers will soon be able to apply for jumpseat access to commercial, general aviation, and military aircraft in order to improve their understanding of the interplay between ATC instructions and the flight deck.

The FAA on Wednesday announced the reinstatement of its Flight Deck Training (FDT) program, which it said was paused at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.