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FAA: ‘Supercharged’ ATC Hiring Plan Refers 8,000 Candidates

In an effort to boost hiring, the agency has raised its starting salary for trainee air traffic controllers by 30 percent.

Caleb Revill

Friday, March 21, 2025 at 05:47 PM ET

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Edited By: Steve Spears

The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). [Shutterstock/TJ Brown]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has significantly accelerated its air traffic controller hiring pipeline, reducing the process by five months through a "supercharge" initiative.
Over 8,320 candidates have been referred for the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam since March, with more than 190 already moving into the hiring process.
Key improvements include prioritizing merit, cutting red tape, and increasing the starting salary for academy trainees by 30 percent.

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The FAA announced Friday that five months have been shaved off the old hiring pipeline through efforts to “supercharge” air traffic controller hiring.

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.

Caleb Revill

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.