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 privately managed federal contract towers (FCTs) into FAA-operated facilities.
This initiative aims to address a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers (ATCs) by integrating experienced private controllers directly into the agency's workforce.
The pilot will begin with two "high-activity" FCTs, standardizing training for these controllers and allowing them greater mobility within the FAA.
The move comes as the FAA struggles with staffing shortfalls despite other recruitment efforts and has been met with criticism from the controllers' union, NATCA.

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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.