FAA ATC Hiring Goals - How Does the Future Look?

FAA ATC Hiring Goals – How Does the Future Look?

By Vanessa Shinners, PWC Vice President

As we all know staffing Air Traffic Control (ATC) Specialists has been a daunting task over the past 15 years. Our facilities are understaffed, six day work weeks are the new norm, and in many cases people are unable to progress or move around in their careers because the staffing numbers cannot support the loss of working bodies.

So what is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doing about it? The agency just wrapped up the ATC Hiring Campaign on June 30th. The last open ATC job bid closed at the end of June. Those interested in the field of aviation had the opportunity to learn more about eligibility requirements and explore available career opportunities in aviation. There has been considerable and concentrated efforts to attract and recruit more women and individuals of color as air traffic controllers. As noted by FAA Deputy Administrator A. Bradley Mims, “We are looking for a diverse pool of candidates who are ready to rise to the challenge and become air traffic controllers.” The ATC Hiring Campaign yielded 57,956 applicants on the last open job bid, with 47,601 meeting the basic eligibility requirements.

As expected, it will take the agency many months to screen and process thousands of applicants. The FAA Controller Workforce Plan is committed to hiring 750 – 1,100 controllers each year and from now through Fiscal Year 2029 the agency projects to hire at total of 7,348 controllers.

There are three types of vacancies or tracks the FAA pulls applicants. Track 1 requires no ATC experience with three years of work experience/education including CTI Graduates, Veterans and the general public. Track 2 have prior ATC experience (52 weeks of ATC experience) and Track 3 are retired military controllers. The Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) is only administered to Track 1 applicants. Since 2018, the Biographical Assessment is no longer

administered. The overall selections are made based on agency needs. Track 1 applicants without ATC experience attend the FAA Academy and are assigned to a facility once they complete the Academy. Track 2 applicants with ATC experience are placed directly into facilities.

New hires at the Academy are assigned classes based on agency needs. The two options are Enroute or Terminal level 8 and below. On Facility Placement Day, the student with the highest cumulative score for Initial training chooses their facility first (AT Basics score not factored), second and third highest select their facilities in order. Placement on a “First Graduate/First Placed” basis to Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) facilities based on current agency priorities, availability and class rank. These facilities include Hawaii, Alaska, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico and Guam.

Track 2 specialized experience hires need to have 52 weeks of consecutive, ATC post certification experience within the last 5 years and be below the age of 35. Once selected, applicants are evaluated for facility placement level based on experience and report directly to the assigned facility. Track 3 retired military controllers must be retired within 5 years and must have 52 weeks of consecutive ATC post certification experience within the last 5 years. Qualified applicants also report directly to their assigned facilities.

The Office of Management Services (AJG) is constantly trying to improve the hiring process, make it more efficient, equitable, and diverse. We can only hope to see an influx of new controllers joining our workforce over the few years and wouldn’t it be great if half of them were female! For more information on the ATC hiring process you may visit their page on the FAA website.

The WATCH - Fall 2022 | Page 6