Bonuses and Fast Track Hiring Begin

The FAA is on track to hire at least 2,000 controllers this year following the March supercharged hiring campaign, which increased the starting salary for Academy trainees by 30 percent. Secretary Duffy streamlined hiring by changing the old 8-step hiring process at the FAA to a 5-step process. This has already shaved five months off the old hiring process, enabling the FAA to refer more than 8,320 candidates to take the aptitude exam, known as the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA).

Thousands of candidates have already taken the ATSA and moved into the next stage of the hiring process.

The FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) have agreed to a new limited-time incentive package aimed at recruiting and retaining air traffic controllers. As part of this initiative, academy graduates and new hires who successfully complete the initial qualification training will each receive a $5,000 award. In addition, academy graduates who are assigned to one of 13 hard-to-staff air traffic facilities will receive a $10,000 award. To retain experienced professionals, certified controllers who are eligible to retire but are still under the mandatory retirement age of 56 will be offered a lump sum payment equivalent to 20 percent of their basic pay for each additional year they remain on the job.

“The supercharge hiring initiative is working,” said Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau. “Less than 45 days after the announcement closed, one of the first applicants already has an Academy start date in early June. This stellar work by our team to accelerate this process is a clear sign that this Administration is leading in a profound way to transform our aviation system.”

Training for this career is extremely demanding, on average 57 to 73 percent of trainees graduate, depending on their training path. To better ensure successful learning outcomes for trainees, the Academy will establish a Learning Center in June to provide additional help to any student. The FAA is developing a plan to use more innovative learning technologies, including mobile training apps.