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FAA Seeks 2,300 New Air Traffic Controllers
6 Apr
Summary
- FAA plans to hire 2,300 air traffic controller trainees.
- The agency faces a deficit of 3,500 certified controllers.
- Controller staffing is 6% lower than a decade ago.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is actively working to resolve a critical shortage of air traffic controllers. As of April 6, 2026, the agency is proposing to hire 2,300 new air traffic controller trainees.
This initiative comes as the FAA finds itself short approximately 3,500 fully certified air traffic controllers. Current staffing levels are notably lower than in previous years, with 13,164 controllers employed at the end of September, which is 6% fewer than a decade earlier.
Many air traffic controllers are currently working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks due to the staffing deficit. The FAA's air traffic control training academy is also facing challenges in retaining students, further exacerbating the personnel issues within the system.
