FAA Releases Updated Air Traffic Controller, Safety Inspector Hiring Plans

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy released the FAA’s updated plans detailing how it will hire, train, and develop the best and the brightest air traffic controllers and aviation safety personnel. The plan accounts for ongoing innovation in our skies, including aircraft with innovative electric and hybrid systems, increased drone presence, growth in commercial space travel, and technology advancements such as artificial intelligence.    

By the numbers: Under the latest Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan, the FAA anticipates hiring at least 8,900 new air traffic controllers through 2028, including 2,000 in 2025. The Aviation Safety Workforce Plan calls for hiring about 4,600 safety inspectors and engineers through 2034.  

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the USDOT isn’t just solving today’s problems. By looking ahead and planning for the future of transportation, we can ensure America remains the global aerospace leader,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Putting the best and brightest in our towers and in the field will allow us to make flying safer, reduce delays and cancellations, and bring about a Golden Age of travel.”  

“The aviation ecosystem is rapidly evolving and the FAA must adapt to unprecedented changes,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Our success depends on highly skilled and dedicated air traffic control and aviation safety inspector workforces and growing both is a top priority for the FAA.”

Air Traffic Controller Hiring

Groundbreaking initiatives: Under the leadership of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau, the FAA has taken unprecedented action to speed up air traffic controller hiring and training. During a supercharged hiring initiative in March, the FAA streamlined the process while qualifying and referring more than 8,320 candidates to the controller aptitude exam. While it previously took more than 13 months from application to admission into the FAA Academy, the best and brightest are already entering.  

In May, Secretary Duffy unveiled a new package of actions to further supercharge the air traffic controller workforce, including financial incentives, rewarding Academy graduates who are assigned to hard-to-staff facilities and expediting routine medical and security clearances.

The FAA also is:  

• Initiating a year-round hiring track for experienced controllers from the military and private industry.
• Filling every seat at the FAA Academy and increasing classroom capacity.
• Expanding the Enhanced Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), which allows students who complete the coursework to bypass the Academy and report directly to an FAA facility to begin their training.    
• Deploying upgraded Tower Simulation Systems at 95 facilities, which can reduce training times by up to 27 percent.

Aviation Safety Inspector/Engineer Hiring

What they do: Employees in the FAA’s Aviation Safety (AVS) division perform critical functions, including monitoring and enforcing compliance with regulations, investigating accidents and incidents, certifying aircraft, personnel, equipment and avionics and administering the FAA’s medical programs.    

Challenges: AVS must keep up with rapid technological advancements such as advanced materials for aircraft structures, systems, alternate fuels, airports, and airspace; innovative electric and hybrid systems; and the impact of artificial intelligence and machine learning.    

A robust hiring strategy: Initiatives to recruit skilled and experienced inspectors, engineers, and medical officers include:  

• On-the-spot hiring authority to expedite hiring safety inspectors, engineers and medical officers.
• Relocation incentives for hard-to-staff areas.
• Premium pay incentive for medical officers.
• Recruitment incentives for hard-to-fill positions.  

DeepSeek翻译（仅供参考）:

美国联邦航空管理局（FAA）发布最新空中交通管制员及安全监察员招聘计划

华盛顿特区——美国运输部长肖恩·达菲今日公布了FAA最新人事计划，详细说明该机构将如何招聘、培训和发展最优秀的空中交通管制员及航空安全人员。该计划旨在应对航空领域的持续创新，包括电动与混合动力系统飞机、日益增长的无人机应用、商业太空旅行的发展以及人工智能等技术进步。

数据亮点：根据最新《空中交通管制员人力计划》，FAA预计到2028年将招聘至少8,900名新空中交通管制员，其中2025年计划招聘2,000名。《航空安全人力计划》要求到2034年招聘约4,600名安全监察员和工程师。

美国运输部长肖恩·达菲表示：“在特朗普总统的领导下，美国运输部不仅致力于解决当前问题，更通过前瞻性规划确保美国持续保持全球航空航天领导地位。让最优秀的人才加入空管和航空安全领域，将助力我们提升飞行安全、减少延误与取消，开创旅行的‘黄金时代’。”

FAA局长布莱恩·贝德福德指出：“航空生态正在快速演变，FAA必须适应前所未有的变革。我们的成功依赖于高技能且敬业的空间交通管制和航空安全监察队伍，扩大这两类人才规模是FAA的首要任务。”

空中交通管制员招聘

突破性举措：在运输部长肖恩·达菲和副局长克里斯·罗什罗的领导下，FAA已采取空前措施加速空管员招聘与培训。在3月的专项招聘行动中，FAA简化流程，共筛选并推荐8,320名候选人参加管制员资质考试。以往从申请到进入FAA学院需13个月以上，如今最优秀的申请者已开始入学。

5月，达菲部长宣布进一步强化空管员队伍的新措施，包括为分配到人员紧缺设施的学院毕业生提供经济激励，并加快常规医疗和安全审查流程。

FAA同时正在：

• 启动针对军方和私营行业经验丰富的管制员的全年招聘通道
• 确保FAA学院满员运行并扩大教室容量
• 扩展“强化空管-学院培训计划”（AT-CTI），允许完成课程的学生免修学院课程，直接前往FAA设施开始培训
• 在95个设施部署升级版塔台模拟系统，可缩短最多27%的培训时间

航空安全监察员/工程师招聘

职责说明：FAA航空安全（AVS）部门员工承担关键职能，包括监督法规合规性、调查事故与事件、认证飞机/人员/设备/航电系统，以及管理FAA医疗计划。

挑战：AVS需跟上快速技术革新，例如飞机结构材料、替代燃料、机场与空域管理、创新电动与混合动力系统，以及人工智能和机器学习的影响。

全面招聘战略：招募经验丰富的监察员、工程师和医疗官的措施包括：

• 现场直接聘用权以加速招聘流程
• 针对人员紧缺地区的搬迁激励
• 医疗官的额外薪资激励
• 难以填补岗位的专项招聘计划

来源：https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-releases-updated-air-traffic-controller-safety-inspector-hiring-plans