In an ambitious effort to address the country’s dire air traffic controller shortage, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has re-announced a series of initiatives to accelerate the “top talent” of the FAA Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. “In this administration, we are determined to solve the long-standing air traffic controller shortage. Thanks to the work of our air traffic controllers and the top graduates of the FAA Academy, flying continues to be the safest way to travel", he said. “But we are committed to restoring the FAA’s safety mission and hiring talented new candidates".

To make the selection process more efficient, the secretary announced the simplification of the hiring process, reducing the stages from eight to five and speeding up the operational onboarding time by more than four months. In addition, salaries for new recruits will be increased by 30%, bringing the average compensation for certified controllers to over $160,000 per year; a significant incentive to attract highly qualified personnel.

The initiative is also supported, coincidentally, by Elon Musk, -called, through a team of his SpaceX, to contribute to a new air traffic control system by acting as a consultant to the FAA Command Center-, and who in these hours has urged retired controllers to consider returning to work, underlining the shortage of high-level figures in the sector. "There is a shortage of top-notch air traffic controllers. If you are retired but are willing to return to service, please consider this opportunity", the billionaire wrote on social media.

During a visit to the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (see AVIONEWS and AVIONEWS 2), Duffy met with FAA officials and Academy students, reiterating how the role of air traffic controller represents one of the most rewarding and fundamental professions for the safety of American skies. "The visit confirmed how essential the work of our future controllers is. I was able to personally see the dedication and skills that these young professionals are acquiring, and the urgency of expanding our team to ensure a higher level of safety becomes ever more pressing", the secretary reiterated.

The wind is therefore changing within the Agency, in a climate of strong concerns for American air safety, exacerbated by a series of accidents, the most tragic of which occurred on January 29, when a Black Hawk helicopter and a Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft of the American Eagle company collided not far from the "Ronald Reagan National Airport" in Washington, crashing into the Potomac River and causing the loss of 67 lives (see AVIONEWS). In response to these events, the FAA has intensified its vigilance, aiming to strengthen the air traffic control system through targeted hiring and precisely economic incentives.