FAA Breaks Air Traffic Controller Hiring Record With 2,235 Trainees in Fiscal 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on October 1 that it hired 2,235 air traffic controller trainees in fiscal year 2026, beating its goal of 2,200 and setting an all-time record. An earlier FAA recruiting campaign aimed at video gamers drew more than 12,000 applications within 24 hours.
The FAA said more than 1,300 students graduated from its academy this fiscal year. Under Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's accelerated hiring plan, the agency will hire at least 8,900 controllers by 2028, including at least 2,300 in fiscal 2027 and 2,400 in fiscal 2028.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the faster hiring is closing the staffing gap. The certified controller workforce now stands at 11,027, the highest in a decade, though it remains about 1,536 short of the 12,563 target.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：华盛顿区域管制中心内的空中交通管制员。摄影：美国联邦政府，公共领域，来源：Wikimedia Commons / Photo: Air traffic controllers at the Washington ARTCC. Credit: U.S. Federal Government, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
