The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is turning to an unconventional pool of recruits in its latest push to bolster the nation’s air traffic control workforce—video gamers.
Newsweek has reached out to the FAA by email for comment.
Why It Matters
The hiring push comes as the FAA continues to grapple with a long-standing shortage of air traffic controllers, a workforce gap that officials warn could strain the nation’s airspace system as air travel demand grows.
The United States has roughly 11,000 fully certified controllers, still thousands short of optimal staffing levels, after years of attrition driven by retirements, pandemic-era disruptions, and lengthy training pipelines. Federal officials say increasing staffing is critical to maintaining safety and reducing delays across the national airspace.
What To Know
In a new campaign unveiled Friday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA announced a recruitment effort aimed at young adults with gaming experience, arguing the skills honed through video games, including multitasking, spatial awareness and rapid decision-making, closely align with the demands of air traffic control. Approximately 65 percent of Americans regularly play video games, which is equivalent to 200 million people, the FAA said.
The campaign coincides with the opening of the FAA’s annual air traffic controller hiring window, which begins at midnight on April 17, according to the agency. The hiring window will remain open until 8,000 applications are received.
Duffy said the administration has made progress on hiring but acknowledged more recruitment is needed to meet future demand.
“To reach the next generation of air traffic controllers, we need to adapt. This campaign’s innovative communication style and focus on gaming taps into a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller,” he said in the press release. “Thanks to President Trump—we’ve already made incredible progress with the highest controller staffing levels in six years. There’s never been a more exciting time to become a controller and level up into a career with a strong purpose—keeping American families safe.”
Officials also pointed to internal feedback suggesting gaming experience has already played a role in the success of some controllers, with exit interviews indicating gaming helped develop focus and the ability to manage complex, fast-moving situations. With no college degree requirement and the potential to earn a six-figure salary within a few years, the FAA says air traffic control is one of the most appealing career paths it has to offer.
