US Recruits Gamers to Help Solve Air Traffic Controller Shortage

The Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are taking an unconventional approach to address the air traffic controller shortage. In April, the FAA recruited more than 2,000 gamers to train as air traffic controllers.

Recruiting Gamers

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a social media post on X, “In April, we launched a NEW CAMPAIGN to recruit video gamers as air traffic controllers — and supercharged the entire hiring process to get the BEST & BRIGHTEST in faster. The results are HISTORIC” 

He added that 94% of the agency’s hiring goal had been met. More than 2,000 gamers also reached the Academy,  “quicker than any class before them.”

When the initiative was announced, the FAA emphasized that applicants do not need a college degree. The FAA says only 25% of air traffic controllers hold a traditional college degree. The career also comes with a lucrative salary, with average earnings reaching around $155,000 annually after three years.

In an interview Tuesday, Duffy said,  “A lot of what they do playing games … is what they do …  controlling traffic in the air.”

Former air traffic controllers say gamers and air traffic controllers rely on many of the same skills, including sustained focus, quick decision-making, and the ability to process multiple streams of information simultaneously. These skills are particularly important for air traffic controllers, who help manage more than 80,000 flights each day.

Air Traffic Controller Shortage

A U.S. Government Accountability Office report in December highlighted the shortage of air traffic controllers. If left unresolved, the shortage could lead to more delays and cancellations. 

Late last year, a government shutdown also discouraged people from applying to become air traffic controllers. Under the law, air traffic controllers are considered essential personnel and were required to work without pay during the shutdown.

Adding to the challenge is the strict application process. Applicants must undergo a rigorous screening process before they qualify to train at the FAA’s Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City. They must be U.S. citizens, under 31 years old, and pass the FAA’s air traffic pre-employment tests.

Aspiring air traffic controllers will need to pass an exam that measures their  “aptitude to be an air traffic controller.” Within a week, applicants are notified whether they passed.

Historically, fewer than 10% of applicants have met the FAA’s requirements for admission to the Air Traffic Controller Academy.