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The Verge·

✈️FAA Taps Gamers to Fill Air Traffic Controller Shortage Amid Hiring Crisis

Gamers in the cockpit: FAA's new recruitment strategy

TL;DR

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching a campaign targeting gamers to become air traffic controllers, amid a hiring crisis. The average salary for an air traffic controller is $155,000 per year.

The FAA has struggled to recruit enough air traffic controllers, with the number of people in the job declining by around 6 percent over the last decade. To address this issue, they're turning to gamers, who are known for their quick thinking and complex problem-solving skills. The agency's video promises that 'you've been training for this' and highlights gaming as an influence on these skills. Despite the challenges in training, the FAA's 'supercharge' hiring campaign in 2025 attracted over 10,000 applications, resulting in about 600 trainees entering the Controller Training Academy.

FAA Taps Gamers to Fill Air Traffic Controller Shortage Amid Hiring Crisis — The Verge

Key Points

1

The number of people in the job has declined by around 6 percent over the last decade.

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FAAair traffic controllersgamersrecruitment strategyhiring crisis

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