✈️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.
Key Points
The number of people in the job has declined by around 6 percent over the last decade.
The FAA's video promises that 'you've been training for this' and highlights gaming as an influence on thinking quickly, staying focused, and managing complexity.
The average salary for an air traffic controller is $155,000 per year after three years.
Why It Matters
This recruitment strategy matters to tech leads and engineering managers because it shows how industries outside of tech are adopting similar approaches to talent acquisition. By tapping into gamers' skills, the FAA may be able to improve training outcomes and reduce attrition rates.
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