Embry Riddle Aeronautical University is the newest institution to join the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Enhanced Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative program.
Is military oversight warranted to ensure a high standard of skillset with graduates?
Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Management, 4 years, $250,000, then Oklahoma academy training???
It is my understanding that if you complete the program under the new rules, you bypass Oklahoma City
I have no idea what the ATSAT is like now. But in the past it did not really require any ATC knowledge. It was intended to screen your ability to think while solving multiple tasks coming at you simultaneously. The new kids should take that first, which may be the case. Don’t pass the screening, no job, so don’t spend the money.
The shortest staffed facilities are busy terminal facilities. Graduates of this ‘fast track’ program will still need to go to maybe RTF, maybe TSEW, maybe TETRA…
Then they go to their facility for classroom and sim training, then OJT. It will be years before any of these Riddle students are qualified controllers and the shortage is now.
As a pilot with 60 years in the system, with air traffic controller friends, and relatives, I’ve observed the FAA’s efforts to address the air traffic controller shortage. They’ve partnered with institutions like Embry-Riddle, and others, through the Enhanced Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative and hired over 1,800 controllers in 2024, with plans for 2,000 more in 2025. That’s a solid effort.
However, maintaining a workforce of 15,000 controllers seems like a steep challenge. With approximately 500 retirements annually, a 30% failure rate in training, and additional attrition from washouts, medical disqualifications, and those voluntarily leaving, the numbers don’t quite add up.
To sustain the workforce over the next 25 years, estimates suggest the FAA would need to hire at least 3,250 controllers annually to account for these losses. While the current hiring plans are a step in the right direction, I wonder if they’re enough to meet both current needs and the anticipated future demand as air travel continues to grow. Perhaps more aggressive hiring or retention strategies are needed to ensure the system remains strong. (Rev. A 3,250 was 6,250)
That’s the FIRST thing you ask on a Job Interview: How long do people usually last in this job. If the answer is a 30% failure rate and then lots of losses afterwards, JUST WALK AWAY. That is not a way to have a career.
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