FAA outlines plan to address air traffic controller shortage

The Federal Aviation Administration has released a workforce plan aimed at resolving its long-running air traffic controller shortage and preparing for future demand.

The plan rests on three main goals: accelerating hiring, improving how controllers are scheduled and deployed, and modernizing the systems they use.

The FAA has set a staffing target of 12,563 Certified Professional Controllers, a figure derived from demand forecasts and a review by the National Academy of Sciences' Transportation Research Board.

As of April 2026, roughly 11,000 certified controllers are working across more than 300 facilities, with another 4,000 in training - about 1,000 of whom are already fully certified but are requalifying at new facilities. Certifying a new hire can take more than two years, depending on the complexity of their assigned facility.

The agency plans to hire 2,200 controllers in fiscal year 2026, 2,300 in 2027, and 2,400 in 2028. It says it's already 60 percent of the way toward this year's target.

The plan also aims to reduce reliance on overtime, which the FAA acknowledged can contribute to fatigue and burnout, by adopting updated scheduling tools and staffing models.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency needs to change how it hires, trains, and schedules controllers, as well as update the technology they work with:

“This forward-thinking plan delivers on President Donald J. Trump’s promise to provide the American flying public with a world-class air traffic control system, and that starts with highly trained, professional air traffic controllers," he said. "We can’t continue to operate the same way and expect better results. We’re changing how we hire, train and schedule our controller workforce - and providing them with the state-of-the-art tools they need to succeed."

Transportation Secretary Duffy delivers $835.8m for ATC facility upgrades across US

In further news, the US Department of Transportation is investing over $750m to replace eight air traffic control towers and Terminal Radar Approach Controls (TRACONs) with new facilities, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced.

The FAA is also providing $85.8m to upgrade Federal Contract Towers at 41 airports across 24 states. The eight replacement sites are:

• Charleston, South Carolina
• Grand Forks, North Dakota
• Greer, South Carolina
• Lawton, Oklahoma
• Pocatello, Idaho
• Sacramento, California
• San Jose, California
• Tamiami, Florida

Sites were chosen based on safety and efficiency needs - many facilities are decades old and suffer from failing HVAC systems, pest problems, and leaking roofs that have disrupted air traffic services.

The Federal Contract Tower Grant Program distributes $20m annually over five years to modernize towers staffed by contract personnel. Notable grants include $10m for a new tower at Wiley Post Airport, $1m for infrastructure at Missoula County Airport, $915,000 for Acadiana Regional, and $800,000 for design work at Marana Regional.

Upgrades will cover new windows, heating and cooling systems, elevators, roofing, and equipment replacements including radios, voice recorders, and lighting controls.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 21st May 2026 | Issue #843