Trump's Transportation Secretary Announces First Texas College in Air Traffic Controller Program

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the first Texas college to join the Air Traffic Controller Training Program. The Silicon Review reports on the FAA initiative to recruit from two-year institutions.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced the first Texas College to join the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Controller Training Program, expanding recruitment beyond traditional FAA academies.

The air traffic controller training program at Texas State Technical College will prepare students for high-demand aviation careers. The initiative is part of the Enhanced Air Traffic-College Training Initiative, which partners with select institutions to provide standardized instruction aligned with FAA requirements.

The air traffic control careers pathway at Texas State Technical College includes simulator training, radar and non-radar procedures, weather interpretation, and communication protocols. Graduates who complete the program and pass FAA medical and security clearances can be hired directly into agency training facilities.

Air traffic controller training has faced staffing shortages for over a decade, with FAA data showing the workforce at its lowest level since the 1980s. The Enhanced AT-CTI program is designed to create a larger, more diverse pipeline of qualified candidates.

Texas State Technical College joins six other institutions nationally participating in the enhanced training program. The college will enroll its first cohort of air traffic controller training students in fall 2026.

The air traffic control careers initiative addresses a critical need. The FAA projects it will need to hire approximately 15,000 new air traffic controllers over the next decade to replace retirees and meet growing demand. The agency has struggled to fill training seats, with attrition rates exceeding targets.

As Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announces the first Texas College to join the air traffic controller training program, The Silicon Review examines how the FAA is building a new pipeline for aviation's most critical workforce.

Q: Which Texas college joined the air traffic controller training program?
A: Texas State Technical College is the first Texas institution to join the FAA's Enhanced Air Traffic-College Training Initiative.

Q: What does the air traffic controller training program include?
A: The air traffic controller training includes simulator training, radar and non-radar procedures, weather interpretation, and communication protocols aligned with FAA requirements.

Q: How does the air traffic control careers pathway work?
A: Graduates who complete the program and pass FAA medical and security clearances can be hired directly into agency training facilities, bypassing the traditional open bid process.

Q: How many new air traffic controllers does the FAA need to hire?
A: The FAA projects it will need to hire approximately 15,000 new air traffic controllers over the next decade to replace retirees and meet growing demand.

Q: What is the Enhanced AT-CTI program?
A: The Enhanced Air Traffic-College Training Initiative partners with select two-year and four-year institutions to provide standardized instruction aligned with FAA requirements.

Q: When will Texas State Technical College enroll its first air traffic controller training students?
A: The college will enroll its first cohort of air traffic controller training students in fall 2026.