What Happened
Rigid Hiring System Fails To Meet Growing Demand
Despite receiving roughly 200,000 applications to become air traffic controllers in the US over the past several years, the Federal Aviation Administration remains short-staffed, with controller ranks down about 6% over the past decade. A new report from the Government Accountability Office highlights the challenges in the hiring and training pipeline, including a slow and restrictive process, and rigid age restrictions that exclude qualified candidates. The FAA has taken steps to speed hiring, but the GAO recommends further process improvements to address the shortage. The report was first published by AeroTime.