What Happened
Program Aims to Improve Pilot-Controller Coordination and Safety
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the reinstatement of its Flight Deck Training program, allowing air traffic controllers to observe cockpit operations on commercial, general aviation, and military aircraft. The program, suspended since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to give controllers firsthand experience with pilot workload, cockpit procedures, and the effects of ATC instructions. Supported by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and agreed upon by all major U.S. airlines, the program is expected to formally resume operations after Thanksgiving, as reported by Unknown Source.