What Happened
Air Traffic Controllers Return to Cockpits for Enhanced Training
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the return of its Flight Deck Training program, which allows air traffic controllers to ride along on commercial, general aviation, and military flights to gain firsthand experience of pilot workload and cockpit procedures. The program, developed in partnership with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), aims to improve communication and understanding between controllers and pilots. The FAA expects formal operations to start after Thanksgiving 2026, with all major US airlines participating. This development was first reported by MiGFlug.