Over the next decade the Federal Aviation Administration plans to hire more air traffic controllers than it currently employees, according to the agency’s recently-released 10 year outlook.
The increase in hiring also coincides with new staffing flexibilities aimed at creating a more fluid workforce. The staffing changes are based past performances, the performance of similar air traffic facilities, productivity improvements, industrial engineering staffing standards and recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, as well as input from field managers, overtime trends, time-on position data and expected retirements.
“Air traffic levels are very dynamic. It is critical that we staff facilities based on actual and forecasted traffic demands. We are confident that the new controller hires will be able to meet the needs of the future,” said FAA Administrator Marion Blakey.
By 2016, 72 percent of FAA’s more than 14,000 air traffic controllers will be retirement eligible. The agency plans to hire 1,400 controllers this year, and hired 1,116 controllers in FY 2006.
The newly-hired controllers will not be ready for any of the 314 staffed facilities FAA operates across the nation until at least next year -- average training time for controllers at terminal facilities is two years and at en route facilities, three years.
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