Transport Secretary Sean Duffy has criticized his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, for allegedly lowering the standards for air traffic control candidates, which has resulted in rising dropout rates at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.
Officially, candidates scoring over 85% on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exams are deemed eligible, with those achieving 90% or more being favored for FAA certification. However, Duffy claims that under Buttigieg’s tenure, the situation has changed.
In an interview, Duffy pointed out, “They had a significant washout rate—over 30%,” indicating that many candidates were struggling to succeed. He expressed concern over the long waiting times, saying, “If someone scores 82%, it could take years to re-test.” Many young candidates would likely seek other jobs instead of waiting.
In response to Duffy’s comments, a Buttigieg spokesman defended the standards, stating, “We didn’t change the strict requirements for becoming a certified air traffic controller.” Buttigieg himself reaffirmed this on social media, asserting that claims of lowered standards were either mistaken or untrue. He emphasized the increased funding and training efforts aimed at expanding the workforce after years of decline.
Duffy acknowledged the ATSA exam is a valuable metric for assessing air traffic control aptitude, yet he noted that determining who is truly suited for the job remains complex. He remarked, “You can have someone with a completely unrelated background excel while a math expert might struggle.”
This year, Duffy has been proactive in enhancing the recruitment of air traffic controllers, with the goal of addressing a labor shortage that has persisted for decades. Recently, this issue attracted significant attention after a tragic collision resulted in the deaths of 67 people near Washington, D.C.
Duffy is optimistic about the future, stating that the academy is speeding up the recruitment process. He mentioned that graduates could become fully accredited in as little as a year, provided they train in less busy airspace. He added, “We’re in the process of filling the air traffic control gap,” with a target of hiring 8,900 new controllers by the end of 2028.
