FAA to replace hundreds of radar systems as overhaul continues
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has outlined a $12.5 billion initiative aimed at replacing over 600 outdated radar systems and modernizing air traffic control. As part of this effort, the FAA is also on the lookout for thousands of new controllers, including individuals with gaming skills, to help fill staffing shortages and improve safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration has reached a historic milestone by hiring 2,235 trainees this year, breaking its previous record for air traffic controller recruitment. This achievement comes as the FAA strives to tackle years of staffing issues across the country, surpassing its fiscal year 2026 goal of hiring 2,200 trainees—the largest number hired in a single fiscal year to date, as noted by the Department of Transportation.
Furthermore, the FAA has achieved its highest level of certified controllers in a decade, with a total of 11,027 certified professionals as of September 30, up from 10,694 at the end of fiscal year 2025.
“We’re actively recruiting, hiring, and training more air traffic controllers than at any point in our history—and the numbers back that up,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. He added that the administration has made significant strides under President Trump, cutting hiring time and expanding training programs, which he believes might encourage many young people, especially gamers, to consider this career path. “This marks a significant achievement, but certainly not the end as we aim to rectify years of staffing shortages,” Duffy stated.
This record hiring comes just a few months after the FAA introduced an ambitious three-year workforce plan designed to rebuild a controller workforce strained by ongoing shortages, mandatory overtime, and extended training timelines. Bedford previously warned Congress that the FAA would struggle to maintain adequate staffing levels under the previous system.
The FAA’s plan for 2026 to 2028 aims to hire 2,200 controller trainees in 2026, followed by 2,300 in 2027 and 2,400 in 2028. Remarkably, the agency finished the fiscal year 35 trainees above its initial target.
As of now, the FAA’s workforce stands at 11,027 certified professional controllers—an increase of 333 from the previous fiscal year. However, the agency aims to reach a target of 12,563 certified professionals to adequately meet anticipated demand, which leaves it still needing 1,536 controllers as it approaches fiscal year 2027.
The Department of Transportation has indicated that while there is no specific timeline for achieving this target, they are significantly ramping up recruitment efforts and enhancing their air traffic collegiate training initiative. Following another substantial hiring year in fiscal 2025—when 2,028 trainee controllers joined—the FAA is taking urgent steps to accelerate its hiring and training processes in light of ongoing retirements and workforce attrition.
In 2026, entering as many as 4,000 controllers were in training, including around 1,000 who were already certified and transitioning to new facilities. It takes over two years for new hires to become fully certified, depending on the complexity of their assigned location.
The administration has introduced measures to retain seasoned controllers while also fast-tracking new ones, including a new bonus structure that has helped hold onto nearly 400 retirement-eligible controllers. Changes to the hiring process have successfully cut the time needed to onboard recruits by more than five months.
Moreover, the FAA has broadened its Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative, allowing graduates from certain college programs to skip the FAA Academy and begin on-the-job training directly.
The hiring wave coincides with a broader overhaul of the air traffic control system, which is supported by a $12.5 billion budget for upgrades that encompass telecommunications improvements, new radios, radars, and electronic flight strips. The FAA is also increasing simulator-based training and looking into artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to better manage air traffic demand.
This year’s hiring record is just the beginning of a three-year recruitment push, with plans for another 2,300 controller trainees in fiscal year 2027 and 2,400 in fiscal year 2028. “This is an important milestone,” Duffy remarked, “but not the finish line.”
