Shortage of Air Traffic Controllers Sparks New Training Paths

Eastman, Georgia – There’s a growing concern over a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers, leading to increased focus on expanded training programs approved by the FAA. Middle Georgia State University stands out as one of the few institutions offering an enhanced AT-CTI pathway, which aims to create new career opportunities in air traffic control as the FAA seeks to rebuild its workforce.

The recent federal government shutdown has brought to light how stretched staffing is, evident in the delays and reroutes seen across the country. The FAA has announced its plan to hire at least 8,900 new controllers by 2028. As of the end of 2024, about 3,000 positions remain unfilled nationally, according to FAA data analyzed by USAFacts, although availability isn’t uniform across all facilities.

New FAA-Approved Training Program

This shortage has resulted in heightened interest in a new FAA-sanctioned university initiative aimed at streamlining air traffic controller training at several universities, including Middle Georgia. The enhanced AT-CTI program allows students to be trained to the same standards as those at the FAA Academy. If they are hired and meet the necessary FAA requirements—like passing the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, medical tests, and security checks—they can directly enter the workforce instead of undergoing the entire academy program in Oklahoma City, where wait times and lengthy courses can be a hurdle.

Graduates must still complete facility-specific training and become certified on-the-job before they can operate independently.

Interestingly, as of 2025, only about nine schools across the nation have the green light to provide this new AT-CTI program, according to Kemarie Jeffers, the Dean of the School of Aviation Science and Management at Middle Georgia State.

Inside a tower simulator at Middle Georgia, air traffic control student Brooke Graffagnino expressed that the job’s intensity was part of its appeal. “It’s exciting—it gets intense, especially with heavy traffic,” she noted.

Increased Interest in Air Traffic Control

Graffagnino commented on how quickly students can recognize if the job suits them. “You can see who’s not cut out for it. There used to be a lot more, but they couldn’t stick with it. It really takes a lot,” she shared.

Understanding how air traffic controllers work is crucial, especially in congested areas or near major airports like Atlanta, as coordinated management becomes essential to maintain safety. Graffagnino emphasized, “When you’re close to a high-traffic airport, you need someone to keep everything separated and running smoothly.”

Middle Georgia was designated as an Enhanced AT-CTI school in mid-2024, and Jeffers reported immediate growth, saying their student enrollment jumped from around 17-20 students to 54 in a short time.

To become an Enhanced AT-CTI institution, substantial upgrades were necessary, including curriculum enhancements, updates to simulators, and new audio-visual systems. “We had to significantly upgrade equipment and install new technology in the tower simulator,” Jeffers explained. The FAA now conducts remote audits to ensure training meets federal standards.

The most significant advantage of this program is what graduates can do right after completing their training. “Thanks to the CTI enhancements, graduates can hit the ground running without going through the academy,” Jeffers stated, underscoring the time and effort saved in starting their careers.

The FAA mandates these enhanced programs to hire instructors who have controller experience and to keep simulator equipment up to federal standards.

As students progress, the simulations grow more complex, requiring them to handle multiple aircraft simultaneously. “As we get more comfortable, we can manage more traffic in our airspace,” Graffagnino remarked.

Before graduating, students must successfully pass a final simulation that closely mimics the FAA Academy’s evaluation process. “Our instructors run through scenarios with them, evaluating their performance exactly as it would occur at the academy,” Jeffers explained.

According to the FAA’s 2025 commissioning plan, they project hiring around 2,000 new controllers in 2025, followed by approximately 2,200 in 2026, with expectations of gradual increases until 2028. However, many of these positions will likely be offset by retirements.