FAA Targets Video Gamers in New Air Traffic Controller Recruitment

The agency says gaming skills like multitasking and rapid decision-making make gamers well-suited for the job.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:33pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic air traffic control tower, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the complex digital infrastructure. The tower is surrounded by a network of glowing fiber-optic cables and pulsing data streams, representing the advanced technology and real-time data processing required for modern air traffic control.The FAA's push to recruit video gamers for air traffic controller roles reflects the agency's need for a new generation of tech-savvy applicants with the multitasking and decision-making skills to manage the complex digital infrastructure of modern air travel.Oklahoma City Today

The Federal Aviation Administration is launching a new recruitment campaign aimed at video game players to address a staffing shortage of air traffic controllers. The FAA says many gamers have skills like multitasking, rapid decision-making, and strong spatial awareness that are well-suited for the job. The application window opens on April 17 with a cap of 8,000 applicants, as the FAA looks to hire more controllers to fill around 1,200 new positions this fiscal year.

Why it matters

The FAA's push to recruit video gamers comes amid a dangerous staffing shortage of air traffic controllers, which was highlighted by a recent fatal collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The agency is hoping to tap into a new demographic of young adults with the skills needed to be successful air traffic controllers.

The details

Applicants for the FAA's air traffic controller positions do not need a college degree, but must be under 31 years old, U.S. citizens, and fluent in English. Training can take between two and six years, including a four- to six-month intensive course at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.

  • The application window opens at midnight on April 17, 2026.
  • The FAA plans to hire around 1,200 new air traffic controllers this fiscal year.

The players

Sean Duffy

U.S. Transportation Secretary, who said the FAA's new recruitment campaign taps into a growing demographic of young adults with the skills needed to be successful air traffic controllers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“To reach the next generation of air traffic controllers, we need to adapt. This campaign's innovative communication style and focus on gaming taps into a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller.”

— Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary

What’s next

The FAA will be closely monitoring the response to the new recruitment campaign and assessing whether it helps address the staffing shortage of air traffic controllers.

The takeaway

The FAA's decision to target video gamers in its recruitment efforts reflects the agency's recognition that traditional recruitment methods may not be reaching the next generation of potential air traffic controllers. By tapping into the gaming community, the FAA hopes to find applicants with the multitasking, decision-making, and spatial awareness skills needed for the job.