TCC Launches New Air Traffic Controller Training Program

The community college's new associate degree program will prepare students for a high-wage, in-demand career in air traffic control.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:21pm

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A boldly colored, silkscreen-style illustration of an air traffic control tower repeated in a grid pattern, capturing the iconic nature of this infrastructure in a modern, pop art style.Tarrant County College's new air traffic controller training program aims to address a nationwide shortage of controllers by providing a local pipeline to this high-wage, in-demand career.Fort Worth Today

Tarrant County College Northwest has received approval to launch a new associate degree program that will train students to become air traffic controllers. The program, part of the Federal Aviation Administration's Collegiate Training Initiative, will prepare graduates to bypass the FAA's academy and begin working as trainees in the high-paying field. TCC is the only local institution offering such a program, which aims to address a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.

Why it matters

The new air traffic controller training program at TCC Northwest fills a critical need in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and across the country. With an average annual salary of $172,250 in the DFW area and a median pay that is the highest of any field requiring an associate degree, air traffic control is a high-wage, in-demand career. TCC's program will provide a local pipeline to this lucrative profession, which currently has an estimated 150-200 annual openings in the DFW region alone.

The details

The TCC Northwest program will prepare students for careers as air traffic controllers through an academically rigorous curriculum that exactly duplicates the training received at the FAA Academy. Students who graduate from the program will bypass the FAA's academy and begin working as trainees. The college must still plan courses, purchase a simulator, and pass inspection by the FAA before launching the program, which is expected to enroll cohorts of 20-25 students starting in spring 2027.

  • TCC trustees approved the new air traffic controller training program at their April 2026 board meeting.
  • The college plans to launch the program for the first time in spring 2027.

The players

David Skidmore

A TCC aviation instructor who is helping to plan the new air traffic controller training program. Skidmore had a 36-year career in air traffic control.

Zarina Blankenbaker

The president of TCC Northwest, who told trustees that the college's program will be the only local pipeline to the air traffic control career and that there are currently no such programs within 50 miles of DFW or at any Texas community college.

Jeannie Deakyne

The president of the TCC board of trustees, who expressed enthusiasm for the new program and said it addresses a 'persistent need' across the United States.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The agency that oversees air traffic control and has a Collegiate Training Initiative that the new TCC program is part of.

Tarrant County College (TCC)

The community college system that is launching the new air traffic controller training program at its Northwest campus.

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What they’re saying

“When we get it off and running and we're ready to go, it's an exciting career for anybody who thinks they can be an air traffic controller. We're already well-known for our pilot training program, and we're going to take pride in the fact that we're going to produce quality air traffic controllers.”

— David Skidmore, TCC aviation instructor

“There are currently no air traffic control programs within 50 miles of DFW, and none at a Texas community college, positioning Tarrant County College to lead.”

— Zarina Blankenbaker, TCC Northwest President

“We are all very excited about how this program addresses a persistent need, not just locally and regionally but across the United States.”

— Jeannie Deakyne, TCC Board President

What’s next

The college must still plan the curriculum, purchase a simulator, and pass inspection by the FAA before launching the program, which is expected to enroll its first cohort of 20-25 students in spring 2027.

The takeaway

TCC's new air traffic controller training program will provide a much-needed local pipeline to a high-wage, in-demand career field that is facing a nationwide shortage of qualified workers. By offering this associate degree program, the community college is positioning itself as a leader in addressing a critical workforce need in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and beyond.