US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

The FAA's recruitment campaign targeting video gamers for air traffic controller positions has exceeded expectations. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced the initiative in April, and the agency has hired more than 2,000 gamers, meeting 94% of its hiring goal, with another 2,000-plus candidates in the pipeline. Duffy said the skills gamers use — quick thinking, staying focused, and managing multiple information sources — are similar to what's needed to guide over 80,000 daily flights.

The article notes that only about 25% of controllers hold a traditional college degree, and the FAA sought to broaden its recruitment pool. Compensation for controllers: the median annual wage in 2024 was $144,580, but less experienced controllers at smaller airports earn close to $60,000 on average. A December Government Accountability Office report warned of a major controller shortage that could lead to more flight delays or cancellations, and a government shutdown late last year turned some workers away after controllers — considered essential personnel under the law — were forced to work without pay.

The application process is rigorous: before qualifying to train at the FAA's Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City, candidates must be U.S. citizens, under age 31, and pass FAA pre-employment tests plus an aptitude exam, with notification of results within a week. The excerpt also begins to note a historically low applicant pass rate (under 10%) but is cut off.