The U.S. Transportation Department and the Federal Aviation Administration are celebrating a record annual air traffic control hiring window, receiving at least 12,350 applications over the weekend.
According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, approximately 8,004 Americans applied to join the FAA's controller ranks in the first 13 hours of the window opening at midnight on Friday, April 17.
That figure represents 10 applications every minute. Of those initial applicants, the vast majority, 7,252, met the basic qualifications.
The surge comes as officials aim to recruit video game enthusiasts based on research conducted with current air traffic controllers. "With only about 25 percent of controllers holding a traditional college degree, this effort is focused on reaching talented young people pursuing alternative career paths, many of whom are active in gaming," according to DOT.
"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," Duffy said in a statement earlier this month.
"Safety is the FAA's top priority, and that starts with hiring top talent and equipping them with world-class tools," added FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. "We need the best people, the best training, and the best tools because we expect the best results."
While applicants still have more hurdles to clear to ultimately enter the workforce and overcome the current shortage across the nation, the spike in interest is an encouraging step forward for U.S. air travel.
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