The US Federal Aviation Administration is turning to video gamers as part of an unusual campaign to recruit the next generation of air traffic controllers amid a longstanding staffing shortage.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the gamer-focused recruitment campaign launched in April has been a “game changer.” The broader hiring effort has brought in more than 2,000 candidates and reached around 94% of its hiring goal, with more than 2,000 additional candidates still in the pipeline.
Why Is the FAA Targeting Gamers?
The Transportation Department believes skills developed through gaming can transfer well to air traffic control. These include spatial awareness, multitasking, rapid decision-making, maintaining concentration, and processing several sources of information simultaneously.
Duffy said many people currently training to become controllers are gamers and argued that some of the tasks performed while playing games resemble the mental demands involved in managing aircraft.
A traditional four-year college degree is also not mandatory for the job. FAA requirements allow applicants to qualify through work experience, education or a combination of the two.
GAME CHANGER
In April, we launched a NEW CAMPAIGN to recruit video gamers as air traffic controllers — and supercharged the entire hiring process to get the BEST & BRIGHTEST in faster. The results are HISTORIC
94% of hiring goal met — fastest time ever to reach target… pic.twitter.com/gN3OGmEIBB
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) August 9, 2026
Air Traffic Controllers Can Earn Over $144,000
The job can also be highly paid. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for air traffic controllers was $144,580 in May 2024. The lowest 10% earned below $76,090, while the highest 10% earned more than $210,410.
The recruitment drive comes as the FAA continues to struggle with staffing shortages. A Government Accountability Office report found that the agency had 13,164 controllers at the end of fiscal 2025, around 6% fewer than a decade earlier even as flight activity increased.
Getting the Job Is Not Easy
Applicants must be US citizens, generally be younger than 31, pass medical and security checks and complete the FAA’s air traffic pre-employment testing process. Candidates must also demonstrate sufficient work or educational experience.
Those who pass the selection process can move on to specialized FAA training, including training at the agency’s academy in Oklahoma City.
The requirements remain demanding, meaning gaming experience alone will not qualify someone for the job. The FAA is instead using gaming as a way to reach candidates who may already possess some of the cognitive skills needed for air traffic control.
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