US Hires 2,000 Video Gamers as Air Traffic Controllers

The Federal Aviation Administration has hired more than 2,000 video gamers as air traffic controllers through a specialized recruitment program launched in April. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the initiative has already met 94% of the agency's 2026 hiring goal, marking the highest number of controllers employed in a single year.

The campaign targets young adults with transferable cognitive skills, including multitasking, spatial awareness, and complex problem-solving. The Department of Transportation reported that a single 24-hour application window during the drive attracted over 10,000 qualified candidates, more than doubling the previous first-day record. To accelerate the process, the FAA streamlined hiring to move candidates into the Academy faster than previous classes.

This hiring surge addresses a critical worker shortage that has coincided with an increase in runway accidents and near-misses, including a fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport in March. The agency is working toward a total of 12,563 Certified Professional Controllers. While the recruitment drive has been successful, new hires must still complete the FAA selection process and Academy training, followed by one to three years of on-the-job experience.