Training Air Traffic Controllers on March 9, 2026

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Moderator

Dawn Erlandson is a member of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  On a national level, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).  

Background

The United States faces a shortage of trained air traffic controllers that is causing airline network challenges. Congress has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to address these concerns, including by increasing the number of trainees at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, the nation’s air traffic controller training school since 1946. 

The FAA has launched a partnership program known as the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), intended to create opportunities for students at higher education institutions to advance their prospects for streamlining a path through the FAA Academy to becoming Certified Professional Controllers (CPCs). An Enhanced AT-CTI program is intended to replicate the training of the FAA Academy.

Community colleges can work with the FAA to develop capabilities in air traffic controller training, including through the AT-CTI and Enhanced AT-CTI programs.

March 9 Zoom Forum

The Zoom forum featured FAA subject matter experts in air traffic controller training who provided details about the AT-CTI and Enhanced AT-CTI programs, and opportunities for community colleges to get involved in air traffic controller training.

If you would like the FAA PowerPoint slides from this Zoom forum, contact Tom Downs, tcdowns@downsgovaffairs.com.