The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched a recruitment campaign in April to hire video gamers for air traffic control (ATC) positions. The initiative aims to leverage gaming-related skills such as spatial awareness, multitasking, strategic thinking, and rapid problem-solving.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy called the campaign's results 'HISTORIC' and a 'resounding success'. The recruitment drive hit 94% of its hiring goal and reached the target in the 'fastest time ever'.
The recruitment drive achieved 94% of its hiring goal.
The FAA has hired more than 2,000 video gamers as air traffic controllers, and Secretary Duffy stated there are over 2,000 additional recruits in the pipeline. He claimed the campaign is 'building the strongest, sharpest workforce in aviation history'.
A lot of what they do playing games... is what they do... controlling traffic in the air
The average salary for an air traffic controller is $155,000 after three years of service. The FAA explained that the effort focuses on talented young people because only about 25 percent of controllers hold a traditional college degree.
The US has faced a shortage of air traffic controllers for at least ten years. Since at least 2019, there has been a nationwide shortage of approximately 3,000 trained air traffic controllers out of about 14,600 planned positions. In the decade preceding Donald Trump's second presidency, the number of flights in the US increased by 10%, while the number of controllers in 527 control towers decreased by 6%.
In May 2025, thousands of flights were delayed and approximately 100 were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, US, due to software failures in the control tower. The FAA has also faced workforce reductions: the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reportedly fired around 400 employees from the FAA in early 2025, and the US Department of Transportation reportedly lost approximately 7% of its workforce following requests from Elon Musk to leave.
Aerospace consultant and former FAA official Michael O’Donnell noted that while gaming experience provides an edge, it does not replace aptitude, discipline, or decision making under pressure. To qualify for the FAA Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US, candidates must be US citizens, under the age of 31, and pass pre-employment tests. Historically, fewer than 10% of applicants met the FAA's requirements to become an air traffic controller.
The median annual wage for air traffic controllers in 2024 was $144,580.
