ATCA Supports Efforts to Accelerate Controller Hiring by Enhancing CTI Program

ALEXANDRIA, Va. –  ATCA President & CEO Carey Fagan issued the following statement in support of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) announcement that it is working to accelerate its training and hiring of air traffic controllers through an Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program:

 "Addressing and ultimately successfully meeting the staffing needs of our nation's air traffic control system will take unprecedented levels of commitment combined with a lot of ingenuity and outside-the-box thinking. What FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker has announced is a significant step in the right direction. He recognizes that hiring more air traffic controllers is a priority and I applaud his willingness to exercise this option, which will enable the highest quality of the Enhanced AT-CTI graduating students to begin training in the FAA facilities where they are most needed.

 "ATCA and its members are actively involved in collaborative efforts to improve the National Airspace System as it continues on its modernization and integration journey. This is such a transformational time in the aviation industry. But we can't hope to make progress on achieving our goals unless critical issues like staffing in the FAA facilities are given high priority. I'm pleased that Administrator Whitaker is doing just that."