Over 2,000 air traffic controllers in-training have been hired
Since April of this year, Newark Liberty International Airport has had several ground stops due to insufficient staffing.
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A total of 2,026 air traffic controllers has been hired by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
However, due to extensive training, it will be three to five years before they are certified and working in a tower at a major airport like Newark Liberty.
Across the U.S., the FAA is down by 3,500 air traffic controllers, so the new batch of recruits is needed.
The urgency to hire came about in April after equipment failures resulted in several ground stops at Newark airport.
The stress of that situation led to many air traffic controllers taking leave, which led to a further shortage of staff.
The new hires will now train for five months at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and then work two to three years on the job before being certified.
“It could take two years to get your position in a sector to start doing actual air traffic controlling, and that’s not at a like JFK, it’ll be a sector like a small airport somewhere,” said Sal Lagonia, a pilot and aviation attorney.
New trainees were lured in bythe Department of Transportation with a 30% bump in starting salary.
The hiring was also streamlined to cut five months off that process.
