SUNY Schenectady Latest To Join Program For Training

SUNY Schenectady is the Schenectady Community College, a two-year school that is part of the State University of New York system that announced its recruitment by the FAA to train air traffic controllers to assist in relieving the nationwide shortage of controllers.

At the start of 2025, the FAA was short about 3,000 certified air traffic controllers and indicated it would accelerate the hiring process to bring on 2,000 during this fiscal year ending September 30. To do so, the agency has looked to community colleges as well as boosting trainee salaries through its innovative Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative, or AT-CTI.

Steady Moono, President of SUNY Schenectady said, “SUNY Schenectady is proud to continue our legacy of excellence in aviation education and be at the forefront of  responding to a critical, national need for air traffic controllers by partnering with the FAA on the new Enhanced AT- CTI program.”

SUNY Schenectady is one of the seven institutions – one of only three community colleges – that the FAA has authorized to provide curriculum and advanced training technology that same as offered at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.

Students at SUNY Schenectady can earn an associate degree and the enhanced AT-CTI in just two years. Following that, and after completing the Air Traffic Skills Assessment exam as well as the applicable background and security checks, those students are fully qualified to work immediately at an FAA tower facility.

The other two community colleges offering the FAA AT-CTI program are Nashua CC in New Hampshire and Community College of Beaver County in Pennsylvania.

FMI:  www.sunysccc.edu/ , www.faa.gov/