Reinstates Relevance Of Graduation From CTI Program For Air Traffic Controllers

The passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 represents a big win for the 36 Collegiate Training Initiative program schools in the United States, says Bill Parrot, director of the Lewis University Air Traffic Control Program.

The 2016 legislation returns the relevancy of CTI graduates in FAA hiring. Now, there will be a similar number of veterans and CTI graduates hired as there are from the general population. “This now gives full credit to our students who have dedicated themselves through years of preparation,” added Parrot.

The former airline pilot and FAA Air Traffic flight data specialist explained that in December 2013, the FAA changed its hiring practices for air traffic controllers. The 2013 changes no longer recognized graduates of CTI programs who passed the FAA's skills and aptitude exam.

Since the 2013 announcement, the CTI schools have worked together and lobbied for bi-partisan legislation to recognize how the advanced preparation and skills of CTI graduates benefit the aviation industry and the safety of passengers. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 does that.

“We had weekly teleconferences, made many trips to Washington, D.C., and met with several key legislators on campus. The support from both sides of the aisle has been critical as we moved forward on this,” said Parrot. “I’m especially grateful to U.S. Representatives Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) for their continued bi-partisan support of Lewis University and the preparation of our nation’s air traffic controllers.”

(Source: Lewis University news release)

FMI: www.lewisu.edu/academics/aviation/atc