Quantity Over Quality Seems to Be Duffy’s New Plan of Action...

The Federal Aviation Administration has unveiled a new workforce plan that aims to hire 8,900 air traffic controllers by the end of 2028, with 2,000 of those hires expected in 2025. The move is part of a larger strategy to address the agency’s persistent staffing shortages, which have contributed to delays, operational strain, and growing concerns about airspace safety.

Released on August 7, the FAA’s updated Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan and Aviation Safety Workforce Plan outline hiring targets and training upgrades meant to keep pace with an increasingly complex airspace. The FAA also plans to hire approximately 4,600 aviation safety inspectors and engineers through 2034, citing the need for a closer watch on growing developments in electric aircraft, commercial space operations, and drone traffic.

While the numbers are ambitious, the plan acknowledges that retirements will continue to thin the ranks of experienced staff.. Plus, historically, only about 60% of air traffic controller trainees make it through the full pipeline to certification.

To accelerate the hiring process, the FAA says it has already streamlined application procedures, reduced wait times for medical and security clearances, and expanded access to the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program, which lets qualified college graduates skip the FAA Academy and begin training directly at facilities. Other initiatives include year-round hiring for experienced military and private-sector controllers, increased Academy capacity, and incentives for accepting hard-to-staff locations... raising questions about how the agency will maintain its training standards and prevent increased washouts.

On the tech side, the FAA is installing upgraded tower simulators at 95 facilities to reduce on-the-job training time by up to 27%.

The agency’s Aviation Safety division is facing similar pressures, especially as advanced materials, hybrid propulsion systems, and AI continue to reshape aviation. New incentives aim to draw in more engineers and medical officers, including relocation packages, premium pay, and expedited hiring authority for high-demand roles.

While Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is framing the plan as a forward-looking solution to a modernized aviation ecosystem, controller unions and current staff have voiced concerns that hiring more people won’t help much if pay, working conditions, and burnout aren’t addressed in tandem.

FMI: www.faa.gov