Here’s the problem with training more air traffic controllers

Oklahoma City: Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration welcomed 600 recruits to its academy in Oklahoma City the biggest class ever, and a s...

Oklahoma City: Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration welcomed 600 recruits to its academy in Oklahoma City - the biggest class ever, and a sign, the agency said, that the high-profile push to aggressively ramp up hiring was yielding results.

But behind the scenes, internal documents viewed by The Washington Post showed the agency was scrambling. A shortage of qualified instructors for air traffic controllers - a problem even before the surge in enrollment - was forcing managers to plead with those on staff to pick up extra shifts, even though many are already putting in 60-hour weeks.

An instructor points to a radar screen in the En Route ATC Simulation Lab. Photo credit: Nick Oxford/For The Washington Post

“If you’re feeling brave, caffeinated, and ready to be a legend, I’m looking for volunteers to work a double shift in the mini lab for RPO training on these days,” read one email viewed by The Post. “If you’re up for the challenge or just want to rack up some extra hours and bragging rights, let me know which date(s) you’d like to claim.”

The frantic outreach highlights the daunting challenge federal officials face as they work to ease the strain on U.S. air traffic controllers, whose ranks have a shortage of about 3,000 qualified professionals.