Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025
Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025 - Summary **What the bill does:** This bill aims to address potential shortages of air traffic controllers by expanding training programs for the profession. It formally establishes the "Enhanced AT-CTI program," which allows certain colleges to teach FAA-level air traffic control training directly to students, rather than requiring graduates to complete additional training at the FAA Academy. The bill would also create grant funding for participating schools and offer salary supplements to attract and retain qualified instructors at these institutions. **Who it affects:** The primary beneficiaries would be colleges offering aviation programs, students pursuing air traffic control careers, and the FAA workforce.
Ultimately, the changes could affect the broader aviation system and traveling public by helping ensure adequate staffing at air traffic control facilities nationwide. **Key provisions:** The bill establishes statutory authority for an enhanced training pipeline, provides federal grants to participating schools, offers financial incentives for instructors, and requires the FAA to review and recommend improvements to its training curricula. This represents a shift toward decentralizing some ATC training from the federal level to approved educational institutions. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (as of early 2025) and has not yet been voted on or passed.
CRS Official Summary
Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025This bill expands and modifies Air Traffic Control (ATC) workforce training and programs.The bill provides statutory authority for the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. As background, standard AT-CTI institutions of higher education offer nonengineering aviation degrees that teach basic courses in ATC and aviation administration, and graduates complete training at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy. Students at Enhanced AT-CTI schools are provided with equivalent FAA Academy ATC training and may be placed directly into an ATC facility.The bill establishes a grant program for schools participating in the Enhanced AT-CTI program and provides for a faculty annuity supplement for ATC instructors at participating institution of higher education.The FAA must convene an aviation rulemaking committee to review and provide recommendations on the (1) curricula of the FAA Academy, AT-CTI program, and Enhanced AT-CTI program; and (2) Air Traffic Skills Assessment exam. Based on the committee's recommendations, the FAA must initiate a rulemaking or make policy and guidance updates, with an exception.The bill authorizes funding through FY2031 for the procurement and placement at ATC facilities of Tower Simulator Systems, which are used to train air traffic controllers on airport tower operations.The bill also requiresDOT to establish ATC recruitment and retention incentive programs,the FAA to support the development of mental health services training related to conditions for ATCs, andthe FAA to submit a report to Congress on the status of the Airspace Non-cooperative Surveillance Radar program.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.