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 It Does:** This bill aims to address potential shortages in air traffic controllers by expanding training programs for future controllers. It would create official support for the "Enhanced AT-CTI program," which allows certain colleges to provide FAA-level air traffic control training to students. Graduates from these enhanced programs could start working at control towers and radar facilities immediately, rather than requiring additional FAA Academy training.
The bill also establishes grants for participating schools and provides salary supplements for instructors teaching air traffic control courses. **Who It Affects:** The bill directly impacts colleges with aviation programs, students pursuing careers as air traffic controllers, and the FAA. Indirectly, it affects the aviation industry and air travelers, as improving the pipeline of trained controllers could help address staffing challenges at airports and improve air traffic flow. **Key Provisions:** The main provisions include statutory authority for the Enhanced AT-CTI program, federal grant funding for participating schools, instructor salary enhancements, and a requirement for the FAA to convene a committee to review and recommend improvements to air traffic control training curricula. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate.
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
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.