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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Air Traffic Control Collegiate Program Certified to FAA Qualifications at SUNY Schenectady County Community College
SUNY Schenectady and Federal Aviation Administration Sign Agreement for College to Join Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / May 30, 2025 / SUNY Schenectady County Community College and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have signed an agreement for SUNY Schenectady to become the next school in the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. SUNY Schenectady is only the sixth college or university across the country, and one of only two community colleges, that the FAA has authorized to provide the same thorough curriculum and advanced training technology offered at the agency's Academy in Oklahoma City. The Enhanced Initiative was created to allow qualified institutions to provide their students with equivalent FAA Academy Air Traffic Control curriculum and training. Graduates of the Enhanced AT-CTI offered at SUNY Schenectady, with FAA oversight, could be placed directly into a facility, if hired as Air Traffic Control Specialists. This means that students who graduate from the SUNY Schenectady program and pass the FAA-proctored Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) are able to bypass six months of training at the FAA site in Oklahoma City and can start working in an FAA tower. In addition to passing the ATSA, these graduates must meet medical and security requirements. According to the FAA, "The program will increase the controller training pipeline and ensure graduates have the necessary skills to begin immediate facility training." Dr. Steady Moono, College President, said, "SUNY Schenectady is proud to be at the forefront of responding to a critical, national need for qualified Air Traffic Controllers by partnering with the FAA on the new Enhanced AT-CTI program. This is an extraordinary opportunity for students to gain the same rigorous curriculum and training that the FAA provides at the Academy in Oklahoma City. We welcome students from across the country as they train to begin their careers in the Air Traffic Control industry. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Senator Chuck Schumer who called on the FAA to include SUNY Schenectady in its Enhanced AT-CTI program, noting that the College was uniquely qualified and ready to create a pipeline of students to enter this high-paying career and address the nationwide shortage." New York Senator Chuck Schumer said, "Prepare for takeoff to better address the air traffic controller shortage because the FAA just approved SUNY Schenectady to join their prestigious Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative. As airports continue to struggle with the national air traffic controller shortage, I pushed to have Schenectady join this competitive program because they have proven themselves to be a leader in aviation training uniquely capable of helping equip students with the skill they need to enter this career. SUNY Schenectady's air traffic controller training program is ready to create a local pipeline of students to enter this high-paying field tasked with protecting the safety of our skies. I'm thrilled the FAA heeded my calls and is helping the next generation of air traffic controllers reach new heights right here in the Capital Region. I commend SUNY Schenectady President Dr. Steady Moono and the college's Aviation Program's leadership for this new milestone and a continued high standard of training of our next generation of controllers." Gary Hughes, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature, added, "We're grateful to Senator Schumer for his steadfast support of SUNY Schenectady and his efforts to address the national shortage of air traffic controllers. The FAA's designation highlights the strength of our Aviation Science and Air Traffic Control degree programs, which equip students with hands-on, career-ready training. With the College's new Enhanced status, students will have even more pathways to success-including the opportunity for direct placement into an air traffic control facility-and will help keep our skies safer across the country." Graduates of the program earn their A.A.S. degrees in Air Traffic Control. SUNY Schenectady first began offering the degree program in ATC in 2012 and in January 2025 the College unveiled its new Air Traffic Control simulator, the largest and most comprehensive at a community college east of the Mississippi River. The FAA-approved SUNY Schenectady ATC Simulator features: Three ATC Tower stations for ultra-realistic trainingSeven 75" monitors for 215 degrees of complete tower immersionFour radar TRACON stations for multi-training scenarios and realismATSpeak which reinforces radar, tower, ramp, pilot, and airside driver phraseologiesSeven Remote Pilot stations for real human-voice responses and pilotageFAA Academy Curriculum for the BEST in ATC Training In addition to the ATC degree program, SUNY Schenectady offers an A.S. degree in Aviation Science: Pilot and an Aviation Science: Non-Pilot Administration and Management degree through the Division of Business and Professional Programs, among the College's 60 degrees, certificates, and microcredentials. SUNY Schenectady is now accepting applications for the Enhanced AT-CTI program at Please contact the Office of Admissions at 518-381-1366 or admissions@ for more information on how to apply. Images of SUNY Schenectady's Air Traffic Control simulator and captions are available here. Contact Information Geoff Redick Director, Public Affairsgeoff@ 297-2453 Matt Potolski Senior Account Executivematt@ 698-4032 SOURCE: SUNY Schenectady County Community College press release
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Want to be an Air Traffic Controller? Check these boxes to get this six-figure job.
Want to be an Air Traffic Controller? Check these boxes to get this six-figure job. Show Caption Hide Caption FAA plans air traffic control overhaul After weeks of scrutiny over air traffic control systems, the Trump Administration says it's making plans to overhaul the technology. Fox - Seattle Air traffic controllers must be U.S. citizens under 31, pass medical and security checks, and specialized tests. The median salary for an air traffic controller was $144,580 in May 2024. The FAA has tried to streamline the hiring process to address controller shortages. Whenever there's an issue in the nation's airspace, like the current string of delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport, air traffic controllers come under a microscope. A few thousand people are responsible for the daily choreography of tens of thousands of flights in the skies over the U.S., and control towers across the country have been consistently understaffed for years – if not decades. Administrations in Washington of all political stripes have vowed to address the issue and boost air traffic controller hiring. Most recently, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he was directing his department to streamline the hiring process and announced new incentives to encourage prospective applicants to apply. 'By streamlining the hiring and cutting the red tape, we shaved months, as the secretary mentioned, off the hiring process,' Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration said during a recent press conference. 'Together we're building a stronger, safer, more efficient and more innovative FAA.' To be sure, being an air traffic controller comes with some perks. They're typically well-compensated; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for an air traffic controller was $144,580 in May 2024. But the job can also be stressful, and the qualifications are stringent. Here's what's required to become an air traffic controller, according to the FAA. Basic Air Traffic Controller qualifications All applicants to the air traffic controller program must meet these minimum requirements: Be a United States citizen Be under the age of 31 Pass a medical examination Pass a security investigation Pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment tests, including the Air Traffic Controller Specialists Skills Assessment Battery (ATSA) Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment Have one year of progressively responsible work experience, or a Bachelor's degree, or a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals one year Medical requirements for Air Traffic Controllers According to the FAA, all prospective air traffic controllers "must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of these positions without risk to themselves or others. Candidates must be physically and mentally fit and meet standards for vision, hearing, cardiovascular, neurological and psychiatric health." A full list of medical requirements is available on the agency's website. Some disqualifying conditions include certain neurological disorders, spine or limb deformities, diabetes, psychoses, neuroses or other psychological disorders, or a substance abuse disorder when any issues in these categories could interfere with a prospective controller's ability to perform the necessary functions of their job. Once hired, Air Traffic Controllers must undergo and pass an annual medical review. Air Traffic Controller training Most Air Traffic Controllers undergo an intensive training program, including spending several months at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. Duffy said in a recent press conference that the washout rate at the academy historically averages 35%, but that the agency is trying to boost resources available to students to help them succeed. Newark disruptions: Controllers lost radio, radar contact with planes Some applicants who attended FAA-recognized schools under the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative can bypass some of the initial training requirements, because their degrees are certified to have covered the necessary topics. After graduating the academy, trainees are assigned to control locations across the country and receive 2-3 years of additional classroom and on-the-job training before earning their full Air Traffic Controller certification, according to the FAA. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
Newsweek
06-05-2025
- Newsweek
Retired Air Traffic Controller Reveals If He'd Fly Out of Newark Airport
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A retired air traffic controller said it's safe to fly out of Newark Liberty International Airport but stressed that building a larger workforce is the bigger challenge. Why It Matters Newark Airport, under the auspices of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has made national headlines over the past week because of drastic increases in flight delays and cancellations for reasons including staffing shortages and inclement weather. What To Know Retired Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controller Harvey Scolnick told CNN This Morning anchor Audie Cornish on Tuesday that he has "no problem whatsoever" flying out of Newark, calling the airspace "safe." "I still think they have a staffing problem," Scolnick said. "They're talking about hiring 2,000 controllers next year. They may have to hire double that, or maybe 5,000. That is the issue. "Controllers want time off. It's difficult to get time off. They're working mandatory six-day weeks. The fact that controllers are now required to have extra time off in between shifts makes it more difficult to swap. I honestly think that controllers are overworked and don't see any light at the end of the tunnel." People wait in line for a delayed flight at Newark Liberty International Airport on May 5, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. People wait in line for a delayed flight at Newark Liberty International Airport on May 5, 2025, in Newark, New federal government is being more aggressive in "supercharging" air traffic controller hires to boost the airspace and, in turn, bolstering safety while reducing disrupted flights. That has included a multi-faceted campaign set forth by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA to provide potential new air traffic controller hires with higher base salaries and swifter hiring times. The government's plan includes hiring at least 2,000 controllers this year, which they say can be accomplished by streamlining the hiring process from its former routine eight-step process to a five-step process—which the FAA said has already shaved five months off wait times and allowed more than 8,300 candidates to take the aptitude exam, or Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA). The approximate median annual wage for air traffic control specialists is $127,805, according to FAA data. Salaries for entry-level air traffic control specialists increase as they complete each new training phase. An agreement between the FAA and National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) also provides incentives for potential applicants, including a $5,000 reward for new hires who successfully complete the initial qualification training and a $10,000 award for Academy graduates who are assigned to one of 13 hard-to-staff air traffic facilities. Scolnick acknowledged that being an air traffic controller is "a high-pressure job" that requires quick decisions and adjustments in the heat of the moment. The situation involving Newark is not necessarily a surprise, he added. "Now, these controllers at Newark, many of them are unhappy to begin with," he said. "They were, about a year ago, working at a facility in Westbury, Long Island, and suddenly they found themselves working at a facility at the Philadelphia airport. So, they're not too happy to begin with because they've had to relocate. "In addition, they are short-staffed. And that seems to be the problem at the FAA right now. The FAA for years, as I can recall, in the busier facilities, has always operated short of the required number of fully certified controllers that were programmed for those facilities." What People Are Saying An NATCA spokesperson told Newsweek: "The dedicated, American, hard-working employees who serve as controllers are the foundation of our air traffic control system. These controllers and the thousands of other aviation safety professionals represented by NATCA ensure the safe and efficient movement of millions of passengers and tons of cargo through our dynamic airspace every day. These professionals ensure the safe movement of aircraft through the National Airspace System as a primary goal." An FAA spokesperson told Newsweek: "Our antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our workforce. We must get the best safety technology in the hands of controllers as soon as possible. We are working to ensure the current telecommunications equipment is more reliable in the New York area by establishing a more resilient and redundant configuration with the local exchange carriers. In addition, we are updating our automation system to improve resiliency." What Happens Next Air travelers hoping for a reprieve on Tuesday at Newark were disappointed. As of 12:15 p.m. ET, 194 flights into or out of Newark had been delayed and 100 had been canceled, according to flight tracker FlightAware.
Perth Now
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Motobility Mandurah nominated for supplier award
Motobility Mandurah has been named a finalist in the 2025 Assistive Technology Suppliers Australia Awards, which credits outstanding achievements in the assistive technology industry nationwide. The Mandurah supplier is nominated for the Dealer of the Year category against four other Australian businesses, two of which are also based in WA. With more than 11,000 products sold, the dealer has a good reputation in the area Credit: Supplied Since opening in 2020, the Motobility Mandurah showroom has delivered more than 11,000 mobility products and services to the local community. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Motobility general manager Julia Molnar said the team is very excited about the nomination. 'We are thrilled and humbled to be selected as a finalist for such a highly respected award,' she said. 'The team at the Mandurah store work incredibly hard to ensure every customer receives outstanding care and support and it's wonderful to see their dedication recognised on a national stage.' The awards will be adjudicated using a 50 per cent public vote and 50 per cent three person judging panel made up of industry experts and independent ATSA directors. Public voting for the award is now open and will close on May 9 at 5pm with the winner being announced at the May 20 gala dinner held in Melbourne.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
It Only Took A $5 Raise For The FAA To See A Surge In Air Traffic Controller Applicants
No one could've guessed that the presidential administration obsessed with culling the federal workforce and slashing government spending would make a dent in the air traffic controller shortage. It only took the country's deadliest air disaster in 24 years. The Federal Aviation Administration received over 10,000 applications for new air traffic controllers due to a recent recruiting push highlighted by several key changes, including a $5 per hour increase in trainee pay. The FAA is desperately trying to hire 2,000 air traffic controllers this year. No one can learn how to coordinate planes around airspace with a week of training, no matter how qualified an applicant is. While the starting salary of $60,000 for graduates is a good enough draw for some, the financial and logistical hurdles are enough to deter people from applying. All accepted applicants must uproot their lives and move to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City for three to five months. During this period, trainees were paid $17.61 per hour. The agency raised the hourly wage to $22.84 last month. The 30% increase acknowledged that the cost of living made it difficult for people to attend the academy. Read more: John Oliver Explains How All Of Boeing's Problems Can Be Traced Back To Stock Buybacks And Incompetent Leadership The FAA also tore down several barriers to shorten the hiring process by at least five months, according to Simple Flying. The highest scorers on the agency's Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) are now given priority entry into the academy. The aptitude test doesn't return precise scores but places applicants into four categories: Not Referred, Qualified, Well Qualified and Best Qualified. Those who fall into the latter two categories get priority. It makes sense to streamline the process because these applicants are more likely to graduate faster and get to work in a tower sooner. While these reforms are much needed, let's not forget how we got here. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan ended a nationwide air traffic controller strike by summarily firing everyone. Only 1,300 employees were able to retain their jobs and other 11,700 open positions were filled with replacements. With controllers having a maximum recruitment age of 31 and a mandatory retirement age of 56, the bulk of the Reagan-era replacements were approaching retirement in the late 2010s. The COVID-19 pandemic even encouraged some to retire early, and no matter how hard Elon Musk begged, he couldn't drive a mass unretirement. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
