Latest news with #trainees
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
FAA faces critical shortage of air traffic controllers. Here's a look into methods to retain and train them.
The United States is facing a shortage of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers as many trainees quit before completing their certification, contributing to travel delays at airports across the country this summer. The Federal Aviation Administration's training facility in Oklahoma City serves as the sole location where the agency trains new controllers, but the program faces significant challenges with about 35% of students failing to complete the intensive three-month course. If someone fails, they are not eligible to try again, according to Chris Wilbanks, who oversees training and the FAA's efforts to address the controller shortage. "It's one and done," Wilbanks said. The FAA is working to reduce its training washout rate by adding a mentoring program to help students during their roughly three months at the FAA training center. The agency has also streamlined the application process, and expects more than 2,000 students this year — the most ever. However, a CBS News data review found that more than 90% of air traffic control towers in the U.S. are understaffed. The training program includes traditional methods such as tabletop exercises where students use handheld model planes to simulate air traffic scenarios — a technique that may appear outdated but remains effective, according to Wilbanks. "It slows things down for them. It gives them an opportunity to learn the airspace," Wilbanks said. The FAA is modernizing its approach with immersive tower simulators installed at 95 facilities nationwide, reducing controller certification time by 27%. These simulators allow for real-time training scenarios that can be implemented within a week of actual events occurring. Training exercises demonstrate the complexity of air traffic control, with controllers managing multiple aircraft simultaneously, some circling, others taxiing for takeoff, and others approaching to land. Precision in communication is crucial, since a single missing word in radio transmissions can create significant safety concerns. "That is an absolute crucial part to the training. It slows things down for 'em. It gives 'em an opportunity to learn the airspace," said Wilbanks. The FAA is also expanding a program to eight colleges, allowing students to complete basic air traffic control training at their schools rather than traveling to Oklahoma City. Even after completing initial training, new controllers face an additional two years or more of on-the-job training before achieving full certification, highlighting the lengthy process required to address the current shortage.
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
FAA faces critical shortage of air traffic controllers. Here's a look into methods to retain and train them
The United States is facing a shortage of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers as many trainees quit before completing their certification, contributing to travel delays at airports across the country this summer. The Federal Aviation Administration's training facility in Oklahoma City serves as the sole location where the agency trains new controllers, but the program faces significant challenges with about 35% of students failing to complete the intensive three-month course. If someone fails, they are not eligible to try again, according to Chris Wilbanks, who oversees training and the FAA's efforts to address the controller shortage. "It's one and done," Wilbanks said. The FAA is working to reduce its training washout rate by adding a mentoring program to help students during their roughly three months at the FAA training center. The agency has also streamlined the application process, and expects more than 2,000 students this year — the most ever. However, a CBS News data review found that more than 90% of air traffic control towers in the U.S. are understaffed. The training program includes traditional methods such as tabletop exercises where students use handheld model planes to simulate air traffic scenarios — a technique that may appear outdated but remains effective, according to Wilbanks. "It slows things down for them. It gives them an opportunity to learn the airspace," Wilbanks said. The FAA is modernizing its approach with immersive tower simulators installed at 95 facilities nationwide, reducing controller certification time by 27%. These simulators allow for real-time training scenarios that can be implemented within a week of actual events occurring. Training exercises demonstrate the complexity of air traffic control, with controllers managing multiple aircraft simultaneously, some circling, others taxiing for takeoff, and others approaching to land. Precision in communication is crucial, since a single missing word in radio transmissions can create significant safety concerns. "That is an absolute crucial part to the training. It slows things down for 'em. It gives 'em an opportunity to learn the airspace," said Wilbanks. The FAA is also expanding a program to eight colleges, allowing students to complete basic air traffic control training at their schools rather than traveling to Oklahoma City. Even after completing initial training, new controllers face an additional two years or more of on-the-job training before achieving full certification, highlighting the lengthy process required to address the current shortage.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Social media opens a window to traditional trades for young workers
In 2023, after he was captivated by a video showing a day in the life of a group of trainees scaling a lattice tower for the first time, Dylan Healy moved from New York to Georgia with some friends to attend the Southeast Lineman Training Center.
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Teesside aircraft painting firm takes on local trainees
An aircraft-painting company has taken on 24 local trainees with little or no work experience in apprentice painters have received introductory training at Hartlepool College for six weeks before gaining hands-on experience with Airbourne Colours at Teesside employment begins on 1 November and the staff will receive a salary of £37,000 per a plan to bring in a similar number of new trainees every year, chief executive Steven Darbyshire said: "This is good money right on our doorstep". Mr Darbyshire said a shortage of trained technicians in the industry led to meetings with Hartlepool College over the last few years to devise a specific training Stockton-born entrepreneur said: "I left Teesside because I couldn't find a job here."I've come back here last year and am now creating all these jobs for the youth of Teesside."Obviously I've got a lot of pride in that." One of the trainees, Josephine Key from Eaglescliffe, said: "I'd done 10 years in TV production. It was very admin-based and I'd always wanted to do something a bit more hands-on and more practical."I always wanted to go into a trade and was looking at electrical work, building work and then I saw this pop up." Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said trainee painters will be earning £10,000 more than the average full-time salary for Teesside."We're really starting to ramp up better wages, which means more money in people's pockets so they can look after themselves and their families."
BreakingNews.ie
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
GRA criticises 'take in first, ask questions later' approach to Garda trainee vetting
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has criticised the 'take in first, and ask questions later' approach to admitting trainees at the Garda College. It comes after an Freedom of Information request, released to , revealed 76 trainees were rejected after first being admitted to the Garda College in the past year. Advertisement This occurred after a change to the rules after backlogs, which allowed applicants to be admitted to the Garda College in Templemore while their vetting was still ongoing. The change was made as some applicants had been left waiting months, or even years, to hear back regarding their vetting. The 76 trainees were "deemed unsuccessful" for "Vetting, Medical, Physical Competence Test and Drug test". In response to the story, GRA president Mark O'Meara told : "This is another example of a botched, failed and embarrassing answer to a serious problem with Garda recruitment and retention. Advertisement 'It was unsustainable to continue with the huge delays and backlogs in garda vetting of potential recruits which led to many applicants simply running out of patience and finding another career path. 'But the answer was to expedite the vetting process to help the recruitment process, rather than a 'take in first, and ask questions later' approach." Mr O'Meara added: "The GRA have previously raised concerns about any changes to the normal vetting process and this vindicates our position. 'This will disappoint and even enrage many serving members as it once again shows a clear lack of joined up thinking when tackling the recruitment and retention crisis.'
