FAA Successfully Achieves Air Traffic Controller Hiring Goal

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it has hired its goal of 1,500 air traffic controllers (ATC) this year.

According to Reuters.com, FAA officials revealed that around 2,600 controllers are employed and at various stages of training, while the U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking an additional $117 million to hire another 1,800 employees next year.

In total, over 12,000 people applied for air traffic controller roles with the FAA. The agency currently has 10,700 certified controllers, still down 10 percent from 2012.

The news of the FAA meeting its hiring quotas comes as the government agency has been forced to hold emergency meetings at more than 90 airports in the U.S. to address the recent surge in runway incursion reports.

To combat the potential issues, the FAA awarded $121 million to airports to reduce incursion risks, such as “reconfiguring taxiways and installing new lighting systems.”

Earlier this month, the FAA said it would not penalize airlines for reducing flight schedules from the New York City area as a shortage of air traffic controllers continues to impact the industry.

Officials said the rules in place to penalize carriers for not using enough of their takeoff and landing rights at New York airports—also known as slots—would be eased through October 28 since the staff shortages are “beyond the control of the airlines.”