FAA launches campaign to recruit video gamers for air traffic controller roles

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a bold new advertising campaign targeting video gamers to fill thousands of critically needed air traffic controller positions amid a persistent nationwide shortage. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the initiative on Friday, emphasizing that gamers possess key skills like quick thinking, multitasking, spatial awareness, and problem-solving honed through gaming.^[1][2][3]

The campaign features a high-energy video ad that opens with clips from popular games like Fortnite, Madden, and League of Legends, overlaid with the tagline: "You've been training for this... become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. It's a career." According to the Department of Transportation, the ad aims to reach young adults—particularly those without college degrees—who make up a massive gaming demographic of about 200 million Americans, or 65% of the population.^[1][2][4] FAA officials cite exit interviews from current controllers, many of whom credit gaming with sharpening their ability to stay focused under pressure and manage complex scenarios.^[1][3]

This shortage has plagued U.S. aviation for over a decade, contributing to flight delays, strained operations at airports nationwide, and safety concerns from outdated technology like radar blackouts. The FAA currently employs fewer than 11,000 controllers against a target of around 15,000, with only a net gain of 300 since September 2024 despite recent hiring pushes.^[3][4][5] As reported by ABC News, the agency met its 2025 fiscal year goal by adding over 2,000 controllers and is nearly halfway to its 2026 target with 1,200 hires so far, but deeper recruitment is essential to sustain air travel safety for millions daily.^[1]

Applications open at midnight on April 17 and close on April 27 or after 8,000 submissions, whichever comes first—no college degree required, though candidates must be under 31 and proficient in English.^[3][4] The jobs offer attractive six-figure salaries within three years, often in high-cost areas, making them appealing for skilled applicants outside traditional paths.^[3] Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, welcomed the gamer outreach as an innovative way to broaden the talent pool, provided rigorous safety standards remain intact.^[1]

This isn't the FAA's first gamer-focused push; a similar "Level Up" campaign ran under President Biden in 2021, reflecting ongoing challenges in modernizing recruitment for a role only 25% of whose holders have four-year degrees.^[2][3][4] As CBS News notes, the Trump administration's effort cleverly flips the parental script: young people urged to ditch games for jobs can now blend their hobbies with a high-stakes career keeping U.S. skies safe.^[2]

The move underscores broader efforts to adapt hiring to demographics driving industries like esports and streaming, potentially easing pressures on airlines, passengers, and airport staff nationwide.^[1][5] With air travel volumes rebounding post-pandemic, success here could stabilize operations and prevent further disruptions, though the FAA stresses all hires will undergo intensive training to meet the profession's exacting demands.^[1][4]