Writer

Amy Wilder

An incentive agreement to enhance hiring and retention for air traffic controllers between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has been finalized, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced today.
Designed to tackle ongoing ATC staffing shortfalls, the plan introduces several targeted incentives, including a graduation bonus for students who complete training at the FAA Academy, financial incentives for new hires at high-cost or hard-to-staff facilities. For better retention, a 20% bonus of basic pay is being offered for experienced controllers who are eligible for retirement but agree to remain on duty for an additional year.
“This new recruitment award and retention incentive program is a meaningful step toward addressing the ongoing staffing shortages in air traffic control across the National Airspace System,” said NATCA president Nick Daniels. “We thank Secretary Duffy for his commitment to recruiting and retaining the best and brightest in the air traffic control profession.”
The incentive package builds on a broader FAA push to rebuild the controller workforce following years of attrition and under-hiring. In <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-02-28/duffy-announces-plan-supercharge-atc-hiring">February, Secretary Duffy announced</a> a sweeping hiring initiative aimed at “supercharging” ATC recruitment and fast-tracking facility placement. That effort included plans to boost academy enrollment and develop expedited placement paths for qualified candidates.
Today’s announcement follows <a href="https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveils-new-package-boost-air-traffic-controller">additional steps by the FAA</a> to improve its hiring pipeline for controllers. The agency has recently simplified candidate screening and added hiring flexibilities to expedite onboarding at chronically short-staffed facilities. Also, the effort is aligned with Secretary Duffy’s modernization plan, which calls for simultaneous investment in facility infrastructure and controller technology tools.
While NATCA welcomed the new agreement, Daniels noted that “staffing is just one of the critical issues facing the air traffic control system.” He emphasized the need for upgrades in infrastructure and technology.

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