FAA Is Facing Increased Controller Hiring because of Higher Staffing Levels and Growing Attrition

Although the exact number and timing of the controllers’ departure is  impossible to determine, attrition scenarios developed by both FAA and  GAO indicate that the total attrition will grow substantially in the short and  long terms. As a result, FAA will likely need to hire thousands of air traffic  controllers in the next decade to meet increasing traffic demands and to  address the anticipated attrition of experienced controllers, predominately  created by retirements. GAO  also found that the potential for retirement among frontline supervisors  and controllers at some of FAA’s busiest facilities may be high. FAA generally hires new controllers only when current, experienced  controllers leave, and it does not adequately take into account the time  necessary to fully train these replacements. In addition, FAA has not provided its  training academy with the resources necessary to handle the expected  large increase in controller candidates. More time will thus likely be needed to train  new controllers. Finally, safety and equity issues associated with the  age-56 separation exemptions could affect the morale of the controller  workforce and the safety of air traffic.
What GAO Found

Thousands of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controllers will soon be eligible to retire because of extensive hiring in the 1980's to replace striking air traffic controllers. Although the exact number and timing of the controllers' departures has not been determined, attrition scenarios developed by both FAA and GAO indicate that the total attrition will grow substantially in both the short and long term. As a result, FAA will likely need to hire thousands of air traffic controllers in the next decade to met increasing traffic demands and to address the anticipated attrition of experienced controllers, predominately because of retirement. FAA has yet to developed a comprehensive human capital workforce strategy to address its impending controller needs. Rather, FAA's strategy for replacing controllers is generally to hire new controllers only when current, experienced controllers leave. This does not take into account the potential increases in future hiring and the time necessary to train replacements. In addition, there is uncertainty about the ability of FAA's new aptitude test to identify the best controller candidates. Further, FAA has not addressed the resources that may be needed at its training academy. Finally, exemptions to the age-56 separation rules raise safety and equity issues.