The FAA used Fortnite ads to recruit air traffic controllers, and just had its best hiring year yet

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently launched an innovative recruitment campaign targeting gamers, specifically Fortnite players, to fill the growing shortage of air traffic controllers in the United States. The campaign, which ran from April, has already led to the hiring of over 2,000 candidates, the highest number in a single year, with an additional 2,000-plus applicants currently moving through the pipeline.

The FAA and Department of Transportation collaborated on a promotional video featuring Fortnite gameplay, emphasizing the skills that experienced gamers possess, such as spatial awareness, multitasking, rapid decision-making, sustained concentration, and problem-solving, which are highly relevant to air traffic control.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the initiative had surpassed its hiring target of 94%, well ahead of any previous campaign. More than 2,000 candidates have been successfully hired, while another 2,000+ are progressing toward the FAA Academy, where they will undergo extensive training before becoming certified air traffic controllers.

To be eligible for the position, applicants must meet specific requirements, including being a U.S. citizen, fluent in English, and younger than 31 at the time of application. Successful candidates must also pass rigorous assessments, including a 3.5-hour Air Traffic Skills Assessment, medical and psychological evaluations, drug screening, fingerprinting, and federal background checks. Once trained, FAA trainees begin at a salary of $22.61 per hour, with health and housing benefits included.

On average, certified air traffic controllers earn over $155,000 annually within three years of completing their FAA Academy training. However, roughly one-third of recruits reportedly fail to complete the training. Additionally, the FAA faces the challenge of unsustainable air traffic control systems, with 37% found to be unsustainable and another 39% potentially unsustainable, with critical upgrades potentially taking over a decade to implement.