The U.S. needs air traffic controllers, and it’s turning to gamers for help
Gamers are being targeted for air traffic control jobs because the FAA believes skills such as multitasking, spatial awareness, and problem solving can transfer to the role.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is leveraging the skills of gamers to address a shortage of air traffic controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced in April that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is targeting young gamers who possess hard skills transferable to air traffic control. These skills include multitasking, spatial awareness, strategy, and problem-solving.
The FAA has already reached 94% of its hiring goal, with over 2,000 new controllers hired and another 2,000 in the process. The recruitment drive highlights the relevance of gaming skills, as RTS games like StarCraft II and real-time strategy games like Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant require managing multiple tasks simultaneously.
Research supports the notion that action video games can improve attention and spatial cognition. While being skilled at gaming does not automatically qualify someone for air traffic control, the experience can provide a solid foundation for the FAA's rigorous selection process, including Academy training and three years of on-the-job experience.
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