"The FAA announced a new recruitment campaign that will target the 'next generation of air traffic controllers,' which will include gamers. The FAA also released a new video ad that includes footage of Fortnite and Rocket League and asks gamers if they are 'ready for the challenge' before suggesting that they have already 'been training' to be an air traffic controller by playing video games for hours and hours each day."
"According to a recent study, the United States currently has 25 percent fewer air traffic controllers in 2026 than it did in 1981. Yet these controllers are expected to manage and direct three times the amount of air traffic that controllers had to deal with back then."
"Feedback from exit interviews points to gaming as 'an influence on [candidates'] ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity.' The New York Times reports that when the Trump administration polled 250 new air traffic controllers, all but two were self-described gamers."
"To reach the next generation of air traffic controllers, we need to adapt,' Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. 'This campaign's innovative communication is essential to attract the talent we need."
The FAA has launched a recruitment campaign aimed at gamers to alleviate the shortage of air traffic controllers. Currently, there are 25% fewer controllers than in 1981, while air traffic has tripled. The campaign includes a video ad featuring popular games like Fortnite and Rocket League, suggesting that gaming skills translate to air traffic control. Feedback from exit interviews indicates that gaming enhances quick thinking and focus. Previous efforts by the Biden administration also targeted gamers, but the current campaign shows a stronger commitment to this demographic.
Read at Kotaku
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]