Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025

This bill aims to grow and modernize the air traffic control workforce. It strengthens college training partnerships, creates smoother hiring paths into FAA jobs, upgrades training equipment, and adds supports to keep skilled controllers on the job. It also sets timelines for updating training rules, improving mental health support, and reporting on airport radar needs to spot drones and other unknown objects.

Key points

• Who is affected: Students in FAA‑partner colleges, air traffic controller trainees and current controllers, and airports that need better radar tools.
• College training programs: The FAA keeps and expands its Collegiate Training Initiative (including an enhanced version), can set standards for schools, and may hire graduates directly and later convert them to permanent civil service once they reach full performance. Colleges can get grants to build curriculum, hire faculty, buy simulators and classroom supplies, and cover required tests ($20 million each year, 2026–2031).
• Hiring and retention: The bill calls for bonuses to help trainees qualify and to keep Certified Professional Controllers from leaving.
• Training equipment at FAA facilities: Sets aside $20 million each year from 2026–2031 for new training equipment at air traffic control facilities.
• Updating how controllers are trained and tested: The FAA must form a committee to review the FAA Academy and college curricula and the ATSA exam, consider modern teaching tools, and report within one year; within 180 days after that report, the FAA must start rule changes or explain why not. The committee includes experts from accredited schools, industry, FAA, and the controllers’ union.
• Mental health support: Within 180 days, the FAA must start a course to help medical providers and Aviation Medical Examiners understand FAA mental health rules for controllers, with options for virtual or in‑person training.
• Airport radar and safety: Within 90 days, the FAA must report to Congress on the Airport Non‑cooperative Surveillance Radar program, including funding needs, cost‑benefit options, and how to equip airports to detect non‑cooperative flying objects like drones and balloons.
• Faculty benefit: Adds an annuity supplement for certain air traffic control instructors and supervisors at approved colleges in the enhanced program.