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Connecting the dots: Do you spend a lot of time playing games such as Fortnite? Have you ever considered a career as an air traffic controller? Those two things could align: A US government recruitment campaign targeting gamers as potential air traffic controllers has brought in more than 2,000 candidates, the most hired in a single year, and another 2,000-plus applicants are moving through the pipeline.
The Department of Transportation and Federal AApril as part of efforts to address the country’s long-running air traffic controller shortage
Its promotional video included footage from Fortnite alongside the message, “You’ve been training for this.” The agencies believe that experienced gamers often possess skills valuable in air traffic control, including spatial awareness, multitasking, rapid decision-making, sustained concentration, and problem-solving.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Sunday that the initiative had reached 94% of its hiring target faster than any previous campaign. More than 2,000 candidates have been hired, while a further 2,000-plus are progressing toward the FAA Academy.
“We’re building the strongest, sharpest workforce in a
– Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) August 9, 2026
Despite headlines claiming that the government has hired 2,000 gamers, the figures cover the entire recruitment campaign; it doesn’t mean that every successful candidate is an avid fan of video games. The advertising was specifically designed to reach younger gamers, though applicants still had to satisfy the FAA’s usual requirements.
Candidates must be US citizens, fluent in English, and younger than 31 when they apply. They must also pass the 3.5-hour Air Traffic Skills Assessment, medical and psychological evaluations, drug screening, fingerprinting, and federal background checks.
Those who make it through attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City before completing one to three years of on-the-job training. The FAA says trainees start at $22.61 per hour, with health and housing benefits included. Average certified earnings exceed $155,000 annually within three years of graduating from the academy.
Just because you spend a lot of time gaming doesn’t mean you can walk into the job: roughly one-third of recruits reportedly fail to complete training. There’s also the pressure. Controllers must safely coordinate multiple aircraft while working shifts in an environment where mistakes can have catastrophic consequences – there’s no restarting in real life.
America’s controller shortage has contributed to flight delays and placed additional pressure on existing staff, but it’s only part of the problem. A 2024 government review found that 37% of the FAA’s air traffic control systems were unsustainable and another 39% were potentially unsustainable. Some critical upgrades could still be more than a decade away.
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