Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the University of North Dakota (UND) submitted its application to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. Hoeven has been working to secure the aviation school’s role in the new program, part of his broader efforts to address the air traffic controller (ATC) shortage. Specifically, this effort will allow UND’s ATC program graduates to move directly into the workforce rather than attending the FAA’s ATC Academy in Oklahoma:
- This builds upon UND’s current role as an AT-CTI program, which allows graduates to skip the first five weeks of initial qualification training at the FAA Academy.
- Under the enhanced program, UND will offer the same curriculum provided by the FAA Academy, making graduates immediately eligible for hire and to begin localized training at an air traffic facility.
- Graduates will still be required to pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam and meet medical and security requirements.
- UND is aiming to start the Enhanced AT-CTI program in the spring 2025 semester, being one of the first schools in the nation to offer this opportunity to students.
- To advance UND’s application, Hoeven made the case to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker for UND to lead the way in this initiative.
- The senator stressed the university’s position as a world leader in aviation research, education and training.
- This comes in addition to measures Hoeven worked to include in the FAA Reauthorization Bill passed by Congress earlier this year to improve ATC hiring and retention.
- With the application submitted, the FAA will begin the review process, which includes a site visit in Grand Forks in the coming months.
- The site visit will involve an inspection of UND’s classes, curriculum, equipment and other aspects essential to the Enhanced AT-CTI program.
- Hoeven’s office continues working with the FAA to coordinate these next steps in the application process.
“Air traffic controllers are an essential part of our nation’s ability to provide safe, timely air service, and the ongoing labor shortages in this area constrain the operations of airports across the country. The good news is that we have a world-class aviation school at UND, which is primed and ready to tackle this demand for a qualified ATC workforce. As an existing AT-CTI school, UND is well-positioned to move into this new enhanced training initiative, which is a great opportunity for its students to get into the workforce more quickly, bypassing the need to go the ATC Academy in Oklahoma,” said Senator Hoeven. “That’s why we’ve been working to secure UND’s leadership in this program, having raised this priority with both the Transportation Secretary and the FAA Administrator. With the school’s application now submitted to the FAA, we continue our efforts to move this process forward, and ensure the site visit and all required steps are successfully completed in time to begin this program at UND in 2025.”
“We are looking forward to working with the FAA in getting our program approved and graduating Enhanced AT-CTI students to help alleviate the controller shortage,” said Craig Carlson, Associate Professor of Aviation, who has been leading the application efforts at UND. “We appreciate Senator Hoeven and his team for working with us to make this opportunity a reality, which leverages UND’s expertise in aviation to provide a great career opportunity to North Dakota students, while addressing a critical national need.”
Addressing the ATC Shortage
The FAA reauthorization bill includes legislation Hoeven cosponsored that requires the FAA to use a more accurate staffing model developed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization. The bill also sets an updated minimum hiring target for new air traffic controllers.
