Roughly 20% of trainee controllers fail at their very first assignment.
Some facilities are breaking records—with failure rates climbing to 45% in Oakland and over 69% on Long Island.
Trainees report outdated equipment, chaotic scheduling, and even abuse—from ridicule to racism—some comparing it to “college hazing.”
Why Things Are Grounded
Toxic training culture saps morale before new hires even get started.
Low pay (~$55K early on) combined with high local living costs makes the job even tougher to sell.
Stress overload pushes many promising recruits out before they hit the radar—or even the apron, literally.
Turbulence Ahead
This isn’t a staffing shortage—it’s a teaching crisis. If the FAA wants to stop burning through fresh talent, fixing work culture is just as critical as adding headcount.
