The Federal Aviation Administration is hoping that gamers will be a solution to the shortage of air traffic controllers.

Air traffic controllers are responsible for managing air traffic in specific airspace by giving instructions and guidance to aircraft to prevent dangerous approaches and collisions. In the United States, where there is a shortage of air traffic controllers, the government is hoping and encouraging gamers to become air traffic controllers.

Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration Unveil New Campaign to Target Next Generation of Air Traffic Controllers | Federal Aviation Administration
https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-and-federal-aviation-administration-unveil

Now the FAA says gamers are the answer to its air traffic controller shortage | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/games/910434/now-the-faa-says-gamers-are-the-answer-to-its-air-traffic-controller-shortage

To learn more about the work of air traffic controllers who protect the safety of the skies, check out the following video released on the official YouTube channel of the Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

[Navigator of the Sky] Introducing the work of an air traffic controller! - YouTube


[Complete Coverage] Let's take a look at a day in the life of an air traffic controller! - YouTube


To become an air traffic controller in the United States, you must take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recruitment exam, and there is an age limit of under 30 years old. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics , the average annual salary for an air traffic controller in the U.S. is $140,000 (approximately 22 million yen), but there is a chronic shortage of personnel, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office has stated that the number of air traffic controllers has ' decreased by about 6% in the last 10 years .'

Amidst this situation, the Trump administration has launched a recruitment campaign targeting gamers ahead of the annual air traffic controller recruitment period, which begins on April 17, 2026. The FAA has released a video encouraging gamers to become air traffic controllers, featuring footage from popular titles such as Madden NFL , Fortnite , and League of Legends , and advertising that the average annual salary will reach $155,000 (approximately 25 million yen) in three years. It further states, 'You have been training for this day (the day you become an air traffic controller).'

Air Traffic Control Hiring: It's Not a Game. It's a Career. - YouTube


Regarding the campaign, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said, 'To develop the next generation of air traffic controllers, we need to adapt to change. This campaign's innovative communication methods and game-focused approach are designed to reach a growing number of young people who possess many of the skills necessary to become excellent air traffic controllers. Thanks to President Trump, air traffic controller staffing has reached its highest level in the last six years, representing remarkable progress. There has never been a more compelling time to become an air traffic controller and build a career with a strong sense of mission to protect the safety of American families.'

However, even with the campaign in place, challenges remain in getting qualified personnel trained and ready to become air traffic controllers. According to the Office of the Inspector General, an internal agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation , the FAA faces 'considerable challenges regarding training, including a shortage of qualified instructors, limited training capabilities, outdated curricula, and a high training failure rate.'

The FAA is not the only organization targeting gamers in its recruitment campaigns. The U.S. military also recruits teenagers who enjoy games and esports, and it has been reported that the Navy alone spends $4.3 million (approximately 680 billion yen) annually on recruitment activities targeting gamers.

What is the US military's propaganda campaign that uses the world of video games to recruit teenagers into the military? - GIGAZINE