Washington DC - The Trump administration recently turned to the ranks of the video game elite for help with a serious infrastructure issue. Can they patch this major glitch in the air traffic control game?
More and more flights are put on the books in the US, but the number of air traffic controllers – the professionals who help keep air traffic lanes safe and managed – keeps going down.
The shortage of air traffic controllers has led to frequent flight delays and cancellations, plus increased risk of potentially deadly plane accidents.
Last year, the record-long government shutdown made matters worse by putting significant strain on the aviation industry, prompting talk of a union strike.
"The failure to pay air traffic controllers for 44 days created uncertainty, drove many experienced controllers out of the profession and harmed the recruitment pipeline," a Department of Transportation rep admitted to CBS News in November.
Accordingly, the department soon launched a campaign to funnel video game players into air traffic control jobs.
Per a recent X post from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, 94% of hiring goals are being met under this new plan.
The initiative has "supercharged the entire hiring process to get the BEST & BRIGHTEST in faster. The results are historic." Duffy wrote, adding that they had reached hiring targets faster than ever before.
At least 2,000 gamers have already been recruited from advertisements targeting the demographic.
And it's not a bad gig to have, with 2024 annual air traffic salaries hovering around $144,580.
But what sparked this unconventional recruitment strategy?
What inspired this unique hiring plan?
The hiring campaign started after existing controllers said that gaming had inspired them to enter the career.
"With only about 25% of controllers holding a traditional college degree, this effort is focused on reaching talented young people pursuing alternative career paths, many of whom are active in gaming," the Dept. of Transportation spokesperson said.
"Feedback from controller exit interviews reinforces this, with several controllers pointing to gaming as an influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity."
Hiring more controllers may not fully solve the air traffic industry crisis if continued shutdowns add to pay instability, however.
Additionally, the speed at which hirees are coming into the field could be concerning, considering the previously time-consuming and rigorous vetting process for such high-stress and high-responsibility jobs.