How many trainees did the FAA hire in 2026?

2,235 in fiscal year 2026, a record and above its target of 2,200.

Will the FAA keep hiring at this pace?

Yes. It plans at least 2,300 trainees in fiscal year 2027 and 2,400 in 2028.

Does ATC Tests help with the FAA’s test?

Not directly. The FAA uses its own test, the ATSA, which we do not cover. Our tests follow the style of FEAST.

1 Oct 2026USA · FAA

FAA hires a record 2,235 air traffic controller trainees in 2026

The US Federal Aviation Administration took on more controller trainees in fiscal year 2026 than in any year before, and plans to hire even more in 2027 and 2028.

Air traffic controller trainees at radar simulator consoles, with an instructor behind them

By Shayan ParsaiPublished 28 October 20262 min read

Key takeaways4 points

Controllers are in demand
The FAA hired a record 2,235 trainees in fiscal year 2026, and it plans to hire even more in 2027 and 2028.
Being hired is only the start
After the academy comes training at a facility, which the FAA says can take more than two years.
The US has its own test
Applicants in the US take the ATSA. ATC Tests does not cover it, so use the FAA’s own material.
FEAST is common in Europe
EUROCONTROL lists 60 organisations in 41 countries that select with FEAST. Our FEAST page shows which.

Quick answers

How many trainees did the FAA hire in 2026?: 2,235 in fiscal year 2026, a record and above its target of 2,200.
Will the FAA keep hiring at this pace?: Yes. It plans at least 2,300 trainees in fiscal year 2027 and 2,400 in 2028.
Does ATC Tests help with the FAA’s test?: Not directly. The FAA uses its own test, the ATSA, which we do not cover. Our tests follow the style of FEAST.

A record year

The FAA announced on 1 October that it hired 2,235 air traffic controller trainees in fiscal year 2026, against a target of 2,200. More than 1,300 trainees graduated from its academy in the same year, and enrolment at the academy reached a record in June.

More hiring in 2027 and 2028

The FAA plans to hire at least 2,300 trainees in fiscal year 2027 and 2,400 in fiscal year 2028. Its workforce plan aims for at least 8,900 trainees hired through 2028.

Trainees are not yet controllers

The FAA’s target is 12,563 fully certified controllers, and about 11,000 were working at more than 300 facilities in April. After the academy, trainees still need training at their facility, which the FAA says can take more than two years.

What it means if you are applying

In the US, applicants take the FAA’s own aptitude test, the ATSA, which ATC Tests does not cover.

In Europe, EUROCONTROL lists 60 organisations in 41 countries that select with FEAST. Our FEAST practice page shows which ones and what the test measures.

Sources

Checked 28 October 2026 against Flying Magazine and AVweb. The FAA’s own page could not be read when we checked, so its figures are quoted from the two reports.