Trump team turns to unlikely group to fill much needed air traffic controller jobs - gamers

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Friday 10 April 2026 19:05 EDT


Facing a national shortage of air traffic controllers, the Trump administration has turned to an unconventional pool of people for help: video game enthusiasts. On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration released a one-minute YouTube ad, urging gamers to swap their Xboxes and PlayStations for radar displays.

“You’ve been training for this,” the ad declares over the pulsing beat of song “Heads Will Roll.”. “Become an air traffic controller,” it continues. “It’s not a game. It’s a career.”

The video highlights an average salary of $155,000 after three years, and notes that the FAA will begin accepting applications April 17.

The FAA, which oversees aviation safety across the country, said in a statement that applicants must be U.S. citizens, under 31 years of age and fluent in English. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reposted the ad on X, urging his followers to “watch this.”

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/air-traffic-controller-jobs-gamers-trump-b2955577.html

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Hopefully they are reminded over and over that "It's not a game!!!". The "games" that are being played are basically flight sims and/or FPS (First Person Shooters), so they are not "managing traffic in the air and/or on a runway".

[2naSalit]

1. I think I won't be flying...

In the US for a while. I have been debating flying back to where I used to live for an important wedding but I might have to pass. Maybe take a train to a nearby city and rent a car from there.

This is going to be a disaster on top of a pile of other disasters.

[Lonestarblue]

2. What could go wrong having a bunch of game jockeys deciding whether to land planes or cause a big exciting smashup!

This administration gets more inept, corrupt, and reckless by the day.

[travelingthrulife]

11. Putin is thrilled beyond belief.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Dear God. Have you ever watched some of these kids play RollerCoaster Tycoon?

They intentionally create killer rides with wins for the highest slaughter count. Rides are sped up to watch as people get slinged across the Amusement Park.

What could go wrong hiring them to be air traffic control pilots?

[Polybius]

4. $155,000 after three years is excellent pay

Why is there a shortage?

[Smackdown2019]

7. Its a Government Job

Its a Government Job that is Honorable; but that is the extent of it.

Government Jobs can be either, easy/entry level positions that have no to little stress or to high level/stressful and complex understanding of the job.

Some jobs are Eight-hour jobs, pushing the broom jobs.

Other jobs are required Overtime positions.

In other words for air traffic controllers; its not like you end your shift after Eight hours, if you are needed, you are required to stay.

Not to mention, the training involved and long hours of education requirements.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

16. Don't forget rotating shifts.

I did ATC in the military and rotating shifts are part of the job. This includes graveyard shifts if they work in a facility that provides services to one or more airports that are open 24/7/365 or an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that provides services to aircraft en route to their destination.

[paleotn]

13. Some jobs come with so much responsibility and stress....

...that the amount of money is irrelevant. If you or I fuck up, everyone does from time to time, it's probably not the end of the world. If ATC's fuck up, hundreds could die in a flaming crash. That kind of frames it in terms more appropriate than money.

[wolfie001]

25. I've read accounts of some of these employees....

....never getting to go on vacation and working insane hours. When rePUKES run things, humanity goes out the door with the trash.

[thumper2547]

30. Not even close

It takes a much longer time to work up to that amount of pay (unless you are in a high cost of living area in which case it isn't actually that much money). They don't start out even close to that amount. Just like everything else that is advertised it is you CAN make that much money eventually. $150,000 in LA or DC is not that much but it is a good amount for the Midwest (but of course you don't get paid that much in the Midwest right off the bat). These jobs have locality based pay like everything else.

So they say 150k but what that really means is 150k in the areas where it isn't that much money or 150k in the Midwest after about a decade on the job. But then they will say NO, we have new hires making that much money. What they mean is they make that much with overtime when saying these numbers. So you are making 75k a year but working 80 hours (TWO JOBS) so yes you make 150k early in your career but not really. Your really just working two jobs at 75k.

So the bottom line is that it is very very stressful for way too little money. They need to make about $200,000 in the Midwest for 40 hours a week and about $300,000 in high cost of living areas to make it a good job. Essentially double or more the pay they currently earn. It is a miserable job to work for the pay and hours required and that is why they constantly can't get anyone to fill the positions.

[maxrandb]

5. "Heads Will Roll" seems an appropriate ad campaign song for this "initiative"

I swear, living in Donnie Dipshits 'MuriKKKa, has become like watching a dog work a Trigonometry equation, while half the people watching and the entire media try to convince me the dog is a genius.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

17. That is one of the best analogies of this maladministration I have read.

You earned a two point conversion on top of the TD on that one.

[Martin68]

6. As long as they are well-screened and well-trained I don't think it's a crazy idea.

[AZLD4Candidate]

10. You think anyone in this nightmare is "well-screened" and "well-trained?"

This is the scumbag administration we're talking about. Look at the wastrels they put on ICE.

[NH Ethylene]

15. I agree.

Gamers are accustomed to evaluating the existing info and making decisions quickly under pressure.

Obviously they would need to be trained and undergo psych evaluations.

[choie]

19. That's sarcasm, right?

[NH Ethylene]

23. No, it's not.

As a 71-year-old life-long 'gamer' I can assure you that not all people who play a lot of video games fit into the stereotype. (Before you say there were no video games when I was young, I loved card and board games before I got the first Nintendo when my kids were young. I started with the first Mario and I've been playing ever since.) Yes, gaming can be addictive, but it does build certain skills that can be used elsewhere in life.

[choie]

20. Yeah and if my grandmother had wheels she'd be a trolley.

I'm damn good on a computer - I'm also good at doing puzzles - maybe I should become an air controller!

Jesus Christ, where are we at?

[NH Ethylene]

24. All the air traffic controllers had to be trained.

Nobody is able to do the job when they are first hired.

So yeah, why not apply?

[not fooled]

31. Gamers could be a valid pool to draw from

The problem is that nothing this maladministration says can be trusted or taken at face value.

The other problem is that, like many stunts that now substitute for competent governance, this sounds possibly OK on its face but is it really? Something someone who doesn't have expertise in ATC would dream up. An ignorant person's idea of what would work in ATC. And do the people proposing this have any real evidence that gamers would work? And will they adequately screen applicants?

[Ford_Prefect]

8. One more reason among many not to fly...

[AZLD4Candidate]

9. So if they cause a crash, don't worry. . .the planes will just respawn.

[popsdenver]

34. Exactly

if they crash and burn playing their games........they just re-set and start over...............

Doesn't matter, if things continue, only the wealthy will be able to afford flying.......

[paleotn]

12. I can hear them now...."how hard can it be?"

[Aristus]

14. No more lives? Just hit 'reset'!

Yeah, I don’t think I want a bunch of blockheaded gamer douche-bros controlling air traffic.

[choie]

18. Okay, we are in the shit.

What kind of people are in our government? Not only are the incompetent and complicit, but I truly think they are insane.

[JoseBalow]

21. This is fine

[GenThePerservering]

22. I also don't think it's a bad idea

I actually know professional gamers - they're not stupid, pimply boys. Many work long hours at a regular job as well as gaming.

It will all be in the selection and training - there will be a pretty good drop-out rate.

Having said that - agree, the commercial is pretty stupid.

[OC375]

26. It's productive, and isn't centered on self-fulfillment. They won't be interested.

Plus, they expect you to show up on their time schedule, not yours.

[patphil]

27. The flaw in this logic is that when you lose a computer game, you simply start over. Nobody gets hurt.

Real life is a whole lot more final when you lose a plane.

[ToxMarz]

28. Can they work from their mom's basement?

[J_William_Ryan]

29. Another good reason not to fly.

[Crowman2009]

32. Only if the game they play is Microsoft Flight Simulator.

But given this is the orange assclown we're talking about, he'll probably hire those WoW losers.

[Bengus81]

33. I've flown those since 1984 on my Commodore. Flying FS 2020 currently

[Crowman2009]

35. Ever try to fly the Wright Flyer in MS Simulator?

It is absolutely difficult. I only succeeded once in equaling the Wright Brothers distance at Kitty Hawk.

[Bengus81]

37. 2004 MSFS Century of Flight....I still have it in the "tin" it came

in but never did fly the Wright flyer. I can imagine how hard that would be.

[Crowman2009]

38. Did they have one of those 1930's air racing planes?

I'd love to fly one over the magnificent mile and land at Wrigley Field.

[PatrickforB]

36. Holy Jesus! Remind me never to fly again. n/t

[Faux pas]

39. WTAF FFS?