FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2007
Media Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310

Florida Community College at Jacksonville one of nine new schools selected by FAA to conduct air traffic controller training
FCCJ one of 23 training centers under Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative

Florida Community College at Jacksonville has been authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to become one of 23 air traffic control training centers in the nation. This authority comes to the College as part of the FAA Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), a program established to allow colleges and universities to conduct basic air traffic control.

FCCJ plans to initiate the program at their Cecil Center South—Aviation Center of Excellence in Fall Term 2008. The ACE offers state-of-the-art facilities and the same high-fidelity simulation used by the FAA.

Projections are that with more than 13,000 air traffic controllers reaching retirement age over the next decade, a critical shortage is going to exist. Therefore the need to hire replacements and additional controllers, as many as 15,000 total, was the impetus for the creation of AT-CTI.

Originally 14 schools had the distinction of being part of AT-CTI. However, to meet the projected need for new air traffic controllers through the next ten years, the FAA added nine new schools, among them FCCJ. The new schools were chosen out of proposals presented by 19 schools, based on scores from 12 categories. FCCJ attained “high scores” in seven categories, the most of any existing or newly authorized AT-CTI school. The CTI program was opened to new schools in May 2007, shortly after FCCJ testified on March 27 before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation about the need to expand the program.

“We are extremely pleased that the FAA has placed its confidence in FCCJ,” said Dr. Steven Wallace, president of FCCJ. “As one of only nine additional schools chosen to ensure the nation’s airspace system is managed by properly trained controllers, we are proud to add this exceptional component to our Aviation Center of Excellence, solidifying its status as a premier aviation training center.”

Entry-level air traffic controllers earn about $50,000 annually, with the prospect of earning close to $100,000 in five years. FCCJ program costs have not been established but it is projected that costs will be comparatively moderate, as are other complex technical community college programs. Locally air traffic controllers are employed at the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Hilliard and at Jacksonville Traffic Control Center at Jacksonville International Airport.

For more information about the program at FCCJ contact David Dagenais at 904.317.3829.