U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited the Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma City, assuring the public that flying is safe despite recent incidents. Duffy highlighted efforts to attract more air traffic controllers to the academy, including fast-tracking top performers on entrance exams, raising student pay by 30%, and streamlining the application process. He emphasized the importance of having enough controllers in towers across the country to ensure airspace safety. Duffy also discussed plans to request funding from Congress for modernization and upgrades, potentially in the billions. While there were previous efforts to build another academy, Congress did not approve the proposal, with Oklahoma lawmakers opposing the idea due to the existing investment in the Oklahoma City facility. While Duffy acknowledged the potential benefits of additional academies on the East and West Coasts, he emphasized the efficiency of the current location. Oklahoma City remains the sole hosting city for the Air Traffic Control Academy, where efforts continue to attract and train more individuals to ensure a safe and efficient air traffic control system.
Source
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
