Air traffic controller training improvements

(a) Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program (1) In general The Administrator shall leverage the Collegiate Training Initiative program described in section 44506(c) of title 49, United States Code, to maintain an Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program (in this section referred to as the Enhanced Initiative) to support the recruitment, education, and hiring of well-qualified developmental air traffic controllers. (2) Requirements In maintaining the Enhanced Initiative under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, at a minimum, include the following criteria: (A) Selecting and leveraging partnerships with accredited institutions of higher education (as defined in section 61.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations) that administer an accredited air traffic curriculum to undergraduate students. (B) Determining criteria for accredited institutions of higher education to participate in the Enhanced Initiative. (C) Soliciting applications from, and provide guidance to, interested accredited institutions of higher education that administer an accredited air traffic curriculum to undergraduate students, including accredited institutions that participate in the Collegiate Training Initiative, to help increase qualified accredited institutions participating in the Enhanced Initiative. (3) Selection criteria Prior to selecting an accredited institution of higher education for participation in the Enhanced Initiative, the Administrator shall— (A) evaluate the institution’s air traffic curriculum, including the institution’s— (i) access to air traffic educational resources; and (ii) proximity and access to air traffic facilities and equipment; (B) certify that each institution of higher education seeking to participate in the Enhanced Initiative has a qualified air traffic curriculum that provides, at a minimum, an equivalent level of education and training for air traffic controller trainees to that provided at the FAA Academy; and (C) certify that all evaluations of students at accredited institutions of higher education seeking to participate in the Enhanced Initiative shall be conducted by FAA-approved and certified evaluators. (4) Program expansion The Administrator shall establish a minimum target of certifying 15 qualified institutions of higher education that meet the criteria described in this section for selection to participate in the Enhanced Initiative. The qualified institutions of higher education selected for such minimum target shall include any institution of higher education selected and certified by the Administrator for participation in the Enhanced Initiative as of January 20, 2025. (5) Hiring qualified graduates The Administrator may appoint qualified individuals who have successively completed an air traffic curriculum certified by the Administrator under paragraph (3) at a participating institution of higher education selected by the Administrator and received at least a well-qualified score on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, or successor air traffic entrance exam, on a non-competitive basis for the position of Air Traffic Control Specialist in the excepted service (as defined in section 2103 of title 5, United States Code). (6) Supporting the hiring of qualified instructors Using amounts made available under section 106(k)(1) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator may award funds to support the recruitment and hiring of qualified faculty and FAA-approved and certified evaluators at accredited institutions of higher education that administer an accredited air traffic curriculum to undergraduate students that either— (A) participate in the Collegiate Training Initiative and are interested and qualified applicants for participation in the Enhanced Initiative; or (B) have been selected by the Administrator for participation in the Enhanced Initiative. (7) Review of enhanced AT–CTI program (A) In general Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall initiate a study to examine the effectiveness of the Enhanced Initiative in increasing FAA air traffic controller education and training capacity and throughput to grow the FAA air traffic controller workforce. (B) Contents In conducting the study under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General shall, at a minimum, evaluate the effectiveness of the program in producing— (i) students that score at least a well-qualified score on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment or successor air traffic entrance exam; (ii) developmental controllers that enter en route and terminal air traffic environments after completing the Enhanced Initiative; and (iii) developmental controllers that become Certified Professional Controllers. (C) Consultation In conducting the study required under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General shall consult with the FAA and appropriate stakeholders involved in overseeing, operating, and administering the Enhanced Initiative. (D) Report Not later than 1 year after the date the Comptroller General initiates the study under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and the Administrator a report describing the results of the study, together with any appropriate recommendations for legislative or administrative action. (b) Improving Aviation Medical Examiner staffing Using amounts made available under section 106(k)(1) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator shall exercise all actions necessary to hire qualified licensed medical physicians with knowledge of or a background in aerospace medicine, psychiatry, psychology, neurology, cardiology, or internal medicine in order to— (1) increase the Aviation Medical Examiner (as described in section 183.21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations) workforce; and (2) achieve maximum staffing capacity within the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine. (c) Air traffic control instructor recruitment program (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall develop and execute an air traffic control instructor outreach and engagement program to assist with the recruitment, hiring, and retention of air traffic control instructors at the FAA Academy and at FAA air traffic control facilities with a demonstrated shortage of air traffic control personnel to provide classroom instruction or on-the-job training. (2) Requirements In executing the program under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall conduct outreach and engagement activities relating to air traffic control instructor career opportunities to air traffic controllers who are within 1 year of— (A) meeting the age and service requirements for an annuity under sections 8336(e) and 8412(e) of title 5, United States Code; and (B) attaining the mandatory separation age for air traffic controllers described in sections 8335(a) and 8425(a) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Consideration In developing the outreach and engagement program, the Administrator may consider the results of the study conducted in section 416 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118–63, 138 Stat. 1161). (4) Publication In executing the program under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall make publicly available on the website of the FAA, in a conspicuous manner, qualification criteria and hiring materials relating to air traffic control instructor careers, including active job postings for air traffic control instructors.