US hires gamers as air traffic controllers
Take that, mom – gaming has finally paid off.
Image by John Lamb via Getty Images
- The FAA met 94% of its air traffic controller hiring goal after targeting gamers in a new campaign.
- More than 2,000 candidates joined the controller workforce through the campaign, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
- The campaign addresses controller shortages as staffing fell about 6% while flights rose about 10% over a decade.
- Officials say gaming skills like spatial awareness and multitasking may help candidates train for demanding aviation roles.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The “game changer” campaign is helping to fill the declining ranks of the air traffic controller force.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced on August 9th that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has met 94% of the hiring goals for air traffic controllers.
Over 2,000 of the “best & brightest” candidates were hired as part of a campaign targeting gamers, which was launched in April 2026.
“We’re building the strongest, sharpest workforce in aviation history,” Duffy wrote on a social media platform, X.
The post’s video, claiming that gamers have necessary skills like spatial awareness and multitasking, features some of the rejoicing candidates.
“You can merge gaming with aviation, why not? It’s like the best of both worlds,” one of them says.
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The campaign was launched amid persistent shortages of air traffic controllers, as their ranks have declined by about 6% in the last decade, while the number of flights has increased by about 10%.
The shortage is partly due to government shutdowns, which froze hiring and training, and to the COVID-19 pandemic, which suspended training for 4 months, according to the US Government Accountability Office.
Can gaming help build skills?
While gaming as a hobby may not have the best reputation, as it is often associated with addiction and other mental health issues, data suggest that it may have some unexpected benefits.
A 2022 study examining the gaming behavior of 16,033 participants concluded that playing online games may help develop certain soft skills, which could assist gamers in training for particular career paths.
For instance, the study authors found that IT professionals and engineers played puzzle-platform games, which may have enhanced their spatial skills.
Meanwhile, managers preferred action role-play games that required organizational and planning skills.
In children, one study associated playing video games with better performance on cognitive skills tests involving impulse control and working memory.