Second-Career Training for Air Traffic Controllers Should Be Discontinued

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employs over 18,000 air traffic controllers. In the interest of aviation safety, controllers must meet specific health and performance standards or be removed from duty. Since limited opportunities exist outside the government for the specialized knowledge and experience of controllers, Congress established the Second Career Program in 1972 to provide air traffic controllers with up to 2 years of training for a new career.