Trump team turns to unlikely group to fill much needed air traffic controller jobs - gamers

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Friday 10 April 2026 19:05 EDT


Facing a national shortage of air traffic controllers, the Trump administration has turned to an unconventional pool of people for help: video game enthusiasts. On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration released a one-minute YouTube ad, urging gamers to swap their Xboxes and PlayStations for radar displays.

“You’ve been training for this,” the ad declares over the pulsing beat of song “Heads Will Roll.”. “Become an air traffic controller,” it continues. “It’s not a game. It’s a career.”

The video highlights an average salary of $155,000 after three years, and notes that the FAA will begin accepting applications April 17.

The FAA, which oversees aviation safety across the country, said in a statement that applicants must be U.S. citizens, under 31 years of age and fluent in English. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reposted the ad on X, urging his followers to “watch this.”

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/air-traffic-controller-jobs-gamers-trump-b2955577.html

---

Hopefully they are reminded over and over that "It's not a game!!!". The "games" that are being played are basically flight sims and/or FPS (First Person Shooters), so they are not "managing traffic in the air and/or on a runway".

[2naSalit]

1. I think I won't be flying...

In the US for a while. I have been debating flying back to where I used to live for an important wedding but I might have to pass. Maybe take a train to a nearby city and rent a car from there.

This is going to be a disaster on top of a pile of other disasters.

[Lonestarblue]

2. What could go wrong having a bunch of game jockeys deciding whether to land planes or cause a big exciting smashup!

This administration gets more inept, corrupt, and reckless by the day.

[travelingthrulife]

11. Putin is thrilled beyond belief.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Dear God. Have you ever watched some of these kids play RollerCoaster Tycoon?

They intentionally create killer rides with wins for the highest slaughter count. Rides are sped up to watch as people get slinged across the Amusement Park.

What could go wrong hiring them to be air traffic control pilots?

[Polybius]

4. $155,000 after three years is excellent pay

Why is there a shortage?

[Smackdown2019]

7. Its a Government Job

Its a Government Job that is Honorable; but that is the extent of it.

Government Jobs can be either, easy/entry level positions that have no to little stress or to high level/stressful and complex understanding of the job.

Some jobs are Eight-hour jobs, pushing the broom jobs.

Other jobs are required Overtime positions.

In other words for air traffic controllers; its not like you end your shift after Eight hours, if you are needed, you are required to stay.

Not to mention, the training involved and long hours of education requirements.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

16. Don't forget rotating shifts.

I did ATC in the military and rotating shifts are part of the job. This includes graveyard shifts if they work in a facility that provides services to one or more airports that are open 24/7/365 or an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that provides services to aircraft en route to their destination.

[paleotn]

13. Some jobs come with so much responsibility and stress....

...that the amount of money is irrelevant. If you or I fuck up, everyone does from time to time, it's probably not the end of the world. If ATC's fuck up, hundreds could die in a flaming crash. That kind of frames it in terms more appropriate than money.

[maxrandb]

5. "Heads Will Roll" seems an appropriate ad campaign song for this "initiative"

I swear, living in Donnie Dipshits 'MuriKKKa, has become like watching a dog work a Trigonometry equation, while half the people watching and the entire media try to convince me the dog is a genius.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

17. That is one of the best analogies of this maladministration I have read.

You earned a two point conversion on top of the TD on that one.

[Martin68]

6. As long as they are well-screened and well-trained I don't think it's a crazy idea.

[AZLD4Candidate]

10. You think anyone in this nightmare is "well-screened" and "well-trained?"

This is the scumbag administration we're talking about. Look at the wastrels they put on ICE.

[NH Ethylene]

15. I agree.

Gamers are accustomed to evaluating the existing info and making decisions quickly under pressure.

Obviously they would need to be trained and undergo psych evaluations.

[choie]

19. That's sarcasm, right?

[choie]

20. Yeah and if my grandmother had wheels she'd be a trolley.

I'm damn good on a computer - I'm also good at doing puzzles - maybe I should become an air controller!

Jesus Christ, where are we at?

[Ford_Prefect]

8. One more reason among many not to fly...

[AZLD4Candidate]

9. So if they cause a crash, don't worry. . .the planes will just respawn.

[paleotn]

12. I can hear them now...."how hard can it be?"

[Aristus]

14. No more lives? Just hit 'reset'!

Yeah, I don’t think I want a bunch of blockheaded gamer douche-bros controlling air traffic.

[choie]

18. Okay, we are in the shit.

What kind of people are in our government? Not only are the incompetent and complicit, but I truly think they are insane.

[JoseBalow]

21. This is fine