New documents show the Biden administration quietly dialed back the standards for aspiring air traffic controllers, raising eyebrows about safety in our skies.
According to Fox News, this story boils down to a policy shift that lowered the bar for entry into a critical profession, followed by a course correction under the Trump administration’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Let’s rewind to late 2023, when the Biden team scrapped the “best qualified” category for air traffic controller applicants who scored 85% or higher on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam. Instead, they introduced a softer “well qualified” threshold for those hitting just 80% or above. It’s a 5% difference that critics argue could mean a world of difference in high-stakes airspace.
Under the Biden-era rules, the tiers were simple: 80% and up got you “well qualified,” 70-79.9% earned a “qualified” nod, and anything below 70% meant “not referred.” It’s hard not to wonder if this was a numbers game to fill seats amid a nationwide shortage of controllers. After all, pushing more candidates through the door doesn’t guarantee they’ll handle the pressure of guiding jets.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy didn’t mince words on the “Pod Force One” podcast, pointing out the fallout. “They lowered the standard from 85% to 80% to be best qualified,” he said, suggesting it was a desperate bid to boost academy enrollment. But when 30% or more washed out because they “couldn’t do the work,” as Duffy noted, you’ve got to question if easier entry helps or harms.
Now, contrast that with the previous administration’s pushback against what some see as a progressive agenda to prioritize quantity over quality. Duffy’s team at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since revamped the grading system with a tougher scale. Scores of 90% or higher now snag the “best qualified” label, while 85-89% are “well qualified,” and anything under 70% still gets the boot.
The current FAA, under Duffy’s watch, isn’t just raising the bar—they’re fast-tracking the cream of the crop. “We’re getting the best scores in the academy first,” Duffy claimed, ensuring those with 98% or 94% on the exam grab top slots as they open. It’s a common-sense move: why let talent languish when lives are on the line?
Duffy also addressed the timing issue that plagued past recruitment. “In two months after you take the entrance exam, we’re getting you into the academy,” he explained. Compare that to waiting two years with just an 82% score—a delay that, as Duffy rightly contended, could push a 22-year-old to ditch the dream for another gig.
Meanwhile, defenders of the Biden policy, like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, insist there’s no cause for alarm. “We did not change the rigorous standard for becoming a certified air traffic controller,” Buttigieg stated. But isn’t tweaking the entry exam a change in itself, even if certification hoops remain the same?
Let’s not ignore the elephant in the control tower: a dire shortage of air traffic controllers has airports scrambling across the country. This crisis hit a tragic peak with a mid-air collision over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, claiming 67 lives aboard a regional jet and a Black Hawk helicopter. That disaster alone forced the Department of Transportation to confront the staffing gap head-on.
Buttigieg’s camp pushes back hard against criticism, with a spokesperson dismissing Duffy’s concerns as a “desperate attempt to deflect” from current shortages. It’s a sharp jab, yet it sidesteps whether lowering entry standards was ever a wise fix for a systemic problem. Shouldn’t safety trump filling quotas?
On a brighter note, the FAA is ramping up hiring to tackle the shortfall. More than 2,000 new controllers are expected to join this year, with projections of 8,900 additional hires by the end of 2028. It’s a hefty goal, but numbers alone won’t cut it if training and standards don’t match the mission.
Once candidates graduate from the FAA academy in Oklahoma City, certification timelines vary based on where they’re stationed. As Duffy noted, “If they’re in a not-so-busy airspace, they can be certified in a year.” That’s a quick turnaround for some, but busier hubs could mean longer waits—and more strain on the system.
At the end of the day, this debate isn’t just about test scores; it’s about trust in the folks guiding our planes. The Biden administration’s decision to ease entry requirements might have been well-intentioned, aimed at addressing a workforce crisis, but it risks looking like a shortcut when safety is non-negotiable.
Duffy’s reforms, prioritizing top performers and speeding up academy placement, feel like a return to merit over expediency. While no one doubts the need for more controllers, the path forward must balance urgency with excellence. After all, when you’re 30,000 feet up, “well qualified” better mean “exceptionally prepared.”
