Recovery of the FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist Workforce, 1981\u20131992

Civil Aerospace Medical Institute1998PDFTech ReportDana, BroachUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical InstituteUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Office of Aerospace MedicineUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical InstituteUnited StatesAir traffic controllersLabor relationsPersonnelPersonnel developmentRecruitingStrikesTraining programsWorking conditionsTrainingPsychologyDemographicsAir traffic control specialist (ATCS) SelectionFederal Aviation Administration (FAA)Organizational climateDOT/FAA/AM-98/23Final ReportThe Federal Aviation Administration was confronted in 1981 with the challenge of rebuilding its core, technical, and highly-trained air traffic control specialist (ATCS) workforce following the PATCO strike. From late 1981 through mid-1992, the FAA rebuilt this critical workforce through a large-scale testing, screening and training program. By mid-1992, recovery of the controller workforce was complete, and it was no longer necessary for the FAA to conduct a large-scale hiring program. The six papers presented in this report represent the first major retrospective analysis of the complete data set describing the recovery of the FAA's en route and terminal ATCS workforce following the 1981 controller strike. The first paper describes the personnel processes, focusing on recruitment and hiring programs for the en route and terminal options. The second paper presents a detailed description of the aptitude test battery used to evaluate over 400,000 applicants between 1981 and 1992. The third paper offers a definitive statistical portrait of the FAA Academy Screening programs as predictors of field training outcomes. On-the-job training (OJT) programs in en route and terminal facilities are described in the fourth paper. These four papers, taken together, provide a definitive description of the processes used to recruit, test, screen, and train persons for the ATCS occupation between 1981 and 1992. The fifth paper draws on FAA organizational survey data to describe controller perceptions of the organizational climate in which the workforce recovery occurred. The sixth paper analyzes current controller workforce demographics and technological trends in air traffic control to identify potential areas of future research.120