With the U.S. still 3,500 controllers short of its staffing target, the federal government is turning to Fortnite fans and Roblox players to fill the gap.

With a 3,500-controller shortage and rising safety concerns, the government is looking at the gaming community to fill the gap.

The Federal Aviation Administration wants gamers in its control towers. In April 2026, the agency launched a recruitment campaign built on a straightforward premise: the cognitive skills that millions of Americans sharpen playing fast-paced video games overlap meaningfully with the demands of guiding aircraft through the nation’s busiest airspace.

The agency is launching a new recruitment campaign aimed at video game players, including a YouTube ad highlighting the role with fast-paced visuals and the promise of six-figure salaries. The move comes as the FAA continues efforts to fill thousands of open positions that lawmakers say are impacting air travel safety.

UMass research assistant and engineering professor Cole Fitzpatrick demonstrates an air traffic control simulator at the university's transportation center in Chicopee. This is a web edition of GBH Daily, a weekday newsletter bringing you local stories you ...

Since its release in 1998, this air traffic control simulation game has established itself as a long seller, strongly supported by numerous users both inside and outside of aviation fandom. For the safe flight of aircraft, air traffic controllers play a ...

The Federal Aviation Administration has long struggled with a shortage of air traffic controllers and the recent government shutdown has only exacerbated the crisis. Controllers were forced to work without pay and hundreds of flights were canceled out of ...