The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has hired more than 2,000 people as part of a campaign to recruit gamers for training as air traffic controllers. The authorities are betting on the skills that video game enthusiasts develop during play.

According to US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, the agency has already met 94% of its annual hiring target. The recruitment of over 2,000 new employees is a record for a single year, with another 2,000 candidates undergoing selection and preparing to enter the FAA Academy.

The campaign was launched in April. The agency believes gamers possess qualities essential for air traffic controllers: the ability to monitor multiple processes simultaneously, make quick decisions, maintain concentration, navigate spatially, and solve complex problems.

A college degree is not mandatory for this job. According to the FAA, about a quarter of American air traffic controllers have a college diploma. However, candidates must pass professional testing and subsequent training.

The potential of gamers, whose abilities could be applied in the civilian sector, is also being recognized in Central Asia. Earlier, Podrobno.uz reported on the results of the "Games of the Future – 2026" in Astana, where participants' digital skills are being used beyond traditional esports.

Source: podrobno.uz