The Federal Aviation Administration is expanding hands-on training for air traffic controllers by allowing them to observe pilots during actual flights, giving controllers a firsthand look at cockpit operations and the demands flight crews face in the air.
Announced October 14, the initiative reinstates the FAA’s Flight Deck Training program, which was suspended at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Controllers will be able to observe operations aboard commercial, general aviation, and military aircraft, gaining practical experience with pilot workloads, cockpit procedures and the effects of air traffic control instructions.
Under the program, controllers can apply electronically for specific flights and must identify a training objective. Approved participants will undergo security screening and other required checks before entering the cockpit. They will also submit reports describing what they learned after completing their flights.
The FAA will permit participating controllers to take two commercial or general aviation flights and one military flight annually, subject to staffing availability and management approval. All major U.S. airlines have agreed to participate, and the agency expects the formal program to resume after Thanksgiving.
Early testing has already demonstrated potential benefits, particularly in helping controllers recognize when complex instructions or last-minute runway changes can increase pilot workload. The initiative comes as the FAA works to strengthen aviation safety and expand its air traffic control workforce, including the hiring of a record 2,235 controller trainees during fiscal year 2026.
