Skip to main content
D21

Detroit TRACON

FAA Approach Control Detroit, Michigan

Facility Information

Facility Overview
Identifier D21
Facility Name Detroit TRACON
Type Approach Control
Level Level 10
• Prior to Nov 2022: Level 11
Airspace & Operations
Hours of Operation 0000-2359 (always open)
Overlying ARTCC ZOB
Location & Contact
View on full map →
Address Detroit Metro Airport Bldg, 801
Detroit, MI 48242
Phone Number 734-955-5000

Salary Information

2026 pay for Detroit TRACON, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:

Career Level Hourly Min. Hourly Max. Total Pay Min. Total Pay Max.
CPC $75.00 $101.24 $156,515 $211,294
D3 $63.65 $75.00 $132,845 $156,515
D2 $52.31 $63.65 $109,179 $132,845
D1 $40.98 $52.31 $85,519 $109,179
AG $29.64 $29.64 $61,849 $61,849
Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 2.4% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays.
Pay Factors
Facility Level Level 10
Locality Area Detroit
Locality Pay 29.12%
Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) 2.40%
Local Affordability
Cost of Living Index 100.3 (0.3% above avg)
Cost-Adjusted CPC Min $156,047
How this pay is calculated
Basic Pay (Level 10 CPC band minimum) $119,005
+ Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) + $34,654
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) $153,659
+ Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) + $2,856
= Total Pay $156,515

Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so lines can differ from the total by a dollar or two.

How CIP works

Controller Incentive Pay is a cost-of-living differential under the NATCA contract. It comes from a fixed $30 million yearly pool that has been running out before year-end; when that happens, payments stop until the next fiscal year. It is not retirement-creditable, and at some facilities only controllers on board before a set date receive it.

ATC pay has stalled over the past decade. Marangos & Brown are on a mission to increase pay.

Staffing and Training

Staffing Information, July 2026
CPCs on Board 49 CPCs
CPC Target (CWP) 49 CPCs
Current Staffing 100.00%
↳ Est. Trainee Certifications+ 4.4
↳ Committed Outbounds- 2
↳ Projected Retirements/Losses- 7.7
↳ Developmental 11
↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer)3
↳ CPC-IT 1 (Transfer)1
↳ CPC-IT 3 (Transfer)2
Training Information, July 2026
Training Time (Avg) 2.72 years
↳ New Hires 1.8 years
↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) 2.78 years
Training Success Rate (Avg) 62%
↳ New Hires 77%
↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) 63%
Travel Days from Academy 3 days

Historical Trends

D21 Staffing Percentages

D21 Personnel Counts

D21 Training Metrics

NCEPT

NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.

Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026
Staffing Source Non-Academy Sourced
Incentive Award $30,000
TSL (One Training Time) 94.29%
Gaining Target 94.29%
Possible Gains 5
Primary Releases Avail. 0
Secondary Releases Avail. 0
Transfer Activity
Releases, Past 3 Yrs 1
↳ Standard 1
↳ Priority/Other 0
Gains, Past 3 Yrs 12
Last Standard Release 1.6 years ago
ERR Demand History
Priority / Draft Order
Mar 2026
#26
Inbound ERRs on File
Feb 2026
3
Employees with Outbound ERRs
Feb 2026
1 (2%)

Demand Trends

NCEPT Priority

Traffic

June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months)
TRACON Operations 476,142 operations/yr
Average Daily Operations 1,304 operations/day
Peer Group Median
(Lvl 10 TRACON)
485,249 operations/yr
Relative Workload -1.9% vs peer median

Traffic History

Administration

Organizational Structure
Service Area Central
District Cleveland
HR Region Great Lakes

Nearest Facilities

DTW Detroit Tower FAA 0 mi
YIP Willow Run Tower FAA 9 mi
ARB Ann Arbor Tower FAA 20 mi
DET Detroit City Tower FCT 22 mi
PTK Pontiac Tower FAA 31 mi
MTC Selfridge RAPCON DoD 38 mi
TOL Toledo Tower FAA 49 mi
FNT Flint Tower FAA 56 mi
JXN Jackson Tower FCT 57 mi
LAN Lansing Tower FAA 74 mi