Air Traffic Controller Staffing Dashboard

For all federally-operated air traffic control facilities in the United States

Updated October 2025; Reflects September 2025 Data

National Staffing

72.7%

There are currently 10,643 fully-certified air traffic controllers operating 313 federal facilities across the nation.

The total number of certified controllers required to fully staff all facilities to established staffing targets is 14,633.

The American national airspace system is 72.7% staffed with controllers. There is a deficit of 3,990 certified controllers.

Training & Attrition

There are currently 3,338 air traffic control trainees assigned to facilities across the nation.

The average training success rate, weighted for all trainees and facilities, is 75.4%.

The average training time, weighted for all trainees and facilities, is 2.08 years.

Despite continuous training, there was a net loss of 61 certified controllers from September 2024 to September 2025, after all sources of attrition.

Worst-Staffed Facilities

There are currently 161 facilities with less than 70% staffing.

Worst Current Staffing:

  1. Eugene Tower is currently 39.3% staffed.
  2. Saginaw Tower is currently 42.9% staffed.
  3. Sonoma Tower is currently 42.9% staffed.
  4. Rochester Tower is currently 43.2% staffed.
  5. Rochester Municipal TRACAB is currently 43.5% staffed.
  6. Helena Tower is currently 43.8% staffed.
  7. Midland Tower is currently 46.2% staffed.
  8. Grant County Tower is currently 47.6% staffed.
  9. Waterloo Tower is currently 47.8% staffed.
  10. Willow Run Tower is currently 47.8% staffed.

Worst Projected Staffing:

  1. New York ARTCC is projected to be 49.7% staffed.
  2. Grant County Tower is projected to be 50.8% staffed.
  3. Helena Tower is projected to be 53.7% staffed.
  4. Las Vegas TRACON is projected to be 53.8% staffed.
  5. New York TRACON is projected to be 55.5% staffed.
  6. Wichita Tower is projected to be 57.4% staffed.
  7. Waterloo Tower is projected to be 57.8% staffed.
  8. Great Falls Tower is projected to be 58.0% staffed.
  9. El Paso Tower is projected to be 58.3% staffed.
  10. Madison Tower is projected to be 59.2% staffed.

Staffing by Facility Type

The major types of air traffic control facilities are En Route Centers (ARTCCs), Approach Controls (TRACONs), and Towers (ATCTs). Many facilities combine a Tower and Approach Control at one location (colloquially called Up/Downs).

En Route Centers

77%

Actual Total: 4,476 controllers | Target: 5,786 controllers

In aggregate, En Route Centers are 77% staffed.

40% of controllers work at an En Route Center.


Tower and Approach Controls

66%

Actual Total: 2,566 controllers | Target: 3,916 controllers

In aggregate, Tower and Approach Controls are 66% staffed.

27% of controllers work at a Tower and Approach Control.


Towers

74%

Actual Total: 2,142 controllers | Target: 2,913 controllers

In aggregate, Towers are 74% staffed.

20% of controllers work at a Tower.


Approach Controls

72%

Actual Total: 1,459 controllers | Target: 2,018 controllers

In aggregate, Approach Controls are 72% staffed.

14% of controllers work at an Approach Control.


Staffing by Facility Level

Facility levels range from 4 to 12 they and increase with the amount and complexity of traffic that a facility controls.

Level 12 Facilities

76%

Actual Total: 3,534 controllers | Target: 4,648 controllers

In aggregate, level 12 facilities are 76% staffed.

32% of controllers work at a level 12 facility.


Level 11 Facilities

78%

Actual Total: 1,878 controllers | Target: 2,399 controllers

In aggregate, level 11 facilities are 78% staffed.

16% of controllers work at a level 11 facility.


Level 10 Facilities

73%

Actual Total: 1,123 controllers | Target: 1,531 controllers

In aggregate, level 10 facilities are 73% staffed.

10% of controllers work at a level 10 facility.


Level 9 Facilities

71%

Actual Total: 698 controllers | Target: 985 controllers

In aggregate, level 9 facilities are 71% staffed.

7% of controllers work at a level 9 facility.


Level 8 Facilities

70%

Actual Total: 964 controllers | Target: 1,372 controllers

In aggregate, level 8 facilities are 70% staffed.

9% of controllers work at a level 8 facility.


Level 7 Facilities

67%

Actual Total: 841 controllers | Target: 1,253 controllers

In aggregate, level 7 facilities are 67% staffed.

9% of controllers work at a level 7 facility.


Level 6 Facilities

65%

Actual Total: 750 controllers | Target: 1,154 controllers

In aggregate, level 6 facilities are 65% staffed.

8% of controllers work at a level 6 facility.


Level 5 Facilities

64%

Actual Total: 654 controllers | Target: 1,017 controllers

In aggregate, level 5 facilities are 64% staffed.

7% of controllers work at a level 5 facility.


Level 4 Facilities

73%

Actual Total: 201 controllers | Target: 274 controllers

In aggregate, level 4 facilities are 73% staffed.

2% of controllers work at a level 4 facility.


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