USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched recruitment campaign aimed at gamers. The FAA wants them to consider becoming air traffic controllers. There is shortage of workers in sector, so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could fill growing number of vacancies. The US currently needs at least 3,000 controllers. Nick Daniels, president of National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said: "Our union welcomes innovative approaches to expanding candidate pool, including outreach to individuals with high-level skills, such as gamers, so long as all pathways maintain rigorous standards required of this safety-critical profession."
The recruitment drive has video with an Xbox logo on it. The tag line is explicitly aimed at gamers. It says: "You've been training for this... Become air traffic controller. It's not game. It's career." The promo adds: "You'll keep millions of people safe every year. And make lot of money." The enticing salary is $155,000 year. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said country needs to tempt " growing demographic of young adults who have many of hard skills it takes to be successful controller". Some current controllers have said gaming could be useful skill. They said it had " influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity".
