And the latest rumor about air traffic controller training is…
The FAA is undertaking a major redesign effort to consolidate training for air traffic controllers. The mechanism, ATCOTS (Air Traffic Control Optimum Training Solution), will lump all private sector contracts into one contract with a single vendor. Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, says FAA will pick the winner of ATCOTS in June. And this brings up the question – will the FAA close its Oklahoma City training academy?
It seems this is turning into the hottest rumor making the FAA rounds now. Senator Inhofe is clearly worried. He has said that ATCOTS will shutout Oklahoma University, who has a lot of the training contracts now – as it has since 1981 when their partnership with the FAA began – and that in turn will mean the end of the Academy.
FAA’s June target for ATCOTS will probably slip, so we may have even longer to wait to see how this all plays out.
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Oklahoma University has probably cranked out more air traffic control professionals for the FAA from its Oklahoma City training academy than most other training institutions, which is why it has established itself as a viable center to learn from if you plan to work for the FAA. Cutting this institution out of the training contracts circle will definitely be a big blow to the University.