Forget College: America Is Now Hunting Gamers to Take Over the Skies as Air Traffic Crisis Deepens

The FAA is turning to gamers as potential air traffic controllers, offering a six-figure career path as America battles a growing shortage of qualified controllers. (Credit: Daniel Benavides/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

For years, gamers have been told to put down the controller and get a real job. Now the US government is sending them a very different message: those hours spent behind a screen could be useful after all.

The Federal Aviation Administration is targeting gamers in a recruitment campaign for air traffic controllers, arguing that skills developed through gaming can translate into one of aviation's most demanding careers.