The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is turning to gamers as part of its bid to tackle a dire shortage of air traffic controllers. With the recruitment window opening on April 17th, the FAA’s new campaign aims to attract candidates by highlighting skills like quick thinking and focus—abilities honed through gaming.

However, even with this innovative approach, getting qualified individuals through training remains a challenge. A Department of Transportation report noted issues such as a shortage of instructors and outdated curriculums that could still deter potential applicants. The promise of a $155,000 salary after three years is sweet, but the struggle to navigate the hiring process might be daunting.

Interestingly, this push isn’t new; previous administrations have also tried to recruit gamers for air traffic control roles. Sean Duffy, President Trump’s secretary of transportation, even launched a campaign that attracted over 10,000 applications, resulting in around 600 trainees entering the Academy.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is onboard with this strategy, seeing it as an innovative way to reach candidates with high aptitude skills. However, the success of such campaigns still relies on overcoming logistical hurdles and maintaining a robust training program.