Air Traffic Contollers to become the Obama's new Poster child for Federal Minimum Wage Occupation?

02.12.2014

FAA seeks new air traffic controllers - no experience needed

Want a new career? The FAA is looking for new air traffic controllers with no previous aviation experience required. (Source: MGN Online)

(RNN) – If you're looking for a new career in the exciting field of aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration is now taking applications to for new air traffic controllers.

The requirements for the position do not include, however, previous air traffic controller or aviation experience. The job previously sought those with military or prior aviation experience.

According to Forbes, the FAA is set to hire more than 10,000 controllers in the next 10 years, with more than half being hired in the next five years. The application process, beginning Tuesday on the USA Jobs website, is open until Feb. 24.

The current job listing requires only United States citizenship, security clearance, a physical, a bachelor's degree and a good handle of the English language. The applicants must able to attend the FAA training academy prior to their 31st birthday and willing to locate "to an air traffic facility based on the FAA's highest needs at the time."

The training school, located in Oklahoma City, includes 12 weeks of training. 

"Every day of the year, and especially on holidays, more than 15,000 federal controllers at 315 air traffic facilities are on the job, guiding more than 87,000 flights every day across our national airspace system," the FAA said on its website. "Do you have what it takes to help us control the skies?"

The employment numbers are a part of the Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan 2013-2022, according toForbes contributor John Goglia.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for air traffic controllers in 2012 was $122,530 a year, or $58.91 an hour.

The surge in new job opportunities for the FAA also comes after last year's government sequester, when training programs at the FAA Academy were halted because of budget cuts, according to The Oklahoman.

The FAA is having the second of its virtual career fairs on Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. ET.

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