Whenever there's an issue in the nation's airspace, like the current string of delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport, air traffic controllers come under a microscope.
A few thousand people are responsible for the daily choreography of tens of thousands of flights in the skies over the U.S., and control towers across the country have been consistently understaffed for years - if not decades.
Administrations in Washington of all political stripes have vowed to address the issue and boost air traffic controller hiring.
Most recently, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he was directing his department to streamline the hiring process and announced new incentives to encourage prospective applicants to apply.
"By streamlining the hiring and cutting the red tape, we shaved months, as the secretary mentioned, off the hiring process," Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration said during a recent press conference. "Together we're building a stronger, safer, more efficient and more innovative FAA."
To be sure, being an air traffic controller comes with some perks. They're typically well-compensated; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for an air traffic controller was $144,580 in May 2024.
But the job can also be stressful, and the qualifications are stringent.
Here's what's required to become an air traffic controller, according to the FAA.
All applicants to the air traffic controller program must meet these minimum requirements:
According to the FAA, all prospective air traffic controllers "must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of these positions without risk to themselves or others. Candidates must be physically and mentally fit and meet standards for vision, hearing, cardiovascular, neurological and psychiatric health."
A full list of medical requirements is available on the agency's website.
Some disqualifying conditions include certain neurological disorders, spine or limb deformities, diabetes, psychoses, neuroses or other psychological disorders, or a substance abuse disorder when any issues in these categories could interfere with a prospective controller's ability to perform the necessary functions of their job.
Once hired, Air Traffic Controllers must undergo and pass an annual medical review.
Most Air Traffic Controllers undergo an intensive training program, including spending several months at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. Duffy said in a recent press conference that the washout rate at the academy historically averages 35%, but that the agency is trying to boost resources available to students to help them succeed.
Some applicants who attended FAA-recognized schools under the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative can bypass some of the initial training requirements, because their degrees are certified to have covered the necessary topics.
After graduating the academy, trainees are assigned to control locations across the country and receive 2-3 years of additional classroom and on-the-job training before earning their full Air Traffic Controller certification, according to the FAA.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.