TCC One of First in Nation to Join FAA’s Enhanced Air Traffic Training Program

Tulsa Community College has signed an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to become one of the nation’s first schools in the Enhanced Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), part of a strategic effort to address the national shortage of air traffic controllers.

With this accreditation, TCC will embed the FAA Academy’s comprehensive air traffic control curriculum into its program, allowing graduates to bypass the FAA Academy’s traditional 16-week training in Oklahoma City and move directly into on-the-job training at air traffic control facilities after graduation.

“We are incredibly proud to be among the first institutions selected for the FAA’s Enhanced AT-CTI program. This agreement reflects TCC’s commitment to providing industry-leading education that meets the needs of our students and the workforce,” said TCC CEO and President Leigh Goodson, Ph.D. “By embedding FAA curriculum directly into our program, we ensure that our graduates are fully qualified and uniquely positioned to step into vital air traffic control roles sooner.”

The FAA reports the U.S. faces a critical shortage of air traffic controllers, with a need for about 3,000 new hires to maintain safe and efficient operations. The AT-CTI program is designed to accelerate the pipeline of qualified controllers by incorporating FAA Academy-level curriculum directly into college programs.

“This accreditation is a tremendous win for our students and the aviation community,” said TCC Dean of Science and Aeronautics Julie Porterfield, M.Ed. “By fast-tracking the hiring process, our graduates can enter high-paying, in-demand air traffic control roles quicker, while also helping to alleviate the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.”

An FAA site visit was conducted in September, during which FAA officials evaluated TCC’s Riverside Community Campus and Aviation Center. This assessment included a detailed review of the College’s faculty expertise, curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities, which includes a $1.4 million high-fidelity air traffic control simulator that provides students with hands-on training.

TCC’s FAA-approved Associate of Applied Science Degree in Air Traffic Control includes training in tower and terminal radar approach control procedures. After successfully completing this program, graduates will be able to determine a plan of action when separating aircraft across airspaces; communicate according to industry standards; organize traffic flow in a safe and orderly manner; and perform in a team setting with professionalism.