The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the reinstatement of its Flight Deck Training programme, giving air traffic controllers firsthand insight into flight crew operations aboard commercial, general aviation and military aircraft. The programme was suspended at the start of the pandemic, and its return has been organised in cooperation with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).

Through the programme, controllers will be able to occupy a flight deck jumpseat to better understand pilot workload, cockpit procedures and the impact of air traffic control instructions on flight crews. The aim is to improve mutual understanding and communication between pilots and controllers, contributing to aviation safety.

“After listening to our frontline controllers, we’re excited to bring back the Flight Deck Training program,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. He emphasised that firsthand experience would allow controllers to expand their knowledge while giving participants a closer look at the responsibilities and challenges faced by pilots and controllers.

NATCA President Nick Daniels stressed that there is no substitute for firsthand experience in the cockpit. He said the programme offers controllers a unique perspective on the challenges pilots face and how their decisions and actions interact with the air traffic control system.

A specific training objective for each flight

Controllers will submit applications electronically, identifying a specific flight and a training objective. Following internal approval, the FAA will forward the request to the airline. Participants will undergo several stages of vetting at the airport and upon reaching the aircraft, and will be required to submit a report outlining what they learned after the flight.

The programme allows each controller to take up to two commercial or general aviation flights and one military flight per year. When assessing requests, air traffic managers will consider staffing availability and the operational needs of their facilities. All major US airlines have agreed to participate.

Better understanding of pilot workload

The FAA has already identified benefits during trial implementation. These include helping controllers recognise when to avoid issuing complex instructions and understand how changes to the landing runway affect flight crew workload.

This insight allows controllers to see, from a pilot’s perspective, what carrying out their instructions involves in the cockpit, particularly during phases of flight with increased workload.

The FAA expects to formally launch the programme after the US Thanksgiving holiday, which falls on 26 November 2026.