Embry‑Riddle Prescott Approved for Critical FAA Air Traffic Control Training Initiative

Arizona, USA – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus has received approval from the FAA to join the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), enabling graduates of its Air Traffic Management program to move directly into FAA towers for on-the-job training. The milestone, announced on September 15, makes Embry-Riddle the first university in Arizona to gain Enhanced AT-CTI approval.

• Enhanced AT-CTI graduates bypass the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and enter FAA facilities for localized training.

• The program is designed to streamline recruitment and strengthen the pipeline of air traffic controllers amid growing demand and workforce shortages.

• Embry-Riddle’s dual-campus approval: Both the Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, campuses now hold Enhanced AT-CTI status. The Daytona Beach program graduated its first cohort last spring.

• Prescott’s Air Traffic Control Laboratory has been relocated to Embry-Riddle’s Flight Line and now features HD 180-degree tower simulators, capable of running FAA-aligned scenarios, including weather events, traffic surges, and emergencies.

Statements

• “We’re taking aggressive action at the FAA to recruit the best and brightest into our controller workforce by making the training process more efficient than ever. These jobs are critical to keeping our skies safe and with the expansion of our training capabilities through Enhanced AT-CTI schools, we are bolstering our aviation workforce and ushering in a higher volume of controllers beyond our previous capabilities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
• “We’re excited to partner with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on its second campus to strengthen our controller workforce and pipeline. The safety of the National Airspace System is our number one priority, and the Enhanced AT-CTI program will help build the next generation of air traffic controllers,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
• “Having both Air Traffic Management programs at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses approved for this critical FAA initiative to strengthen the air traffic controller pipeline demonstrates the high level of training and education Embry-Riddle provides. We are proud to see our highly skilled, professional graduates immediately join the controller ranks for training to keep air traffic moving safely and efficiently,” said Dr. P. Barry Butler, President of Embry-Riddle.
• “By training on the same scenarios used at the FAA Academy, students come out of our program ready to step into real-world operations,” said Kyle Wilkerson, assistant professor and program coordinator.
• “As the national airspace grows more complex and the demand for air traffic controllers continues to rise, Embry-Riddle is ensuring that the next generation is ready to meet those challenges with clarity and confidence, starting from day one,” added Dr. Ken Witcher, Chancellor of the Prescott Campus.

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Founded in 1926, Embry-Riddle is the world’s largest fully accredited university specializing in aviation, aerospace, engineering, and related fields. Its Prescott, Arizona, and Daytona Beach, Florida, campuses host specialized training programs, including Enhanced AT-CTI pathways for air traffic control.

Source: FAA / Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University