The Control Tower Operator Partnership Program (CTO-P) is a collaborative initiative between the FAA and academic institutions to increase the number of qualified air traffic controllers specifically for the Federal Contract Tower (FCT) system. The program incorporates FAA Academy curriculum and technical training into existing coursework at approved institutions. 

Graduates of approved institutions are eligible to start on-the-job training at one of the 265 FCTs, which manage air traffic in small towns and around municipal airports. The program also builds a future pipeline for the FAA workforce. Certified Professional Controllers with 52 weeks of FCT experience are eligible for direct hire into the FAA.

This partnership is similar to the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), where students are offered equivalent curriculum and advanced training technology to the FAA’s Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City. The differences between Enhanced AT-CTI and CTO-P are that the control tower partnership is not limited to non-profit or accredited institutions and is not a direct hiring path into any FAA facility.

Institution Requirements

• Simulator Technology
  • Partner institutions must utilize high-fidelity tower simulators that meet FAA Academy standards. Simulations must replicate tower operations and support airspace configurations used at the Academy.
• Curriculum Alignment
  • FAA-approved curriculum is provided to participating institutions and must be formally mapped to the institution’s courses. 
• Faculty
  • Faculty members who teach the FAA-approved curriculum must have a minimum of three years of fully credentialed experience as one of the following: FAA Certified Professional Controllers (CPC), military controllers with FAA credentials, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) air traffic controllers, and/or Control Tower Operator (CTO) controllers and have one year of on the job training instructor (OJTI) or similar experience. 
• FAA Oversight
  • Each applicant institution will receive an FAA site visit prior to designation. The FAA will also conduct annual and ad hoc audits to ensure continued compliance with program standards.

For more information on program participation and basic eligibility, please review the Resource and Participation Guide. A copy of the guide will be issued to participating institutions. 

How to Apply

The CTO-P application process includes submitting required documents, a virtual curriculum review, and participating in an on-site evaluation conducted by the FAA AT-CTI Program Office. Institutions whose applications are approved by the FAA will be required to sign an MOU before participating in the Program. The following documents, found on the virtual workspace, must be completed and submitted with the CTO-P application.

• ATC Course List
• ATC Course Details
• Faculty Member Experiences
• Record Retention Process
• Learning Objective Requirements (AT Basics, Tower IQ)
• Testing Blueprint (AT Basics, Tower IQ)
• Scenario Mapping (Tower IQ)

For more information and step-by-step details, please view our Resource and Participation Guide. 

Contact Us

If you have questions or need more information, please email the FAA AT-CTI & CTO-P Program Office.