FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-19/07

Title and Subtitle: History of the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program 1991-2016

Report Date: February 2019

Authors: Broach D, McCauley D, Sanschez S

Abstract: In the 1989 FAA Flight Plan for Training, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed testing the concept of off-loading some portion of air traffic control specialist (ATCS) training onto colleges and universities. This was the genesis of the program that became known as the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI). Beginning in 1989, the FAA entered into partnerships with selected post-secondary educational institutions to conduct some portion of ATCS technical training. The program grew from an original five institutions to a total of 36 participating colleges and universities by 2012.

The report describes the initiation and growth of the AT-CTI program from its beginnings in 1989 through 2016 across 5 time periods: Before 1991; 1991-1996; 1997-2006; 2007-2012; and 2013-2016. Internal and external events impacting the AT-CTI program in each time period are described. The goal of the report is to provide a factual history of the program as a first step towards an overall summative program evaluation.

Key Words: Air Traffic Control Specialist, Collegiate Training Initiative, ATCS training, ATCS selection

No. of Pages: 44