Controller pipeline

With air traffic in the Asia-Pacific region continuing to climb, the region needs a reliable pipeline of air traffic control officers (ATCO) like never before. Air navigation service providers (ANSP) throughout the region are recruiting and training the next generation of controllers as they face shortages exacerbated by retirements, rising traffic and airport expansion. The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) says ANSPs in the region are facing increased recruitment and training needs, but the scale of the issue varies. “There is no single consolidated figure for controller shortages in the Asia-Pacific. The region is extremely diverse and ANSPs are experiencing different levels of pressure depending on traffic recovery, training capacity, demographics and labour market conditions,” it says. (PHOTO: Airservices Australia/Aaron Francis Photography) The workforce is ageing considerably, says CANSO, with 64 percent of controllers now over 40 compared with 50 percent in 2010, and only 9 percent aged 30 or below, down from 18 percent in 2010. “These trends point to a growing need for recruitment and training to replace retiring staff and support traffic growth,” says CANSO, adding that its Human Resources Workgroup is launching this year a dedicated study on operational staff shortages, ageing workforce and new work models. Some ANSPs are managing steady pipelines and long-term planning, while others face more acute pressure due to rapid traffic growth or demographic shifts, CANSO adds. A recent survey of its Asia-Pacific members by the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) highlighted the situation facing ANSPs in the region. “We don’t have figures about 100 percent staffing and current staffing from our member associations, but we have done a survey asking our members about the situation which indicates staff shortages,” explains Cheryl Chen, IFATCA Executive Vice President Asia Pacific Region. Some 18 of its 19 regional members responded, with information on basic working hours indicating staff shortages and the frequent use of overtime, longer shifts or foregoing breaks or rest time due to staff shortages. In addition, some ANSPs are requiring ATCOs to handle combined sectors with higher traffic volumes. Some 80 percent of member associations in the region reported regular overtime, missed breaks or sector-combining to maintain operations. Over half anticipate improvement through current recruitment and training programmes. “Even the most attractive ANSPs in this region…are having issues recruiting new ATCOs, and of course some worse than others,” says Chen, with people tending to migrate to places with better pay. “Whether aviation has remained attractive to the younger generation is being challenged all the time,” Chen adds. (PHOTO: Airservices Australia/Aaron Francis Photography) Last August, IFATCA told the conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation of the Asia and Pacific regions that the shortage is the result of “multiple inter-related challenges, including lengthy training requirements, an ageing workforce and limited inflow of new recruits”. It noted that recruitment and retention are hindered by the demanding and high-stress nature of the job, as well as limited opportunities for career progression. The situation is exacerbated by rapid air traffic growth that exceeds current training capacity. It’s not straightforward recruiting and retaining controllers, with the role requiring a specific blend of cognitive ability, spatial awareness, ability to work calmly under pressure, communication skills and behavioural traits. Airservices Australia says just 2 percent of the global population has the necessary traits and aptitude. Trainees need to be sharp, highly organised and calm under pressure, it says. “Our targets are women and men gamers, drone pilots, people who have studied STEM fields, strategic board game enthusiasts and more,” it adds. Airservices Australia, which manages 11 percent of the world’s airspace and handles more than 3.8 million aircraft movements per annum, acknowledges being an ATCO is “a niche, high-pressure and dynamic role and not one for the faint-hearted”. Airservices, which has an operational requirement for 862 controllers, currently employs more than 900 in enroute, tower and approach control at two major operating centres in Melbourne and Brisbane and 29 air traffic control towers at airports throughout the country. Airservices has been on a major ATCO recruitment drive. In 2025, it endorsed a record 91 controllers, exceeding its target of 85. “Airservices Australia is continuing to invest in our workforce across Australia, with up to 95 additional air traffic controllers expected to be endorsed in 2026 to add further depth to our rosters,” it says. Training is undertaken in Melbourne, Perth and at Airways International in Christchurch, New Zealand, following a training partnership with the New Zealand ANSP. (PHOTO: Airservices Australia/Aaron Francis Photography) Training can take up to 18 months and just because you have the necessary traits, it doesn’t automatically mean you will qualify, with ANSPs in the past suffering a high rate of failure. Airways New Zealand’s SureSelect solution, however, which is based on organisational psychology and the use of technology, is achieving a 95 percent training success rate. The selection solution, which is also used by other ANSPs in the region including Australia and Vietnam, uses online cognitive ability tests, ATC skill simulations and behavioural trait tests before successful candidates progress to the assessment centre. Staff shortages are part of a vicious cycle, says IFATCA’s Chen, contributing to the erosion of safety margins, increased fatigue and workload, reduced capacity and efficiency, and an over reliance on overtime. Understaffing places additional strain on air traffic systems, increasing the risk of errors, incidents and accidents and eroding the margin of safety. Controllers are required to manage higher workloads, leading to fatigue and a heightened risk of operational errors. Thin staffing margins also leave little room for managing unforeseen circumstances. Staff shortages can prevent air traffic systems from maintaining current capacity, and limit expansion and modernisation, with reduced capacity leading to longer flight times, increased delays and inefficiencies that ripple throughout the industry, IFATCA says. While overtime can be an effective short-term solution, an over reliance means it becomes a permanent fixture, leading to overworked controllers, further compounding safety risks. In March, the Maldives Air Traffic Controllers Association (MATCA) warned that staffing gaps and fatigue due to workforce shortages are compromising aviation safety. Local airports have insufficient staffing levels, resulting in extended working hours and reduced flexibility in shift planning, it reported. In addition, controllers are increasingly being asked to manage high traffic volumes with limited personnel, increasing workload intensity and complexity. MATCA warns that controllers are in danger of experiencing physical and mental fatigue due to the compressed schedules and irregular shifts, potentially impacting concentration, situational awareness and communication accuracy. MATCA is calling for urgent action, including recruitment and retention measures, implementation of Fatigue Risk Management Systems, a review of duty rosters and greater engagement with frontline controllers in decision-making processes. Elsewhere in the region, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation recently revealed to parliament the country has vacancies for 1,279 controllers. “Aviation safety is maintained through optimal utilisation of available manpower in accordance with the extant norms and standards. No key operational units have been shutdown due to manpower shortages,” according to Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation. In January, Airservices Australia suffered air traffic delays at Sydney and Brisbane airports due to rostering and staffing constraints. Sydney was particularly hard hit, experiencing four days of severe disruption. The situation improved, with the ANSP stating in February that it facilitated 69,482 passenger flights during the month, an increase of 81 flights per day from the time last year, while Ground Delay Programs (GDP) accounted for just 2 percent of network delays. Air traffic service variations decreased by 95 percent and Airservices’ attributable GDP ground delays fell by 63 percent compared to the same period last year. Tower service consistency reached a four-year high, with just 2.2 hours of service variation. “We are taking steps to ensure we have available operational staff to offset unplanned events, activities or workforce constraints, thereby improving our operational resilience,” the ANSP told Asian Aviation. “The company is also coordinating closely with industry to ensure that we collectively quickly respond to any short-term disruptions, such as adverse weather events,” it adds. (PHOTO: Shutterstock) CANSO says ANSPs across the region are addressing the situation, including expanding recruitment campaigns and outreach; increasing training capacity and modernising training methods; improving working conditions and career development; and investing in technology and automation to support controllers. It says industry needs to prioritise long-term workforce planning due to the long training pipeline. It also needs to broaden the talent pool, with just 23 percent of controllers globally being women. “Expanding outreach to under-represented groups is critical,” says CANSO. New training and work models are also required, including the use of simulation and digital training, flexible career paths, and international collaboration and knowledge sharing. CANSO says it is facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing; providing workforce data and benchmarking through its HR Workgroup; leading the Tomorrow’s Voices initiative which is aimed at providing the next generation with opportunities to challenge, question and shape the future of air traffic management; and promoting diversity, modern training approaches and sharing best practices. IFATCA says sustainable funding, strategic recruitment and collaborative solutions are needed. Governments and industry stakeholders must ensure adequate and predictable investment in air traffic infrastructure and its workforce, including funding training programmes, recruitment initiatives and technological advancements. Comprehensive programmes for hiring and training controllers are essential, with programmes designed to attract and retain talent while ensuring training processes are efficient and effective, it adds. Collaborative solutions are also vital. “Policymakers must implement strategies that balance cost efficiency with operational reliability. Prioritising safety is paramount, and collaboration between industry stakeholders is necessary to develop sustainable solutions,” IFATCA says. Above all else, safety remains the priority. “The industry is actively addressing these pressures to ensure safety is never compromised,” says CANSO. 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