SUNY Schenectady offers direct path to air control jobs | The Locally Times
A new college program claims graduates can bypass federal training, but public documents lack specifics on tuition costs, job placement rates, or program capacity.
## New Program Aims to Expedite FAA Careers SUNY Schenectady County Community College announced a new workforce development track that it states will provide a direct path for graduates into air traffic control positions. The college’s announcement outlines a process for entering the federal workforce that bypasses a key training step. Program materials state that graduates who earn an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Air Traffic Control and successfully complete the federal Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam will bypass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy. The FAA Academy, located in Oklahoma City, is the standard training facility for all newly hired air traffic controllers. Upon being hired by the FAA, graduates of the SUNY Schenectady program would be able to go directly to an FAA facility for on-the-job training, according to the college’s published information. ## Missing Details on Costs, Outcomes, and FAA Agreement While the college announcement states the program is part of the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) and features FAA Academy curriculum, public records do not provide key details. The college describes the program as affordable, but its announcement does not specify tuition figures, fee schedules, or cost comparisons to other training routes. The documents also do not specify the program's current enrollment, maximum student capacity, historical job placement rates, or the success rate of its graduates on the mandatory ATSA exam. Furthermore, the announcement does not include a copy of a formal agreement with the FAA or independent verification from the agency confirming that graduates can bypass the FAA Academy. ## State Budget Outlook Raises Funding Questions The new program is promoted as a local workforce opportunity amid a challenging statewide fiscal environment. A February 2026 report from the New York State Comptroller on the State Fiscal Year 2026-27 Executive Budget projects that state spending will outpace revenues, creating cumulative budget gaps totaling $27.5 billion through the 2030 state fiscal year. The report also notes that state reserves are not projected to grow. Neither the college’s announcement nor the Comptroller’s report specifies the long-term funding outlook or state support levels for specialized workforce development programs at SUNY institutions.