The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a pilot program to help prepare people with disabilities for careers in air traffic operations.

A key focus for the FAAs Office of Civil Rights is to identify specific opportunities for people with targeted disabilities, empower them and facilitate their entry into a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The FAA will enroll up to 20 people in the Aviation Development Program. They will train for up to one year at 10 Air Route Traffic Control Centers throughout the U.S. The following facilities will participate in the pilot: Minneapolis, Minn., Cleveland, Ohio, Boston, Mass., Denver, Colo., Fort Worth, Texas, Jacksonville, Fla., Seattle, Wash., Memphis, Tenn., Kansas City, Kan., and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The candidates in this program will receive the same rigorous consideration in terms of aptitude, medical and security qualifications as those individuals considered for a standard public opening for air traffic controller jobs. The training will prepare them for an opportunity to be appointed to a temporary air traffic control specialist position at the FAA Academy.

Candidates for the Aviation Development Program must meet the following criteria:

• United States citizenship
• The qualification for Schedule A Direct Hiring Authority
• Meet Office of Personnel Management ATC qualification standards
• Pass Air Traffic Skills Assessment (AT-SA) Aptitude test
• No more than 30 years of age
• Pass a medical/security review
• Be proficient in English
• Education and/or work experience:
  – three years of progressively responsible work experience or,
  – a bachelor’s degree or
  – a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals three years.

People who are interested in applying for the pilot program should follow the instructions on the Aviation Development Program website. The website also has a schedule for in-person information sessions.

Source: FAAFAA Provides Aviation Careers to People with Disabilities

DenverThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold 12 public workshops between April 29, 2019 and May 16, 2019 in and around Denver about proposed airspace improvements over the metropolitan area.

The proposed improvements are part of the Denver Metroplex project, which would use cutting-edge satellite navigation to move air traffic more safely and efficiently through the area. Satellite-based routes that would allow for more direct and efficient routing of aircraft into and out of Denver and surrounding airports; enhancing aviation safety and efficiency, and potentially reducing flight delays.

The Denver Metroplex project is a federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the FAA is conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) in keeping with NEPA. The FAA is scheduled to release the Draft EA on April 22, 2019.

As part of this review, the FAA will hold 12 public workshops at multiple locations around the Denver Metro area. The workshop dates will be Monday through Thursday over a three-week period: April 29-May 2; May 6-9; and May 13-16.The workshops will take place from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and will be an open-house format, where people can attend any time during the posted times to learn about the project. They will take place in the following areas: Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield, Boulder, two in the Centennial area, Denver, Erie, Green Valley Ranch, Greenwood Village, Longmont and Parker. The FAA will announce the workshop locations when the agency releases the projects Draft EA. People can submit written comments on the Draft EA at the workshops and online during a 45-day public comment period that will run from April 22, 2019 through June 6, 2019.The FAA will consider all applicable comments we receive.

The FAA will post the Draft EA and updates on the Denver Metroplex project website.

Source: FAAFAA to Hold Workshops for Denver Metroplex Project