FAA unveils new equipment to train air traffic controllers

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration unveils new training facilities in Oklahoma City aimed at meeting the rising demand of air traffic controllers.<br/><br/>The FAA says it wants

Friday, June 24th 2005, 6:45 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration unveils new training facilities in Oklahoma City aimed at meeting the rising demand of air traffic controllers.

The FAA says it wants to hire and train 12,500 new controllers in the next 10 years to make up for a high number of expected retirements.

Deputy director of the FAA Robert Sturgell said Thursday officials expect about 75 percent of the 15,000 air traffic controllers to retire within the next 20 years.

To meet the hiring goal, officials say they'll start running two training classes per day this August instead of the usual one.

Certified air traffic controllers start out at about $70,000 annually, depending on their airport assignment.