The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the return of its Flight Deck Training program, allowing air traffic controllers to observe flights from the cockpit jumpseat behind the pilots. The initiative is designed to help controllers better understand flight operations from the pilots’ perspective.
The program was paused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The FAA has since worked with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to bring it back, with every major US airline agreeing to participate. The formal relaunch is expected after Thanksgiving.
Under the program, controllers can request a seat on a specific flight and explain what they hope to learn. Their facility manager reviews each request based on staffing requirements before the FAA forwards it to the airline. Each controller can take two airline or general aviation flights and one military flight annually, followed by a written report on the experience.
According to the FAA, early testing showed that the experience helped controllers understand how their instructions affect pilots’ workload. This included recognising when complex instructions should be avoided and how routine changes, such as a runway reassignment, can add to cockpit demands.
The FAA expects the program to strengthen coordination between pilots and air traffic controllers, supporting better communication and safer flight operations.