A Faster Flight Path

UND is one of 11 universities approved for air traffic controller fast-track program.

Air traffic control facilities nationwide face staffing shortages; a recent federal report found that 77% of critical sites operate below recommended levels. Hiring — slowed by government shutdowns, the pandemic, and budget cuts — has not kept pace with demand.

One response is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), designed to move controllers into the workforce more quickly. UND was approved for the pathway in 2024. In December 2025, Anthony “A.J.” Lake became the University’s first graduate. 

“For me, it was about saving time and getting into the field faster,” Lake said. “I’m saving three or four months, for sure. It feels like a real accomplishment.”

Lake earned his bachelor’s degree in Air Traffic Management while completing the FAA’s enhanced requirements, allowing him to bypass the traditional FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and move directly into on-the-job training at an air traffic control tower.

“This achievement places UND among the earliest institutions in the country to successfully graduate a student from this pathway,” said Dean of Aerospace Sciences Robert Kraus.

According to associate professor of aviation Craig Carlson, the program demands commitment. “This program is for highly motivated individuals willing to put in significant extra time. A.J. wanted to be the first, and he put in the work.”

Lake enrolled after friends compared the work to a video game. “It was just dots on a screen — don’t let them crash,” Lake said. “After a year of it, I realized it was actually really fun and it just kept getting more interesting.”

He describes terminal operations as “an art,” a balance between efficiency and safety. “You’re trying to get aircraft as close as you safely can without messing up. If you mess up, you create more work for yourself, because the airplanes don’t stop coming.”

To complete the enhanced program, an FAA evaluator from Oklahoma City came to campus to administer four high-stakes simulations. Passing the two-day exam is the equivalent of graduating from the FAA Academy.

After completing the program, Lake entered the final stage of the hiring process: medical clearance. Once cleared, he will receive a firm offer letter with a list of towers to choose from and begin his on-the-job training.

“This achievement places UND among the earliest institutions in the country to successfully graduate a student from this pathway,” said Dean of Aerospace Sciences Robert Kraus.

According to associate professor of aviation Craig Carlson, the program demands commitment. “This program is for highly motivated individuals willing to put in significant extra time. A.J. wanted to be the first, and he put in the work.”

Lake enrolled after friends compared the work to a video game. “It was just dots on a screen — don’t let them crash,” Lake said. “After a year of it, I realized it was actually really fun and it just kept getting more interesting.”

He describes terminal operations as “an art,” a balance between efficiency and safety. “You’re trying to get aircraft as close as you safely can without messing up. If you mess up, you create more work for yourself, because the airplanes don’t stop coming.”

To complete the enhanced program, an FAA evaluator from Oklahoma City came to campus to administer four high-stakes simulations. Passing the two-day exam is the equivalent of graduating from the FAA Academy.

After completing the program, Lake entered the final stage of the hiring process: medical clearance. Once cleared, he will receive a firm offer letter with a list of towers to choose from and begin his on-the-job training.