ATC Developmental Trainees’ Perceptions of Fairness Toward FAA’s New Facility Placement Process

Abstract

Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revamped its selection and placement process for incoming developmental air traffic controllers. Among other procedural changes, the way facility placement decisions are made changed significantly from previous hiring initiatives. Given these changes, it is important for the FAA to analyze and evaluate how these changes are affecting the perceptions of newly hired developmental controllers regarding their placement and how these perceptions might impact facility transfer rates in the future. This study looks at the reactions of students after receiving their facility placement under the new system. In particular, their satisfaction with their facility placement and the perceived fairness of the facility placement process was assessed using a paper-and-pencil survey. The relationship of their responses to these items and their intentions to change facilities later in their careers was also examined.