Aims Community College has reached a historic milestone in aviation education, officially earning designation as an Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) institution through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
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Aims Community College Earns FAA Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative Designation
February 10, 2026
Following a successful FAA on-site evaluation in January, Aims is now one of several collegiate institutions nationwide approved under the Enhanced AT-CTI program. Aims is also the first community college in the nation authorized to offer both Terminal (Tower) and Enroute air traffic control training pathways.
“This designation places Aims at the forefront of air traffic control education nationwide,” said Dr. Leah L. Bornstein, Aims Community College CEO and President. “It reflects our commitment to providing high-impact, industry-aligned programs that prepare students for critical, in-demand careers.”
Earning the Enhanced AT-CTI designation was the result of more than two years of intensive planning, curriculum development, technology upgrades, and faculty collaboration, aligning with both the Aviation departmental goals and Aims Community College’s broader strategic plan.
“I am very excited to see this program adapt relatively quickly to these dynamic aviation industries,” said Eric Himler, Executive Director of Aviation Programs at Aims. “This is ultimately beneficial for our students.”
Air Traffic Control
What This Means for Students
For students, the Enhanced AT-CTI designation translates into faster workforce entry, reduced training redundancy and direct alignment with FAA hiring needs.
The Enhanced AT-CTI designation allows qualified Aims students to access a direct, specialized pathway into the air traffic control workforce, significantly shortening the traditional training timeline. Graduates of the program who pass the FAA Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) and meet all medical and security requirements may bypass training at the FAA Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma City and proceed directly to facility-specific training if hired as Air Traffic Control Specialists.
Meeting a National Workforce Need
The FAA’s Enhanced AT-CTI program is a partnership designed to modernize air traffic controller training and help address a long-term national controller shortage by expanding high-quality collegiate training options under FAA oversight.
A recent Government Accountability Office review found that FAA controller staffing was down to 13,164 at the end of 2025, about 6% fewer than in 2015, while flights handled by the system rose about 10% between. The FAA’s own workforce planning underscores the scale of the challenge, projecting the need to hire thousands of new controllers through 2028 to rebuild staffing levels and keep pace. Due to shortages, a high-rigor collegiate pathway, such as the one offered at Aims, is an important element in strengthening the future controller workforce.
Air Traffic Control Education at Aims
The Aims Air Traffic Control (ATC) associate degree immerses you in a fast-paced, puzzle-solving aviation career with three semesters of hands-on lab training on state-of-the-art simulators. Led by retired air traffic controllers, the program features small classes, intensive mentoring and realistic simulation so you can master procedures, communication and instruments to keep pilots and passengers safe.
The ATC program has experienced its highest one-year enrollment in the past decade, with Fall 2025–Spring 2026 marking a significant surge in student interest. Program leaders anticipate reaching the maximum capacity of 50 ATC students by 2027.
Visit aims.co/air-traffic-control to learn more about the Air Traffic Control Program at Aims.
