ABSTRACT
Workforce planning is a key element in staffing the ATM system. For example, EUROCONTROL conducted a workshop on ATCO workforce planning in June 1999 (Domogala, 1999). In contrast to the controller staff shortages in Europe discussed in that workshop, the U.S. FAA is currently fully staffed with over 22,000 persons in the '2152 - Air Traffic Control Specialist' occupation. However, as noted by Schroeder, Broach and Farmer (1998), the FAA's controller workforce is aging. The current generation of U.S. ATCOs will retire and new controllers hired. A model for estimating future controller retirements and hiring requirements is presented in this paper as a basis for controller workforce planning. While the estimates are based on FAA retirement rules, the general logic can be applied to any national system.
