The US Dept. of Transportation has recruited more than 2,000 video gamers as air traffic controllers, with Secretary Sean Duffy calling the results "historic," The Express US reported. 

The US government has announced the recruitment of more than 2,000 video game enthusiasts to serve as air traffic controllers.

The Department of Transportation unveiled the initiative back in April, targeting computer gaming fans to bolster the safety of American aviation.

US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed on Sunday, Aug. 9, that 94% of the hiring target has been achieved, representing the largest number of recruits hired within a single year.

In a social media post, he wrote: "2,000+ "best & brightest" candidates in the pipeline - reaching the Academy quicker than any class before them, thanks to the most streamlined hiring process."

Duffy further posted on X: "In April, we launched a NEW CAMPAIGN to recruit video gamers as air traffic controllers - and supercharged the entire hiring process to get the BEST & BRIGHTEST in faster. The results are HISTORIC."

The April recruitment video featured footage from popular titles including Fortnite and an American football game, boldly declaring: "You've been training for this.."

At the time of the campaign's launch, Duffy remarked: "To reach the next generation of air traffic controllers, we need to adapt. This campaign's innovative communication style and focus on gaming taps into a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller."

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) recruitment drive outlined its goal of attracting young adults with valuable skills applicable to air traffic control careers, including "demonstrated high cognitive functions, "multitasking," and "strategy and problem-solving."

In footage posted by Duffy on Sunday, several prospective candidates for air traffic controller positions were featured.

Their remarks included "This is my dream career because I think ATC is the coolest thing ever,

"You can merge aviation with gaming, why not? It's like the best of both worlds," and "I grew up playing a lot of flight simulators, I've always loved airplanes."

In April, figures showed nearly 11,000 controllers were actively working, with more than 4,000 trainees currently being trained.

"We're building the strongest, sharpest workforce in aviation history," Duffy stated on X.

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Source: The Express US