In late October, Kent State University was selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to offer the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program.

“Successful accreditation by the FAA to offer the CTI program validates us as a premier aeronautics program,” says Dr. I. Richmond Nettey, associate dean at Kent State’s College of Technology and senior academic program director of aeronautics. “It provides a critical opportunity to offer the onlydegree program in air traffic control at a universityin Ohio, the birthplace of aviation.”

Within the next 10 years, a huge group of air-traffic controllers is expected to retire from the FAA. In an effort to produce graduates readily available to fill air-traffic management positions and expand the CTI program, the FAA selected nine universities including Kent State, out of a highly competitive field of 22 applicants, to train students to become air traffic controllers.

“Kent State’s selection among such an elite group of institutions reflects our top priorities of pursuing academic excellence and doing everything possible to ensure that our students graduate with knowledge and skills that allow them to compete and succeed with their counterparts nationwide and worldwide,” says Kent State President Lester A. Lefton. “Playing a key role in providing the nation’s future air-traffic controllers is a fitting addition to Kent State’s many efforts to serve the public good.”

In the 2007 fiscal year, approximately 800 of the 1,815 controllers hired were graduates of CTI schools. Although graduating from one of these schools does not ensure acceptance in the 12-week FAA Academy, students who are accepted and graduated from a CTI college or university will be exempt from the initial five-week basic training in air traffic control at the academy.

With the addition of the new schools, the CTI program exists at only 23 colleges and universities across the nation. It was established to broaden the FAA’s recruitment, training and hiring of air traffic controllers. These CTI schools offer a non-engineering aviation degree in aviation programs.

In Fall 2008 as part of the CTI program, a bachelor degree in air traffic systems management will be offered as well. This past year, Kent State University’s aviation program also achieved Council on Aviation Accreditation for all four of its existing bachelor degree programs in aeronautical studies, aeronautical systems engineering technology, aviation management and flight technology.

The CTI program was established in 1990 at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College. CTI programs are evaluated on a regular basis by the FAA.