The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exceeded its air traffic controller staffing targets for the fiscal year that ended on September 30 by hiring more than 1,800 controllers during the year, topping the 2006 year-end total by 256 controllers. As a result, the agency now employs 14,874 controllers.

The FAA will hire and train more than 15,000 controllers over the next decade to replace controllers who are expected to retire, those who are promoted, and those who leave for other reasons. The agency's detailed controller workforce plan maps out projected retirement numbers through 2016 and target numbers for the end of each fiscal year.