Orange — Orange Coast College will launch a new air traffic controller training program after a private donor contributed $900,000 to the college foundation, officials announced Friday, positioning the campus to become a key local pipeline for a profession facing a nationwide shortfall.
Federal partnership aims to shorten pathway to work
The donation will be used to purchase simulators and other specialized equipment, update classroom space and help implement a full curriculum the school expects to offer by fall 2027, Patricia Falzon, executive director of the Orange Coast College Foundation, said in a news release. The college is pursuing certification under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Collegiate Training Initiative, known as E-CTI, which allows program graduates to begin on-site job training without first attending the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.
"Getting an education that can lead to viable employment is our mission,"
Falzon spoke for the foundation in describing the gift as a way to expand hands-on training and provide a clearer route to employment for students interested in aviation careers.
Addressing a national staffing gap with local training
The FAA has said the nation is facing its worst controller workforce shortage in nearly 30 years, with a current shortfall of roughly 3,000 controllers and projected openings of about 2,200 per year over the next decade. Orange Coast College officials said the new program is intended to help meet that demand from Southern California.
The effort builds on OCC’s existing aviation science offerings and expanding aerospace initiatives, including a new rocketry science program. Stanley Harriman, the department head of aviation science, will lead the air traffic control program.
Program size, timeline and student path
College officials described enrollment targets and early steps:
- Initial introductory course available to students starting this fall.
- Full set of courses planned to be in place by fall 2027.
- Target enrollment of 40 to 50 students per semester, or up to 100 students a year.
OCC said it expects the program to become a significant workforce pipeline for Southern California and to serve hundreds of students during its first five years. Officials also noted that, even after graduating from an E-CTI program, new hires typically take more than two years to become fully certified controllers.
How E-CTI changes the hiring process
Under the FAA’s E-CTI partnership, accredited collegiate programs provide the classroom and simulation training that the FAA recognizes as meeting portions of its own training standards. Sacramento City College became the first California institution to receive E-CTI designation in January, and OCC is now pursuing the same status to shorten the onboarding process for its graduates.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Private donation to OCC Foundation | $900,000 |
| FAA reported controller shortfall | ~3,000 |
| FAA projected openings per year | 2,200 |
| OCC enrollment goal | 40–50 per semester; up to 100 per year |
College leaders framed the program as a response both to national workforce needs and local student interest in aviation and aerospace careers. Officials said the funding will accelerate procurement of hardware and software critical for realistic controller simulation training.
For Orange-area students and employers, the program could offer a new, recognized pathway into a high‑responsibility profession that supports the region’s busy airspace. The full curriculum is still being developed, but OCC’s announcement gives prospective students an early option to enroll in an introductory course this fall while the college pursues E-CTI certification.
Officials emphasized there are multiple stages between completing college coursework and achieving full certification as an air traffic controller, including additional on-the-job training that can extend over years, but said the E-CTI route should reduce some barriers to entry and speed qualified candidates into FAA training assignments.
The announcement follows recent national attention on staffing in aviation and signals growing investment in local educational capacity to meet long-term labor demand in air travel and aerospace sectors.
