Estimate Training Resources With Precision

Resource planning is particularly important when significant training is anticipated in the near future and resources are limited. Effective planning, however, can be difficult, especially for training for jobs that do not yet exist or will undergo substantial changes. To meet future demand for air travel, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing new technology that will result in substantial changes in the way air traffic controllers carry out their job responsibilities. It is anticipated that a significant amount of new training will be needed for controllers. Because detailed information about the FAA's new technology was not yet available, and the technology would likely change over time, the agency partnered with the American Institutes for Research to find a method for estimating training resources that was flexible and could accommodate these changes. Considerable resources will be required to support the FAA's new training initiative, and the resource estimates will allow the agency to engage in appropriate strategic planning.