SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Rep. Ami Bera gathered with leaders of the Los Rios Community College District, Sacramento County and regional aviation on Monday, Dec. 8 at the Modern Aviation Terminal Building at Sacramento Executive Airport to recognize Sacramento City College’s (SCC) process in becoming an enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI).        

Pending final approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Sacramento City College would be one out of only two institutions in the nation to have dual certification for students to train for both tower and en route air traffic control.                

This major milestone gives students a chance to complete the FAA training in Sacramento instead of needing to travel to Oklahoma City, where the FAA Academy is located. This provides students with benefits while attending school and a chance to be hired upon graduation.    

 

Adjunct Professor Sean Tener does an interview with CBS 13 at the Modern Aviation Terminal Building at Sacramento Executive Airport.

Sacramento City College Air Traffic Department Adjunct Professor Sean Tener said, “We are helping California advance their economic growth by providing education and training that continuously contributes to the work force.”              

Having a lower cost, local training and being able to use financial aid toward their careers are some of the benefits that can relieve the burden that students take on when they attend the academy instead of Sacramento City College.

Students are also given a chance to make personal connections with their instructors. They are given three semesters to absorb the needed information from the same instructors at Sacramento City College, while the academy gives the students only four months to learn the information from multiple instructors.      

Rep. Ami Bera stated, “It’s incredibly important that we have well trained aircraft controllers keeping us safe and confident in the skies.”   

Bera said he understands how important it is to have air traffic controllers as he flies back and forth across the country on a weekly basis, especially during the government shutdown.                

With the shutdown, and the shortage of controllers, there are some instances where cargo needs to divert to Reno, Nevada, or to the Bay Area before being transported to Sacramento.       

 

Sacramento City College student Karyme Perez talks about new enhanced programs in air traffic education.

           

Karyme Perez, who is in the Air Traffic Control Program at Sacramento City College, stated, “The government shutdown made me even more motivated as a student. Seeing how much this affects us as a nation and the shortage of the controllers that are needed right now, I feel students like me are even more motivated to be able to do this career and help out the community.”                                

Upon approval from the FAA, the opportunity for being an air traffic controller is going to be higher than before by giving students a more direct pipeline for a career after graduation.