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FAA 2026 Staffing Targets: Transfer Winners and Losers

June 09, 2026

The FAA's new 2026 Controller Workforce Plan changes the staffing picture at nearly every facility in the country. For air traffic controllers considering a transfer, the new CPC targets may make some facilities easier to enter and others easier to leave. No controllers had to certify or leave for the percentages to move. The denominator changed.

That matters for transfers because the same target change can produce both a winner and a loser:

  • A higher CPC target lowers the facility's staffing percentage. That can create room for controllers trying to transfer in, but it can make it harder for controllers already there to be released.
  • A lower CPC target raises the facility's staffing percentage. That can help controllers trying to transfer out, but it can reduce the need to accept transfers from elsewhere.

This analysis compares the FAA 2026 plan targets with the previously reported CPC targets in the June 2026 staffing data used by ATC Toolkit.

The National Picture

Across the 313 facilities in the dataset:

  • 275 facilities received lower targets
  • 16 facilities received higher targets
  • 22 facilities were unchanged
  • The combined target fell from 14,633 to 12,563 CPCs, a reduction of 2,070

The immediate effect is that most facilities now appear more fully staffed. That does not add controllers to the operation, but it can change how a facility is viewed when transfer demand and release eligibility are evaluated.

Winners for Transferring In

Only 16 facilities received higher targets. These are the clearest potential winners for controllers who want to transfer to a facility because their calculated staffing percentages fell.

ORD is the largest absolute increase, adding 15 positions to its target. TEB has the second-largest percentage-point drop among this group, while LNK has the largest drop, falling 15 points.

LAS and Phoenix Tower (PHX) are especially notable because both fell below 80% under the new targets. Controllers interested in these facilities may see more opportunity than the prior numbers suggested.

Losers for Transferring Out

The same facilities are the potential losers for controllers trying to leave. A higher target creates a larger gap to full staffing and can make release conditions harder to satisfy.

This is most significant at facilities that were already below target:

If you work at one of the 16 facilities with an increased target, the new plan is not automatically good news. Your facility may now need more CPCs before it can comfortably release one.

Winners for Transferring Out

Lower targets can produce the opposite result. Many facilities jumped above common staffing benchmarks, and 93 now calculate at 100% or more using their June CPC count and the new target.

The largest percentage changes include:

For controllers waiting for their facility's percentage to improve, these changes may be meaningful. ISP, OAK, BHM, HPN, and DSM did not suddenly gain CPCs; they moved because the FAA substantially reduced their targets.

Big Centers That Now Look Healthier

Several ARTCCs received the largest numerical reductions:

ZOB and ZHU now calculate at roughly 100%, which could materially change their transfer posture. N90 and ZNY improve substantially but remain well below the new targets, so a lower target does not necessarily mean an easy release.

Losers for Transferring In

The broadest group of losers is anyone hoping to transfer into one of the 275 facilities with a reduced target.

Facilities such as SEE, ABE, PDK, OAK, BHM, HPN, and ISP now calculate above 100%. On paper, they may have little reason to select additional CPCs unless anticipated losses, traffic needs, local circumstances, or other staffing considerations create an opening.

This is why the new percentages should be checked before building a transfer list. A facility that looked severely understaffed under the prior reported target may now look fully staffed under the FAA 2026 plan.

What the Numbers Do Not Guarantee

These target changes are important, but they do not guarantee a release or selection. NCEPT outcomes and other transfers depend on the applicable placement rules, projected staffing, anticipated gains and losses, training capacity, facility demand, and the data used for a particular panel.

The FAA describes 12,563 as its full staffing target based on forecast demand and a new staffing model. Until these targets are consistently reflected in official monthly placement data and transfer decisions, they should be treated as a strong directional signal rather than a promise.

Use the ATC Toolkit facility pages and Placement Helper to compare the new FAA target, prior reported target, current CPC staffing, projected staffing, and training conditions for the facilities on your list.

Sources and Methodology

ATC Toolkit calculated staffing percentages by dividing the June 2026 current CPC count, excluding temporary assignments and long-term holds where reported, by each target. Prior percentages use the monthly reported CPC target; new percentages use the FAA 2026 plan target. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.