FAA Headquarters

A half mile from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the FAA Administrator and the ATO’s vice presidents use reports from the field and advice from experts to set the course for the organization. Here, programs are initiated, funded and managed, and improvements are decided upon to ensure the safe operation of our nation’s skies.

William J. Hughes Technical Center

The FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, located near Atlantic City, N.J., is the nation’s premier aviation research and development, and test and evaluation facility. Programs include testing and evaluation for air traffic control, communications, navigation, airports, aircraft safety and security. The Tech Center supports the development of innovative aviation systems and concepts, new air traffic control equipment and software, and modifications of existing systems and procedures to handle the air traffic of the future. The staff and facilities of the Tech Center are fully integrated with ATO Operations Planning Services and with the operational service units in the ATO.

Air Traffic Control System Command Center

The operations floor of the Air Traffic Control System Command Center, located in Herndon, Va., looks like it belongs in a national security thriller. In fact, it often serves as a background for television broadcasts. This is where the System Operations traffic management specialists track the “big picture” of the NAS. With giant screens and banks of monitors and communications hookups, they keep airport acceptance rates at ideal levels and make sure miles-in-trail restrictions are used only if necessary. Every two hours the command center holds a conference call with major facilities, airlines, general aviation and the military to collaborate on the plan to handle the current weather and air traffic demands.

FAA Academy

The FAA Academy, located in Oklahoma City, Okla., provides technical and managerial training and development for the FAA workforce and the aviation community. Since courses have different admissions criteria, prospective participants are admitted on a course-by-course basis. In addition to training the FAA and non-FAA personnel in the U.S., the FAA Academy has trained international participants from 172 countries. Many of the world’s leaders in civil aviation are alumni of the FAA Academy. The continued educational and professional interactions have led to increased mutual understanding and respect in the international aviation community.