Department of Transportation plans to hire, create more incentives, for air traffic controllers

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - The Department of Transportation (DOT) is rolling out more financial incentives to hire air traffic controllers and an incentive package to keep controllers from retiring.

It's the latest move to the deal with an ongoing shortage of these critical workers.

DOT says that there's a shortage of about 3,000 controllers in the U.S. Among the new incentives for new graduates of the Air traffic Controller Academy will be a $5,000 bonus.

These bonuses will be given out to controllers who go to locations that are harder to staff. Also, the FAA will give out incentives to controllers who are nearing retirement of age 56 to convince them on to stay even longer.