Air Traffic Operations students at Angelo State University have began training in a newly established simulator lab, according to a media release from ASU.
The lab was developed with UFA, a leading provider of aviation safety solutions, the media release said.
The new lab was designed to prepare students for Federal Aviation Administration certification.
ASU’s Air Traffic Operations program earned the college a designation as an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative institution by the FAA in July 2025, a first for a university in Texas.
“This allows ASU graduates to bypass five weeks of training at the FAA Academy,” the media release stated. “The program and lab are expected to help fill the critical shortage of air traffic controllers in the U.S.”
According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the shortage of controllers is partly driven by a lack of access to simulators. The report notes that the lack of access delays training and may contribute to dramatically high “washout rates.”
“UFA’s simulators have been a game changer for our students from the very first day of class,” Mark Arzate, lead instructor of ASU’s Air Traffic Operations Program, said.
“The progressive simulators allow the students to quickly develop the phraseology that is critical to air traffic operations,” Arzate said. “Within two to three weeks, students are already demonstrating the skills necessary to start basic realistic ATC scenarios.”
The ASU lab features an air traffic control tower simulator with a 240-degree field of view of a hyper-realistic airport digital twin, along with voice recognition and response to help students to practice air traffic control communication.
It also includes a digital tabletop allowing students to see and manipulate air traffic scenarios. It also serves as a digital blackboard, enabling instructors to replay exercises.
“We couldn’t be happier to see how the new software is being used,” David Wolff, CEO of UFA Inc., said. “Angelo State is stepping forward as one of the leading air traffic control programs in the country. That means more qualified controllers and safer air travel for everyone.”
The first cohort of Angelo State students from the program is set to graduate in December 2028.
(This story was updated to add a video.)
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Angelo State University opens new air traffic control simulator lab
Reporting by Rosanna Fraire, San Angelo Standard-Times / San Angelo Standard-Times
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