U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced a comprehensive plan to significantly enhance air traffic controller hiring at the FAA Academy, aiming to combat a persistent shortage in the workforce. This initiative includes a nearly 30 percent pay boost for new recruits and a streamlined hiring process to attract more candidates. Meanwhile, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has publicly appealed to retired air traffic controllers to return to work, citing their expertise as crucial to addressing the ongoing staffing crisis. Despite these efforts, experts caution that immediate relief from the shortage may not be forthcoming, and the aviation industry continues to face challenges, including a spate of recent airline incidents that underscore the critical need for more controllers.