Angelo State Only Texas School to Earn Enhanced FAA Air Traffic Designation

SAN ANGELO, TX - Less than a year after launching the new Air Traffic Operations degree track in its commercial aviation program, Angelo State University has been designated an Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) institution by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and also approved to join the FAA's Control Tower Operator Partnership Program (CTO-P).

Angelo State is just the 12th institution in the U.S. and the only one in Texas to attain the Enhanced AT-CTI designation. As a result, ASU students who earn a Bachelor of Commercial Aviation (B.C.A.) degree through the Air Traffic Operations track will be eligible to completely bypass the FAA Academy and immediately begin training as an air traffic control specialist at an FAA air traffic control tower.

Additionally, ASU is just the seventh institution in the U.S. and the only one in Texas to be approved for the CTO-P. This makes ASU Air Traffic Operations graduates eligible to completely bypass the FAA Academy and start on-the-job training at an air traffic control tower in the Federal Contract Tower (FCT) system. There are currently 265 FCTs, which are staffed by private companies to manage air traffic in smaller towns and around municipal airports, including San Angelo Regional Airport-Mathis Field.

"We're extremely excited about the future of our air traffic program and the multiple opportunities available for our students," said Mark Arzate, lead air traffic operations instructor. "Angelo State now has three streamlined entry avenues for air traffic control. Having the standard AT-CTI, CTO-P and Enhanced AT-CTI options will provide students that meet all the specified requirements for each endorsement an entry-level preferential hire into either a contract tower or into the FAA."

Earning the Enhanced AT-CTI designation and CTO-P approval required a full investment by ASU's commercial aviation faculty to meet the FAA's rigorous standards for air traffic control curriculum and training. Supporting that effort was the addition of specialized new simulators from industry-leading UFA Inc., which is recognized globally for its advancements in air traffic control simulation technology. ASU students began training in the new simulator lab in January, and the FAA conducted its site visit to evaluate ASU's Air Traffic Operations program and lab in April.

"Pursuing the Enhanced AT-CTI and CTO-P endorsements was a daunting task," Arzate said. "The FAA's rigorous requirements are a testament as to why the U.S. air traffic control system is one of the safest in the world. ASU had to step up to meet those same requirements through simulator scenario development. With the aid of UFA, we were able to construct the required 17 scenarios in a very short period prior to the FAA site visit. The dedicated UFA support team, especially Megan Liranzo, was instrumental in helping us make sure any possible shortfalls were rectified."

The new FAA designations also require highly-qualified faculty to lead the classroom and simulator training. Arzate is a 1998 ASU alumnus who graduated through ROTC Det. 847 and then completed a distinguished U.S. Air Force career in air traffic control operations, as well as airfield and airport management, logistics, administration, training and deployments, including overseas tours in support of U.S. combat units.

These latest milestones for ASU's Air Traffic Operations program are the result of a multi-step process that began in October 2024. The first step was earning initial AT-CTI designation, which ASU accomplished in July 2025, over a year ahead of schedule. The next step was adapting the Air Traffic Operations curriculum to cover the learning objectives of the FAA's Air Traffic Basics, Tower IQ and En route IQ courses, followed by equipping the simulator lab and working with UFA Inc. to align the simulators to FAA Academy Standards.

The addition of the Air Traffic Operations track and earning the Enhanced AT-CTI and CTO-P designations are also prime examples of why securing funding to support hands-on learning and career preparation opportunities for students is one of the top priorities of ASU's ongoing "Leading the Charge" capital campaign heading into ASU's centennial celebration in 2028.

More details on the campaign and ways to contribute are available online at angelo.edu/leading-the-charge or by calling the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 325-942-2116.