Preparing the Next Generation of Controllers at FAA MMAC Academy
Overview
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faced a pressing challenge: ensuring a steady pipeline of air traffic controllers to sustain the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). With experienced controllers retiring and traffic demands growing, the FAA committed to training 3,500 new controllers over the next decade.
At the heart of this mission is the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) Academy in Oklahoma City, the FAA’s hub for preparing controllers before they move into live Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) nationwide. The Academy needed training labs that went beyond simulation to replicate the real environments, ergonomics, and resilience of the facilities where graduates would serve.
Evans Consoles was chosen to deliver this capability. By designing and installing FAA-approved Enroute ATC slatwall consoles, Evans equipped Lab D with the same look, feel, and function as operational centers, giving trainees an authentic foundation for managing en route traffic.
Challenge
Training an air traffic controller is not about theory. It is about preparing someone to make split-second decisions in the same environments where lives depend on precision. The FAA Academy needed training labs that would immerse students in the realities of a live Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), not simplified classrooms.
That meant replicating the physical complexity of an en route center inside a confined 1,500-square-foot Lab D. Consoles had to be anchored, integrate large LED backlit mapboards with airspace graphics, and support heavy technology loads. Every position required ergonomic flexibility to match the wide range of controller body types and workflows.
The challenge was clear: build an environment that looked and functioned like the real thing, while also being adaptable enough to evolve with future FAA systems under BNATCS.
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Scope of Work
Evans was tasked with delivering a training environment at the FAA MMAC Academy that mirrored the operational reality of the nation’s Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs). The scope included:
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Assessment and Planning: Conducting a full site survey of the 1,500-square-foot space and creating detailed space plan layouts to ensure every controller position reflected real ARTCC dimensions and workflows.
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Custom Fabrication: Designing and manufacturing FAA-approved Enroute slatwall consoles, tailored with reinforced frames and anchoring for safety and durability.
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Mapboard Systems: Developing custom mapboards with LED backlit airspace graphics housed in precision sheet metal enclosures.
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Installation: Completing the installation of consoles and mapboards with precise fit and finish, ensuring ergonomic adjustability and long-term adaptability.
Solution
Evans approached the MMAC Academy Lab D project with the same rigor required in a live operational center. Under the leadership of Kevin Robertson and Nick Yaskiw, supported by Todd Davis, the team staged each component off-site, validated every fit, and then installed the consoles position by position to maintain precision.
The Enroute slatwall consoles were engineered for safety and designed for long-term adaptability, giving the FAA a platform that could adjust as systems advanced. Mapboard assemblies and ergonomic workstations were incorporated to replicate the visual and physical environment of a real ARTCC, allowing trainees to experience conditions identical to those they would face in operations.
The solution combined authenticity with adaptability, creating a training environment that prepared controllers as if they were already on the job while positioning the FAA for the future of BNATCS.
After - Operational Lab D with integrated mapboards and training positions
Results
The FAA MMAC Academy now trains controllers in an environment that closely mirrors a live Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). Inside Lab D, students work on FAA-approved Enroute slatwall consoles with integrated LED backlit mapboards and adjustable workstations. The environment provides the same visual, spatial, and ergonomic experience controllers will face in the field.
By replicating operational conditions, the project shortened the learning curve and gave the FAA a reliable way to accelerate controller readiness. The modular design ensures the lab can adapt to new technologies under BNATCS, transforming the Academy from a classroom into a proving ground for the National Airspace System (NAS).
FAA feedback confirmed success, noting “Evans mounts are more robust.” Following Lab D, the FAA awarded Evans the RTF TRACON training lab, with installation scheduled for December 2024 to January 2025, further validating Evans’ on-time delivery and build quality.
Why It Matters
The FAA’s ability to train and graduate new air traffic controllers depends on environments that reflect the demands of live operations. By transforming the MMAC Academy Lab D into a facility that mirrors ARTCC conditions, Evans provided more than training furniture. The project delivered an authentic setting where students gain confidence, speed, and accuracy before they enter the National Airspace System (NAS).
This work also demonstrates how training environments can serve as proving grounds for future FAA initiatives under BNATCS. The adaptability designed into Lab D ensures that as technologies evolve, the Academy remains aligned with the systems and standards used in operational centers nationwide.
With 10 training positions per class cycle in a 1,500-square-foot lab, MMAC is now positioned to directly support the FAA’s target of preparing 3,500 new controllers over 5–7 years.
Need to modernize your ATC training facilities to meet FAA goals?
Work with Nick Yaskiw, Vertical Manager – ATC & Airports, and see how Evans delivers complex ATC projects without downtime.