ATC SOAR Act

S 891, the ATC SOAR Act, changes how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hires air traffic control specialists. It requires the FAA to base hiring decisions on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (AT-SA), ensuring all test questions measure job-relevant skills and banning biographical questions (like personality or background inquiries) from the process. The bill mandates the FAA revise the AT-SA within 180 days to meet these standards and requires a DOT Inspector General report assessing the revised test's methodology and scoring. This directly affects FAA hiring for air traffic controller positions, focusing on objective skill evaluation over non-job-related factors. The bill does not alter funding, safety protocols, or operational procedures.