AeroTimes
Goda Labanauskaite
09 April 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that Tim Arel, the head of its Air Traffic Organization (ATO), is stepping down after 40 years of service in the federal government.
Arel had intended to retire at the end of 2025, but he will now leave in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition, the FAA told CBS News in a statement.
The FAA noted that Arel was responsible for ensuring safe, efficient and secure air traffic services for approximately 50,000 aircraft operating every day over nearly 30 million square miles across the National Airspace System (NAS).
His early retirement is part of the second round of buyouts offered by the US Department of Transportation (DOT). On April 1, 2025, the DOT presented thousands of employees with a new buyout option, allowing them to leave government service in exchange for pay and benefits until September 30, 2025.
Read on: FAA air traffic chief retires early amid workforce cuts
