The Federal Aviation Administration has long struggled with a shortage of air traffic controllers and the recent government shutdown has only exacerbated the crisis. Controllers were forced to work without pay and hundreds of flights were canceled out of safety concerns .

Here in New Hampshire, a new enhanced air traffic control program at Nashua Community College aims to help make up the national staffing shortage of about 3,000 controllers. It’s a two-year program, with a focus on simulation training.

And interest has been high.

“Initially we kind of thought, geez, the hardest part of this is going to be getting the word out there about becoming a controller to high school students,” said program director Jeff Carpentier. “And now we're finding that the har

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