WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) -

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to hire 2,000 air

traffic controller trainees this year and maintain strict

oversight of Boeing ( BA ), the agency's acting administrator

said in written testimony to be given to a U.S. Senate panel on

Thursday.

The agency will also establish a panel to "identify

additional hazard areas involving helicopter and fixed-wing

interactions," acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said in

written testimony obtained by Reuters.

The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of

targeted staffing levels and has about 10% fewer controllers

than it did in 2012.

Creation of the safety risk management panel follows a

fatal January 29 collision between an Army helicopter and an

American Airlines ( AAL ) regional passenger jet killed 67

people near Reagan Washington National Airport.

The FAA has imposed permanent restrictions on passenger

flights when helicopters must transit near the airport. It is

also reviewing traffic at other major airports after the

National Transportation Safety Board made urgent recommendations

this month.

Rocheleau said he is focused on improving aviation

safety.

"We have to identify trends, we have to get smarter

about how we use data, and when we put corrective actions in

place, we must execute them," his testimony says.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to ask

Congress for tens of billions of dollars

to boost aging FAA technology and facilities and increase

air traffic controller hiring.

A nagging shortage of controllers has delayed flights

and, at many facilities, controllers are working mandatory

overtime and six-day weeks.

Rocheleau said the FAA maintains rigorous oversight of

Boeing ( BA ) that "extends to ongoing monitoring of Boeing's ( BA )

manufacturing practices, maintenance procedures, and software

updates."

Duffy said this month that Boeing ( BA ) had lost the public's

trust.

In January 2024, former President Joe Biden's FAA

Administrator Mike Whitaker imposed a 38-plane monthly

production cap after a mid-air emergency on a new Alaska

Airlines 737 MAX 9 that remains in place.

Boeing ( BA ) CEO Kelly Ortberg will testify next week before

the Senate Commerce Committee. Boeing ( BA ) did not immediately

comment on the testimony.