WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Transportation

Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday the Trump administration will

take steps to boost air traffic controller hiring after a series

of recent safety incidents again raised questioned about a

persistent staffing shortage.

The Federal Aviation Administration will open its hiring

window to become an air traffic controller through March 17,

will increase starting salaries by 30% for candidates who go to

the FAA training academy and will speed the time-to-hire by

cutting more than four months off the old process.

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.