The News
President Biden has announced his nomination for the next permanent leader of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Michael G. Whitaker, who previously served as the No. 2 official at the FAA during the Obama administration, has been selected for the position.
Currently, Mr. Whitaker holds the position of chief operating officer at Supernal, a Hyundai Motor company specializing in air taxi development. Prior to this, he served as the deputy administrator of the FAA from 2013 to 2016 and has extensive experience as an executive at United Airlines.
Why It Matters: The F.A.A. has lacked a permanent leader.
Following the resignation of Stephen Dickson, a former executive of Delta Air Lines and appointee of President Donald J. Trump, the FAA has been without a permanent leader. The first nominee under the Biden administration, Phillip A. Washington, the chief executive of Denver International Airport, withdrew due to Senate resistance. This leadership void has been prolonged due to the failure of Mr. Washington’s nomination, and the subsequent departure of acting administrator Billy Nolen in June.
While Polly Trottenberg, the deputy transportation secretary, has been serving as the FAA’s acting administrator, she will have to relinquish her position to another temporary leader in late October, as federal law limits the duration of acting appointments. This underscores the pressing need for a permanent leader at the FAA.
What’s Next: The Senate will consider the nomination.
Michael G. Whitaker’s nomination will be presented to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, the same panel where Mr. Washington’s nomination encountered difficulties. Unlike Mr. Washington, who faced criticism for his lack of qualifications, Mr. Whitaker’s extensive background in the aviation industry is likely to work in his favor. With a legal background and experience as the FAA’s deputy administrator, he brings unique expertise and is expected to fare well during the nomination process.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
