US Senate confirms aviation agency chief after 19-month vacancy

Washington, Oct 25 (IANS) After a 19-month vacancy, the US Senate has confirmed Michael Whitaker as the new chief of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). securing the post for a five-year term.

The post was vacated in March 2022 when Steve Dickson, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump, stepped down midway through his five-year term, reports CNN.

Since the, the FAA has been run by a series of interim administrators.

Whitaker, who was confirmed on Tuesday, is a former Obama-era deputy FAA administrator.

Most recently he was an executive at a company developing electric air taxis, and he previously served in senior roles at several airlines, including United Airlines.

At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, he had said that the aviation body “faces big challenges” as it has come under scrutiny after a series of airliner close calls on American runways, flight disruptions linked to air traffic control understaffing and the killing of 346 people in Boeing 737 MAX crashes after the FAA certified the plane as safe.

Whitaker had also said that said he would prioritise technological and other improvements for “the aviation system of the future".

“When I was at the FAA just a few years ago drones were new, commercial space launches were rare and flying taxis were still only in cartoons,” CNN quoted him as saying at his confirmation hearing.

“All of this has changed and it requires that the agency look forward, adapt quickly and execute a plan for the future.”

Whitaker is also the Biden administration’s second FAA chief nominee after the first, Denver airport CEO Phil Washington, withdrew his name over criticism of his limited aviation experience and link to a political corruption investigation.