Biden names former Obama official as FAA chief

President Joe Biden will nominate a former Obama administration official to head the Federal Aviation Administration after his first choice dropped out in March over opposition from Republican senators.

The White House said Thursday that Biden would nominate Michael G. Whitaker, a former deputy administrator of the FAA who is currently chief operating officer of a Hyundai subsidiary working to develop air taxi planes.

Whitaker’s nomination has been highly anticipated for months, and Biden’s announcement was praised by various industry and labor groups.

The FAA, which oversees airline safety and manages the nation’s airspace, has been managed by successive acting administrators since March 2022.

The FAA faces many challenges, including a shortage of air traffic controllers, aging technology and hazard alerts between aircraft at major airports. Additionally, Congress is considering legislation to guide the agency’s operations for the next five years.

Whitaker was a lawyer at TWA, which was absorbed by American Airlines, and spent 15 years at United Airlines as a senior vice president, international and regulatory affairs, before moving to Indian travel company InterGlobe.

Whitaker served as FAA deputy administrator from 2013 to 2016, a job that does not require Senate approval. He is currently the chief commercial officer of Hyundai Motor subsidiary Supernal, which is developing electric air taxis and needs certification from the FAA to make it happen. Fly in the US.

The White House said Whitaker held a private pilot’s license.

Last year, Biden nominated Denver International Airport CEO Philip Washington, but he quit in march After his nomination stalled in the Senate Commerce Committee. Republican and independent Kyrsten Sinema thinks Washington lacks enough aviation experience — his background is mostly in urban transit systems and he’s only held the Denver airport job since mid-2021.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who is leading the GOP opposition to Biden’s first choice, issued a noncommittal statement on the second choice.

“We must carefully evaluate Mike Whitaker’s credentials, experience and character to determine whether he is the right person to lead the agency at this critical time,” Cruz said.

The FAA has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since President Donald Trump appointed Stephen Dixon early last year. Quit halfway his five-year term.

Since then, the agency has been run by three acting chief executives. The first was Billy Nolen, who left the FAA in June to join another air-taxi company, Archer Aviation, he said in a recent interview. Praised Whitaker for his nomination. “I couldn’t think of a better option,” he said. “He’s going to do a fantastic job.”

Nicholas Cario, president of the American Airlines trade group, said Whittaker has extensive experience, including in modernizing air traffic systems. He said Whitaker appreciated “the partnership between industry and government” to ensure the safety of air travel.

Sarah Nielsen, president of the Flight Attendants Association, urged the Senate to confirm Biden’s choice as soon as possible. “Whitaker has the experience to take on this role and immediately lead us forward,” she said.

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