{"id":2059794,"date":"2023-10-08T14:26:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T18:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bipartisan-support-behind-quick-confirmation-for-faa-head\/"},"modified":"2023-10-08T14:29:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T18:29:51","slug":"bipartisan-support-behind-quick-confirmation-for-faa-head","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bipartisan-support-behind-quick-confirmation-for-faa-head\/","title":{"rendered":"FAA Head&#8217;s Quick Confirmation Gains Bipartisan Backing"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbipartisan-support-behind-quick-confirmation-for-faa-head%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2059794&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Senate Committee \u200bShows Bipartisan\u200c Support for \u2062FAA Nominee<\/h2>\n<p>During the initial Senate committee hearing on Wednesday regarding President Joe Biden&#8217;s nominee \u2062for FAA head,\u200d there was bipartisan support for a speedy confirmation of an\u200c administrator for \u2063the \u2062agency, which has been without a confirmed leader\u200b for 18 months.<\/p>\n<p>In the recent\u200b Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing, Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) \u2063highlighted the widespread support garnered by President Biden&#8217;s nomination of Michael G. Whitaker, not only from both sides of the aisle but also from \u200cvarious members of \u2063the aviation community.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Sen. \u2064Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the committee&#8217;s ranking \u2062member, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commerce.senate.gov\/2023\/10\/sen-cruz-faa-s-primary-responsibility-is-ensuring-the-safety-of-our-national-aerospace-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> in his \u200bopening statement, <strong>\u201cEvery \u2062day, some three million passengers board\u2062 commercial flights in and out of U.S.\u200c airports with the confidence that they will safely arrive at their destinations. This public\u200d trust is the result of a \u2062nearly eight-decade collaboration \u200cbetween the aviation industry and the\u200b Federal Aviation Administration.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n    <!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/faa-to-invest-millions-at-airports-after-a-series-of-potentially-fatal-close-calls-5480137?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>FAA to Invest Millions\u200d at Airports \u200dAfter a Series of Potentially Fatal Close Calls<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">8\/25\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/faa-to-invest-millions-at-airports-after-a-series-of-potentially-fatal-close-calls-5480137?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/air-taxis-may-start-operations-in-2025-faa-5408736?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Air Taxis May Start Operations in 2025: FAA<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">7\/19\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/air-taxis-may-start-operations-in-2025-faa-5408736?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!--\/$-->\n  <\/div>\n<p>The ranking Republican \u2064expressed his \u200dapproval of the Biden administration&#8217;s decision \u200bto heed his advice\u200b in nominating someone with personal expertise in the aviation field.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The next administrator will face\u200d serious \u200dchallenges\u200c in\u2063 rebuilding the FAA after 18 months \u2064without \u2063a Senate-confirmed leader:\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bipartisan-support-behind-quick-confirmation-for-faa-head\/\" title=\"FAA Head's Quick Confirmation Gains Bipartisan Backing\">staffing critical\u2062 air traffic control facilities<\/a>; modernizing antiquated air traffic systems; and\u200d bringing FAA employees back in person after three years of \u2063telework\u2062 &#8230; I am glad that the Administration has finally heeded my advice and nominated a person with experience in aviation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Transportation and\u2063 Infrastructure Committee, who introduced Mr. \u2062Whitaker to \u200cthe committee, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VaPc6ksIqac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> \u2062of the nominee, <strong>\u201cSafety is dependent on consistency, and unfortunately,\u200d the only thing that\u2019s \u200dbeen consistent at the agency since the former administrator departed is the growing list of acting positions \u2062across the agency.\u200b Eighteen\u2063 months without an FAA administrator is troubling.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n    <!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!--\/$-->\n  <\/div>\n<p>During his opening statements, Mr. Whitaker outlined his plan for the\u200c agency, saying if confirmed, he would <strong>&#8220;work to not just maintain\u200c the safety record we have\u2063 collectively achieved, but build upon it&#8221;<\/strong> and that he believes the FAA needs to <strong>&#8220;build the aviation \u2063system of the future&#8221;<\/strong> which will require that the\u200d agency <strong>&#8220;be agile and creative, and for \u2062all of\u2062 us \u2064to make\u2062 ongoing investments.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The nominee\u2063 also said his goals\u2062 cannot be achieved without making\u2063 the FAA a\u2062 place where aviators want \u200bto \u200cbuild their careers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;The FAA faces\u2063 big challenges, and\u2062 it will take \u2064innovators and dreamers, who bring ideas \u2064from every part \u2063of our country, to solve them. Aviation has\u200d opened doors of opportunity to so many, including me. \u2063We must make\u200c sure it continues \u2062to do so \u2064for citizens \u2062in every corner of the \u200dcountry, no matter their background.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Whitaker&#8217;s Nomination<\/h2>\n<p>Early in September, President Biden nominated Mr. Whitaker, a former Obama administration official, to \u2063lead the FAA following his first choice withdrawing from \u2062consideration for the position in March after opposition from Republicans in\u200c the \u2062Senate.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The agency confronts \u200ba\u2062 number of obstacles, including a lack of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/search-and-rescue-teams-at-site-of-indonesian-plane-crash\/\" title=\"Search and rescue teams at site of Indonesian plane crash\">air traffic controllers<\/a>,\u2064 aging technology, and concern regarding \u2063close calls between planes \u2064at major airports. Additionally, Congress is\u200c currently debating legislation that\u2064 will govern the agency&#8217;s operations for the next \u200cfive years.<\/p>\n<p>Whitaker worked as a lawyer for TWA, which\u200c was acquired by\u2062 American Airlines. He then spent 15 years at United \u2062Airlines, where he supervised international and regulatory affairs as a senior \u200bvice president, before\u200d moving to InterGlobe, an Indian travel company.<\/p>\n<p>From 2013 to 2016, he served as deputy FAA administrator, a\u200d position\u200c that \u2062does not require Senate approval. He is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/easy-being-green-bidens-clean-energy-fundraisers-reap-white-house-rewards\/\" title=\"Easy Being Green: Biden\u2019s Clean Energy Fundraisers Reap White House Rewards\">chief commercial officer<\/a>\u2062 for Supernal, a \u2063subsidiary of Hyundai\u2064 that is developing an electric-powered \u200dair\u2064 transport that would \u2064require FAA certification to \u200cfly in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, \u200cBiden nominated Phillip Washington as CEO of \u2064Denver International Airport, but he\u200d withdrew the nomination in \u2062March after\u2064 it stagnated\u2062 in\u2064 the Senate Commerce\u2062 Committee.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans and \u200cSen. Kyrsten\u200c Sinema (I-Ariz.) argued that Washington lacked\u200c adequate\u2062 aviation\u2063 experience\u2014his background is mostly in city transit systems,\u2063 having held the Denver airport\u2063 position only since mid-2021.<\/p>\n<p>The FAA has been \u200cwithout a Senate-confirmed leader since early last year,\u2063 when President Donald Trump&#8217;s nominee, \u200dStephen Dickson, \u200cresigned in the middle of his five-year \u200cterm.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Since \u200cthen, two successive interim administrators have led the agency.\u2064 In a recent interview, Billy Nolen, who quit the FAA\u2063 in June to join another air taxi company, Archer\u2063 Aviation, praised the nomination of \u200cMr. \u200bWhitaker, saying he\u200b couldn&#8217;t think of a better \u2062person to run \u200cthe agency.<\/p>\n<h2>Conservative Concern<\/h2>\n<p>However, a conservative watchdog group, the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), voiced \u2064concerns \u200bthat Mr. Whitaker&#8217;s ties to an electric &#8220;flying taxi&#8221; company could conflict with his\u2063 ability\u200b to serve the American people&#8217;s\u200c best interest.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;Mike \u2064Whitaker currently works with an electric &#8216;flying\u200b taxi&#8217; business named\u2062 Supernal. These &#8216;flying\u200d taxis&#8217; are formally called eTVOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) vehicles, and\u200b eTVOLs\u2063 as a \u200bclass\u200d are about to undergo a significant period \u200cof regulatory scrutiny by the FAA as they seek their \u2062first approvals,&#8221; the AAF said \u2063in \u2063their\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/675332025\/Whitaker-Flying-Taxis-Memo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">memo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Additionally, the federal funding\u200d floodgates have begun \u200cto \u2063open for infrastructure buildout for \u200cvertiports\u200c capable of landing these vehicles,&#8221; the group went \u2064on. &#8220;We believe \u2063Mike \u200cWhitaker\u2019s closeness with the industry\u200b raises serious conflict \u200dof interest questions.\u200b Will Mike Whitaker \u2062usher through approvals that\u2063 benefit \u2062his former employer and, consequently, \u2063enable the federal government\u2062 to dispense limitless &#8216;helicopter money&#8217; to fund vertiport buildout?&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n    <em>The Associated Press contributed\u2062 to this report.<\/em>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are\u2063 some of \u2064the challenges \u200cfacing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/delta-ceo-negative-covid-test-requirement-for-domestic-flights-horrible-idea\/\" title=\"Delta CEO: Negative COVID Test Requirement For Domestic Flights \u2018Horrible Idea\u2019\">air transportation system<\/a> that the FAA needs to address?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ious challenges, including maximizing the safety and efficiency of our\u200d air transportation \u2062system, integrating \u2064new technologies, \u2064and promoting innovation,&#8221; Cruz said.<\/p>\n<p>Whitaker, who previously served as the FAA Deputy Administrator \u2063under the Obama administration, has received widespread \u2064support from industry stakeholders and \u2064aviation experts. During the hearing,\u2064 Senators\u200c from both\u2063 parties \u2062commended\u2064 his experience\u2064 and knowledge\u2064 in\u2064 the field.<\/p>\n<p>In her opening statement, Chair Cantwell emphasized the \u2063need for strong leadership at the \u2064FAA, stating, &#8220;The FAA plays a\u2063 critical role in ensuring the safety and reliability of\u200d our aviation system. We need a qualified leader who can address the challenges facing\u200c the industry, including the integration of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/border-patrol-drone-finds-24-migrants-avoiding-arrest-in-texas\/\" title=\"Border Patrol Drone Finds 24 Migrants Avoiding Arrest in Texas\">unmanned aircraft systems<\/a> and the \u200cadoption of new technologies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>She further expressed \u2063her\u200d confidence in Whitaker&#8217;s \u2064ability to tackle these issues, citing his previous experience and accomplishments at the FAA. Cantwell \u2064highlighted his\u200b leadership in implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation System, a modernization initiative aimed at\u200b improving air traffic control\u200c and aviation safety.<\/p>\n<p>Other Senators also voiced their support \u200bfor Whitaker&#8217;s nomination. Sen. \u200dJerry Moran (R-Kan.) praised Whitaker&#8217;s commitment to advancing aviation safety\u200b and stressed the importance of \u200bmaintaining the \u200dFAA&#8217;s role as the global leader in aviation regulation. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) commended\u2062 his\u2063 dedication to\u2064 addressing noise pollution and the environmental impact\u2064 of \u2063aviation.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the bipartisan support demonstrated during the Senate committee hearing bodes well \u200bfor Whitaker&#8217;s confirmation as FAA head. With a broad consensus among \u200dSenators from both parties and endorsements from industry stakeholders, his confirmation seems likely.<\/p>\n<p>If\u2063 confirmed, Whitaker will\u200b face a myriad of challenges and opportunities as\u200c the head\u200d of\u200c the FAA. These include the continued\u200b integration of drones into the national airspace, addressing cybersecurity threats to aviation systems, and promoting sustainable \u200daviation practices.<\/p>\n<p>As \u200dthe aviation industry continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a strong and capable leader at the helm of the FAA will \u200cbe crucial in guiding the industry towards a safe and prosperous future. Whitaker&#8217;s nomination, backed by \u2063bipartisan support, underscores the importance of having a qualified \u2062and experienced administrator who can \u2064navigate these complex \u200dissues and ensure the continued safety and success of the nation&#8217;s aviation system.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200d Senate\u2063 committee&#8217;s bipartisan \u200cendorsement \u200bof Whitaker&#8217;s nomination sends a positive signal of unity and cooperation \u200din a politically divided climate. It \u200bshowcases that when it\u200d comes to matters \u200cof national importance, such as aviation \u200bsafety and regulation, lawmakers are willing\u2063 to put aside their differences and work together\u200c for the greater good.<\/p>\n<p>Given the broad support from both sides of the aisle and the aviation community, it is expected\u200c that Whitaker&#8217;s confirmation process will \u2062proceed smoothly. Once confirmed, he will bring his\u200b expertise and leadership to the FAA, playing a vital role \u2064in shaping the future of aviation and upholding the highest standards of safety and\u2062 efficiency in \u200dthe industry.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 FAA plays a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity of the nation&#8217;s airspace and ensuring the safety of millions of passengers\u2064 who rely on air travel every day. With \u2064bipartisan support behind him, Michael G.\u200d Whitaker \u200dis\u2063 poised to take on this responsibility \u2064and lead the FAA towards continued excellence and innovation in the years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During the Senate committee hearing, bipartisan support was expressed for a prompt confirmation of the FAA head nominee. The agency has been without a confirmed leader for 18 months. Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) emphasized this in the recent Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1843,"featured_media":2059795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2059794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2059794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1843"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2059794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2059794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2059795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2059794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2059794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2059794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}