Former Republic Airlines CEO Bryan Bedford has been confirmed as the Administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration in a full vote of the US Senate becoming the role’s sixth incumbent (acting or full) in the last five years. It is to be hoped that Bedford who was confirmed in a largely party lines vote of 53-43 on Wednesday, will remain in post for the duration of the term the FAA could certainly do with some continuity in it’s leadership.
Although FAA Administrators are appointed for a term of five years and have historically served out the role even though changes of Presidential administration neither of the last two full holders of the post have completed their terms Stephen Dixon resigned early possibly as the result of the whistleblower controversy over actions while he was at Delta Airlines and Micheal Whitaker resigned from the role on the eve of Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
The confirmation of Bedford has met with approval across the industry with only one note of dissent, from the Air Line Pilots’ Association (ALPA)
Commenting on the confirmation VAI Chief Operating Officer Mike Hertzendorf said: “The entire vertical aviation community congratulates Bryan Bedford on his confirmation as FAA administrator. At a time when the agency faces a range of complex challenges, from modernising air traffic control to integrating new entrants into the National Airspace System, his leadership will be both timely and essential. VAI looks forward to working with Administrator Bedford to ensure the FAA remains focused on safety, innovation, and the effective use of the $12.5 billion down payment for air traffic control modernization recently signed into law by the president.”
Image: Republic Airlines
