FAA loses another leader
White House to name new acting FAA chief
The White House announced plans to name a new acting FAA administrator before current acting administrator, Billy Nolen, departs the role this summer.
The agency has been without a permanent leader since Stephen Dickson, a former U.S. Air Force pilot and Delta Air Lines executive, stepped down from the role last year. Nolen, a former airline pilot and FAA associate administrator for aviation safety, announced his departure from the agency in a letter to FAA employees on April 21, after a year of service as acting administrator.
Last month, President Joe Biden’s pick for the position, Phillip A. Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport, withdrew from consideration after questions regarding his qualifications and his connection to a corruption investigation in Los Angeles were raised.
Vacancies within the FAA, in addition to the departure of yet another FAA administrator hopeful, have lawmakers concerned as air travel is soon expected to meet or exceed pre-pandemic levels, all while Congress drafts a new FAA funding bill.
At last month’s Aviation Surface Safety Summit, Nolen said he called the gathering, “because we had seen an uptick in incidents across the aviation system. In the intervening time, we’ve experienced additional incidents, including events on runways, terminal area ramps—and even unruly passenger incidents that continue to defy logic.”
“I think I speak for all of us, and certainly the traveling public,” Nolen continued, “when I say these events are concerning. They are not what we have come to expect during a time of unprecedented safety in the U.S. air transportation system.”
During his address, Nolen also questioned whether the uptick in close calls is “emphasizing efficiency over safety,” and queried if some of these incidents can be attributed to the sudden rise in travel demand following the COVID-19 pandemic. “I want to hear from our stakeholders about concrete actions that we can take in the near- and medium term to make the world’s safest transportation system even safer,” Nolen said.
“The FAA needs the stability of a permanent leader, and we hope the White House will work to find a qualified candidate who can be quickly confirmed," said AOPA President Mark Baker.
According to Politico, a White House official said a new acting administrator will be named “prior to Mr. Nolen’s departure” but declined to provide details.
