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The strategy of appointing an FAA Administrator continues, because the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation moved the nomination of former FAA Deputy Mike Whitaker unanimously through committee.
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The nomination will now must be confirmed by vote of the total Senate. Drone industry advocacy groups have vocalized their strong support of Whitaker’s nomination and urged swift motion on a vote. The position of FAA Administrator, a critical leadership role, has been filled by a series of acting administrators since former FAA Administrator Steve Dickson resigned midway through his 5 12 months term in March of 2022.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said in an announcement before the vote: “Mr. Whitaker is very qualified with greater than 30 years of aviation experience in each the private and non-private sectors.
Key roles include serving as FAA Deputy Administrator from 2013 to 2016, where he helped advance technological improvements to the National Airspace System, and the transition to the satellite-enabled surveillance technology – ABS-B. This is essential NextGen technology that I feel helps us upgrade our aviation system. He also served in major leadership roles at airlines and aviation technology firms.
His nomination has attracted bipartisan support and broad agreement throughout the aviation community.”
“The Industrial Drone Alliance is grateful that the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today unanimously voted Michael Whitaker out of Committee as the following FAA Administrator. We urge a swift confirmation by the total Senate. Mr. Whitaker’s leadership will come at a pivotal time because the U.S. looks to completely harness the numerous societal advantages of business drones and regain its position as a worldwide leader in advanced aviation,” says Lisa Ellman, Executive Director of the Industrial Drone Alliance. “Mr. Whitaker’s background in advanced aviation positions him to take motion on long-overdue regulatory items like enabling beyond visual line of sight drone operations, and we stay up for working together to swiftly and safely advance these initiatives.”
“The advanced aviation industry is able to support the transition to a national airspace system that supports U.S. global aviation leadership, is more technologically advanced, has higher safety standards, and welcomes recent entrants. To satisfy the challenges and opportunities of this recent aviation era, the FAA needs a Senate-confirmed Administrator,” said President and CEO Brian Wynne.
As he demonstrated at his nomination hearing, Mike Whitaker’s aviation experience and vision for the FAA make him a robust alternative for the leadership role. AUVSI urges Senate leadership to bring Mr. Whitaker’s nomination for a floor vote directly, and we urge Senators on either side of the aisle to vote in favor of his nomination.”
NATE, The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, also issued an announcement of support.
“NATE welcomes today’s news advancing Michael Whitaker’s nomination through the committee process,” said President & CEO Todd Schlekeway. “NATE collaborates with the FAA closely on issues starting from agency tower site review timelines, tower site obstruction lighting and marking requirements, the advancement of business drone utilization, and member contractor onboarding processes for firms who do work with the agency. The Association encourages the total U.S. Senate to vote on Mr. Whitaker’s nomination promptly to fill this current void in leadership on the agency,” added Schlekeway.
While a 5 12 months appointment of FAA Administrator can be a welcome step for the agency and help to maneuver stalled projects forward, the FAA still lacks a 5 12 months funding bill. Currently, the FAA Reauthorization package of 2018, which expired at the top of September, has been prolonged only through the top of December.
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