The Wall Street Journal reported that President Biden is expected to nominate former FAA Deputy Director Mike Whittaker as the next FAA Director.
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The move has been under consideration since it was first reported in May. Axios. Whitaker served as Deputy FAA Administrator in the Obama administration and served under FAA Administrator Michael Huerta from 2013 to 2016. Whitaker was an attorney at TWA and then United Airlines. Whitaker later served as group CEO of Indian travel conglomerate Interglobe.Whittaker worked for the Hyundai eVTOL company super null Since 2020, he is currently Chief Commercial Officer.
The appointment will give the agency stable leadership after being absent for more than a year. The FAA Director is appointed by the President and requires Senate confirmation. The agency has been without a permanent leader since March 2022, when Steve Dixon, President Trump’s appointment to the FAA, announced he would be stepping down midway through his five-year term. Acting Administrator Billy Nollen was then appointed to serve until a new administrator was appointed. Nolen retired from the agency in June 2023 and joined eVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation. The FAA currently reports to Polly Trottenberg, Acting Administrator and Deputy Secretary of State.
Senate approval is required if Whitaker is nominated. President Biden’s first nominee for the position was Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington. After a nine-month delay, Washington withdrew from the process after senators questioned his depth of aviation experience and refused to move forward with his nomination.
The FAA is currently facing serious challenges. The 2018 FAA reauthorization expires in September of this year. The new reauthorization package passed the House but stalled in the Senate. A series of recent runway incursions has put renewed scrutiny on aviation safety. Regarding the drone industry, definitions such as rules for BVLOS flight and type certification have not yet been established.
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Miriam McNabb, editor-in-chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of professional drone services marketplace JobForDrones, is a keen observer of the emerging drone industry and drone regulatory environment. Miriam is an international speaker and industry recognized figure, with over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and he has over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, email Miriam.
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