The Biden administration has nominated Mike Whitaker to be FAA Administrator.
Following months of hypothesis – Whitaker was first talked about as a candidate in Might – FAA veteran Mike Whitaker has been named because the nominee for the FAA’s prime place. Whitaker is the Biden administrations second nominee: Denver Airport CEO Phil Washington withdrew his nomination amidst criticism of his aviation expertise. The place of FAA Administrator should be confirmed by the Senate.
Whitaker served as deputy administrator of the FAA from 2013 to 2016, the place he led the NextGen air visitors management modernization program. Whitaker has deep expertise within the manned plane trade, serving as the top of worldwide and regulatory affairs for United Airways for greater than 15 years. Just lately, Whitaker has joined the superior aviation trade: he’s at the moment the COO of Hyundai’s air mobility arm, Supernal.
The nomination is welcome information. The FAA has not had a everlasting chief since former Administrator Steve Dickson left the job halfway by means of his 5 12 months appointment. Since then, Appearing Administrator Billy Nolen left the FAA to take a job at superior air mobility firm Archer Aviation: present Appearing Administrator Polly Trottenberg’s tenure will expire by regulation subsequent month.
For the drone trade, the nomination could present a pacesetter capable of transfer integration of uncrewed programs ahead. Drone trade advocacy group AUVSI has praised the nomination:
“At this vital second when our nationwide airspace system is turning into more and more complicated, Mike Whitaker is an exceptionally certified selection to make sure the U.S. stays the aviation security gold commonplace, handle the Company and its 45,000 workers and improve U.S. world aviation competitiveness.
Throughout his prior service as FAA Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen officer, Whitaker proved himself a extremely succesful and productive federal official. We urge the U.S. Senate to start Whitaker’s affirmation listening to directly and to maneuver towards a speedy affirmation.
AUVSI appears ahead to working with Whitaker and Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson to reinforce airspace security whereas supporting the mixing of uncrewed programs into the airspace. Doing so will carry important workforce, financial and environmental advantages to American communities.”
The Business Drone Alliance additionally praised the nomination:
The Business Drone Alliance helps the Biden-Harris White Home’s nomination of Michael Whitaker because the subsequent FAA Administrator. With a deep background in superior aviation and having served as Deputy Administrator of the FAA from 2013 to 2016, Mr. Whitaker is eminently certified to steer the company.
The hardworking professionals on the FAA deserve the continuity and consistency of a Senate-confirmed chief, notably at this vital and thrilling time for superior aviation. Uncrewed plane programs (UAS), for instance, are already enhancing lives in communities world wide. The security, safety, effectivity, sustainability, and fairness advantages of economic drones are important, but the U.S. lags behind different international locations in creating coverage to unlock this useful expertise.
“We’re grateful to see Mike Whitaker’s nomination despatched to the Hill, and we urge his swift affirmation by the Senate,” stated Lisa Ellman, Government Director of the Business Drone Alliance. “The business drone trade can provide many societal advantages, however provided that coverage retains up with expertise. We’re relying on Mike Whitaker’s management to spur motion on long-awaited regulatory objects comparable to past visible line of sight and expanded drone operations, which is able to in the end usher within the subsequent period of superior aviation.”
Learn extra:
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone companies market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory setting for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the business drone house and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife right here.
