Michael Whitaker Testimony 

Supporters of Michael Whitaker Across the Aviation Community

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today delivered the following opening statement at the nomination hearing for Michael Whitaker, President Biden’s nominee to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Mr. Whitaker was introduced by Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Chairman of the House Transportation Committee. Watch the hearing live and read the testimony here.

Whitaker has received wide support from the aviation community, including pilots and flight attendants, air traffic controllers, airlines, airports, manufacturers and machinists, past FAA and DOT leaders, the families of the ET302 crash victims.

Chair Senator Cantwell’s Opening Statement As Delivered: VIDEO

This morning we are here to consider the nomination of Michael G. Whitaker to be the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

I want to thank Mr. Whitaker for his willingness to serve. I’m also grateful that the House Chairman Rep. Sam Graves is here and we will hear from you soon. Chairman Graves along with Ranking Member Larsen, have worked hard on a bipartisan bill and to pass a long-term FAA Reauthorization, so we thank you for that. And I’m hopeful that we’ll be about to do the same here in a bipartisan fashion and finalize a bill into law before the end of 2023. 

This is a reminder that aviation safety and the job of running the FAA are not partisan endeavors… ensuring strong leadership at the top of America’s chief aviation regulator… should be our common goal. 

Mr. Whitaker’s nomination has attracted broad support, not only from across the aisle, but from across the aviation community. You are supported by the aviation workforce -- pilots, flight attendants, machinists and engineers – and have broad support from many in the private sector in aviation.

This foundation of support will serve you well because FAA administrator has a big job... over 44,000 workers across multiple lines of business – from airports to air traffic control to aviation safety. And each day they help keep Americans moving safely: 25,000 U.S. airline flights carrying 2.5 million passengers, across the country and around the world.  

Today, you come before the Committee with more than 30 years of diverse experience in aviation, including executive leadership in the private sector and three years serving as FAA Deputy Administrator. You led FAA’s modernization of the National Airspace System, known shorthand as NextGen. And I hope you will be able to illuminate today the progress that we’ve made, important milestones that we’ve achieved and what we need to do to get it finally implemented. 

Mr. Whitaker will bring a commitment to advancing aviation safety. And I appreciate his support by families who have lost loved ones and who have been very dedicated to improving aviation safety.

But there are challenges that remain. America’s aviation system is under stress, demonstrated by the number of near misses and close calls. We need to hear today about a plan on how to tackle these safety issues across our skies.

The FAA’s workforce has changed and will continue to do so over the next several years. We look forward to hearing about how you will build a strong safety culture, attract new talent, and renew leadership at the FAA.

And like its workforce, FAA safety systems and technology must also be upgraded to keep pace with 21st century innovations. If confirmed, you will have the opportunity to lead NAS modernization into the next era. And telling us exactly how to get that done.

To be the world’s leader in aviation, the United States must be a strong voice for safety at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). You have over 30 years of experience in aviation, including executive roles on these important international issues. We hope that your leadership will help the world community continue its safety focus. We need to learn how the FAA will effectively raise the global safety bar on pilot training and human factors.

The families of the 737 MAX tragedies were critical in helping Congress pass important legislation, the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act. They support your nomination as I mentioned. We expect an understanding this morning on how you’re going to carry out the implementation of these critical safety reforms.

The American public deserves a safe, reliable and effective air transportation system. Our economy depends on it. If confirmed, you will have the opportunity not only to lead the FAA, but shape America’s future of aviation, along with NASA.

These are challenging times. But the aviation community and the leadership across many spectrums have the ability to get this job done and get it done correctly.

So, I welcome and thank you for your willingness to serve, and take that leadership role in helping us.