October 18, 2023

Duckworth Statement on Commerce Committee Advancing FAA Administrator Nomination

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—issued the following statement after the full committee voted to advance the nomination of Michael Whitaker to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Whitaker’s nomination comes amid a chilling surge in near-deadly misses involving commercial airlines that likely stems from plummeting aviation workforce experience levels after airlines paid tens of thousands of their most experienced pilots to stop flying, along with a wave of air traffic controller retirements. His nomination now heads to the Senate floor for final consideration.

“At a time when our nation is experiencing an alarming aviation safety crisis, we need an FAA Administrator who will uphold the strongest pilot experience and training certification standards that ensures the flying public safety before our luck runs out and this year’s near-misses become next year’s deadly collisions. I appreciate Mr. Whitaker recognizing that the 1,500-hour rule is an important part of our post-Colgan aviation safety regime and agree with him that it yields good results. I urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Mr. Whitaker to be the next FAA Administrator and, as Chair of the Senate’s Aviation Safety Subcommittee, look forward to working with him to defend the significant progress protecting the flying public’s lives we’ve made post-Colgan without weakening or watering down current minimum flight hour standards.”

During his nomination hearing earlier this month, Duckworth pushed for Whitaker to uphold the highest standards for airline transport pilot certification, including the 1,500-hour rule, if he is confirmed. Throughout FAA reauthorization negotiations, Duckworth has been a fierce, outspoken advocate of the 1,500-hour rule, having delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor on the importance of upholding the strong pilot certification standards and warning her colleagues of the deadly consequences of complacency in aviation. Duckworth’s efforts on this follow a recent surge in disturbing near-misses and close calls that prompted the FAA to hold an unprecedented safety summit and spurred an ongoing investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board to determine whether these frightening incidents may be precursor events that, left unaddressed, are a sign that the Part 121 system is vulnerable to a horrific crash.

Last month, Duckworth virtually met with Whitaker to discuss many critical issues facing our aviation industry, including efforts to weaken the 1,500-hour rule. As one of the authors of the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, Duckworth successfully secured several provisions that will improve safety for consumers, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities. As introduced, the FAA reauthorization bill would extend FAA’s authorities through the Fiscal Year 2028 without degrading pilot certification standards.

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