After Recent Aviation ‘Near Misses,’ GOP Sen Warns Biden FAA Nominee Inexperienced In Aviation Safety

Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican senator warned President Joe Biden that the nominee for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA), leadership might not be up-to the job.

ABC’s Featured Actor “This Week” on Sunday, Sullivan questioned Biden’s choice of Phil Washington at a time when the country has experienced numerous transportation-related accidents and aviation “near misses.” Senator from Alaska called for an a “qualified head for the FAA.” 

“Americans take for granted that their aviation safety, flying in America, is the safest place to do it in the world,” Sullivan told host George Stephanopoulos. “But from my perspective, these are huge warning signs that you’re talking about, what we’ve been talking about. I think it’s been six near-misses in the last two months.”

GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan tells @GStephanopoulos The Pres. The nominee for the FAA presidency of Biden “doesn’t have a lot of experience with regard to aviation safety.”

“We need a qualified head of the FAA. We need to be on this on safety now.” https://t.co/gnbo5ESGEh pic.twitter.com/JEwldBfsUs

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 5, 2023

On Wednesday, Washington was confirmed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The nominee was criticized by many Republicans for what they call a lack in experience. Ted Budd, North Carolina Republican Senator said, “The FAA can’t afford to be led by someone who needs on-the-job training.” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) argued Washington’s “record is woefully lacking,” adding, “in fact, you have zero aviation safety experience.” Sullivan echoed these sentiments Sunday. He said it was a “tough hearing” Washington: who “doesn’t have a lot of experience with regard to aviation safety.” 

“As a military veteran and leader of three large transportation organizations, my broad transportation safety knowledge and real world leadership experiences provide me a unique perspective on how aviation on all modes of transportation should integrate into a seamless system,” Washington said His qualifications.

Biden had nominated Washington as the new CEO at Denver International Airport, and the previous CEO of Los Angeles Metro Transit Authority. However, he didn’t choose Washington. receive He was not present at that hearing. He was nominated resubmitted The position was vacant in January but it has not had a permanent administrator for nearly one year. Stephanopoulos questioned Sullivan about whether the vacancy had any impact on aviation safety. The senator answered, “Absolutely it has.” 

The FAA was notified after a JetBlue and Learjet plane nearly collided at Boston’s Logan Airport. investigate The “close call.” It was the sixth such close miss in America this year. according CBS News. United Airlines flight 103 was landing at Honolulu Airport on 23 January. reportedly A Cessna plane landing improperly had to cross a runway. Mid-January saw two JetBlue jets. bumped At New York’s JFK Airport, they met up. Near-misses similar to those at Newark Airport and Austin-Bergstrom Airport were also reported. In addition to the near misses the aviation industry also faced technological and staffing problems that led the FAA in January to ground all flight operations. 

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Sullivan indicated that to solve these problems the FAA should update technology and infrastructure. “What we don’t want to have happen is some kind of airplane disaster and then Congress is then writing legislation to deal with it after,” The senator stated. “You know, good governance is about proactively getting in front of these issues before they happen, not waiting.”

“From After Recent Aviation ‘Near Misses,’ GOP Sen Warns Biden FAA Nominee Inexperienced In Aviation Safety“

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