News And Notes

Aviation Safety

Friday, November 17, 2023 at 11:16 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Michael Whitaker was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new FAA Administrator, filling a long-vacant position with his prior agency and aviation industry experience.
The U.S. EPA issued an "endangerment finding," determining that lead emissions from aircraft using leaded fuel contribute to air pollution and endanger public health, particularly children.
This EPA finding is a step toward eliminating lead from aviation gasoline and supports initiatives like the FAA/industry EAGLE program, which aims for a lead-free aviation system by 2030, though it does not immediately ban or restrict 100LL avgas.

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Our long national nightmare is over: By a vote of 98-0, the U.S. Senate on October 24 confirmed Michael Whitaker to a five-year term as FAA Administrator. The position had been vacant since Steve Dickson resigned on March 31, 2022, and was filled by a succession of acting administrators.

This won’t be Whitaker’s first rodeo at 800 Independence Avenue: He served as the agency’s deputy administrator and chief NextGen officer from 2013 to 2016. Since leaving the agency, he has held executive positions in the advanced air mobility industry segment.