By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford is the leading candidate to be nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next head of the Federal Aviation Administration, sources told Reuters.
The White House, Bedford and Republic did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bedford interviewed for the position that requires Senate confirmation in recent weeks, the sources added.
Bedford, a pilot and industry veteran of more than 30 years, previously headed two other carriers and oversaw a significant expansion of Republic Airways.
Indiana-based Republic is one of the biggest regional airlines in North America, operating a fleet of more than 200 Embraer aircraft with 900 daily flights in the United States and Canada. The flights operate under airline partner brands American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express.
The FAA position has been vacant since January 20, when FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stepped down a little more than one year into a five-year term when Trump took office. The FAA has been run on an interim basis by Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau.
On January 29, a mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport killed 67 people, raising serious questions about aviation safety.
Other recent incidents include fatal crashes of small planes in Alaska and Philadelphia, the crash of a regional Delta jet that flipped upside down upon landing in Toronto and a near miss at Chicago Midway involving a Southwest Airlines jet.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday he plans to ask Congress for tens of billions of dollars to overhaul the nation’s aging air traffic control system and has taken steps to boost staffing. The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and in many places controllers are working six days a week with mandatory overtime.
On Tuesday, the FAA said it plans to permanently restrict helicopters near Reagan National after the collision and is reviewing helicopter traffic near other major airports.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Lisa Shumaker)
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