As we approach the eve of the inauguration of our 47th president, questions abound regarding the future of US commercial aviation. On November 18, 2024, President Trump announced former congressman and Fox News host, Sean Duffy, as the new Secretary of Transportation.
This appointment leaves many wondering if future Secretary Duffy is qualified to lead the 45,000 men and women of the FAA. The troubled agency is still recovering from oversight issues centered on the certification of the Boeing B-737 Max. Recall, last year a door departed an Alaska Airlines jet, inflight, pointing to manufacturing oversight issues at sub-contractors. Many, including me, pointed to the increasing distractions from DEI priorities over safety, both at the agency and Boeing.
I suggest the President has a golden opportunity to the the FAA to its former status as the premier safety oversight organization. Even more important than Secretary Duffy will be the choice for FAA Administrator which will likely come after budget reconciliation in late spring. This must be a safety-centered appointment, not a political appointment. The men and women of the FAA, those of us in the industry, and the flying public deserve the best of the best.
Unfortunately, the last time President Trump appointed an FAA Administrator, it was former Delta Chief Pilot, Stephen Dickson, a controversial figure who was forced to resign halfway through his term in the aftermath of earlier Boeing 737 Max issues. Even worse, prior to his appointment Dickson was ruled complicit in “synthesizing and weaponizing” claims of psychological unfitness against Delta Pilot Karlene Petit because she brought safety concerns to the airline’s attention. Dickson was ruled to have retaliated against Petit for her whistleblower claims by having a doctor, later removed from FAA oversight status, falsely diagnose Petit with bipolar disorder to force her out of the airline. Picking Dickson was not one of President Trump’s best choices.
Dickson served until April 2022, when then-President Biden named Billy Nolan as acting Administrator. Under Nolan’s watch the agency continued to prioritize DEI initiative over safety including the changing of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) to Notices to Air Missions which, when it took effect on January 11, 2023, caused a computer system meltdown due to a damaged database. Over 9000 flights were cancelled and thousands more delayed because the airlines’ flight planning software could not interface with the newly named FAA databases.
In search of a permanent replacement, President Biden nominated Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington who presented an abysmal Senate hearing, unable to answer a single technical question. Needless to say, Washington’s hopes crashed and burned.
Former TWA General Counsel and United Airlines manager, Michael Whitaker was finally confirmed to preside over the agency. It was under Whitaker’s watch that the agency issued the famous DEI statement suggesting that they were opening up positions to those with mental deficiencies. Whitaker resigned prior to President Trump’s Inauguration. And, as of the time of publishing, no interim Administrator has been named.
Meanwhile, the agency is suffering from antiquated equipment, a workforce plagued with shortages, and an Air Traffic Control System that was to be replaced by “NextGen” years ago. While some point to DEI, it is not without cause to point out that many controllers retired when the vaccine mandates in fall of 2021. To date, hiring has not kept up with deficits.
You may recall the SWA/FEDEX close call in SAT where a controller cleared a SWA jet for takeoff while the FEDEX was dangerously close on arrival. Initial reports point to controller “juniority” or lack of experience. The NTSB ruled that “the lack of critical safety technology and incorrect assumptions by an air traffic controller lead to a near-collision between a Southwest Airlines B-737 and a FedEx B-767.” Reading between the lines, the lack of technology upgrades and the lack of experienced controllers almost resulted in a fatal accident.
I fear if the incoming administration does not address the shortages in both equipment and manpower at the FAA and their need to refocus on safety in lieu of DEI, we may be facing another imminent tragedy. I pray we can “Make Aviation Great Again,” before it is too late!