Trump’s FAA nominee pledges accountability for Boeing

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, Bryan Bedford, pledged during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday to hold Boeing accountable in the wake of ongoing safety concerns surrounding its aircraft, the Associated Press reported.

Bedford, currently CEO of Republic Airways, acknowledged that the FAA has learned tough lessons following the twin crashes of Boeing 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019, which claimed 346 lives.

Bedford told lawmakers that the FAA must work closely with Boeing (NYSE:BA), not only flagging failures but also offering constructive guidance to accelerate improvements and ensure aircraft are delivered safely and to standard.

His comments came amid heightened scrutiny of Boeing’s (NYSE:BA) manufacturing and certification processes, particularly after the FAA imposed a production cap on the 737 Max of 38 planes a month following a January 2024 incident where an Alaska Airlines jet experienced a mid-air emergency linked to missing bolts.

When pressed by Senator Ted Budd on long-standing certification delays for models like the 737 Max 7, Max 10, and 777X, Bedford said he hopes to advance the agency’s approach to aircraft certification through better training, technology, and internal process improvements.

While Bedford promised not to compromise safety standards, he stopped short of committing to keeping the 1,500-hour flight training requirement for co-pilots, an issue that resurfaced after the FAA rejected a Republic Airways petition in 2022 seeking a lower 750-hour threshold for some pilots.

He also raised concerns about what he sees as a lack of strategic direction within the FAA. Bedford said that when he recently asked agency employees about their goals and vision for improving air traffic control, their responses reflected a lack of clear leadership or a defined path forward.

His nomination comes amid growing calls to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system. A January 29 collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet near Washington’s Reagan National Airport, which killed all 67 people aboard, has fueled urgency. The FAA is currently grappling with aging infrastructure, 25% of facilities are more than 50 years old, and a staffing crisis, with a shortage of roughly 3,500 air traffic controllers forcing many to work overtime and extended schedules.

As he seeks Senate approval, Bedford positioned himself as a reform-minded leader determined to restore confidence in both the agency and the broader aviation system.