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Senators Press FAA Nominee Bedford on Safety and Training Standards

Senators want assurance he will defend rigorous pilot experience requirements after repeated near misses around major airports.

Boeing Co's logo is seen above the front doors of its largest jetliner factory in Everett, Washington, U.S. January 13, 2017. REUTERS/Alwyn Scott/ File Photo
FILE - Republic CEO Bryan Bedford speaks during a news conference, April 13, 2010, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
Republic Airways President and CEO Bryan Bedford testifies during his nomination hearing to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Russell Senate Office Building on June 11 in Washington, DC.
Bryan Bedford, nominee to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, testifies during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in the Russell Senate Office Building on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Overview

  • Bedford reaffirmed his commitment to make safety the FAA’s top priority, citing January’s midair collision and 85 near misses near Reagan National Airport.
  • Pilots’ unions and Democratic senators urged him to uphold the 1,500-hour flight experience rule, warning against proposals to hire less experienced aviators.
  • The FAA has banned certain helicopter routes and launched a nationwide data review to prevent airspace conflicts, though additional near misses have been reported in Las Vegas and Washington.
  • The air traffic controllers union endorsed Bedford’s nomination, highlighting his support for a multi-billion-dollar plan to upgrade outdated radar and communication systems.
  • Spring radar outages at Newark Liberty International led to flight restrictions and controller trauma leave, spotlighting the urgent need to modernize the national air-traffic control infrastructure.