Senate Confirms New FAA Chief Amidst Mounting Challenges

Mike Whitaker has been confirmed by the Senate as the new head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), taking over at a troubled time for the agency. The FAA is currently dealing with a series of aviation near-misses and challenges in replenishing its air traffic controller workforce. Whitaker, a former FAA deputy administrator and United Airlines executive, will need to address these issues while rebuilding public confidence in air travel and navigating the ongoing fight in Congress over the FAA reauthorization bill.