Deputy administrator in the obama administration. He stressed the importance of faa innovation. The chair of the house transportation and Infrastructure Committee spoke in support of the nomination at an earlier hearing. Good morning, everyone. The u. S. Senate committee on commerce, science and transportation took him to order. This morning we are here to consider the nomination of Michael Whitaker to be the administrator of the federal aviation administration. I want to thank mr. Whitaker for his willingness to serve. Im also grateful that the house chairman sam graves is here and we will hear from you soon. Chairman gray along with my colleague Ranking Member larsen have worked hard on a bipartisan bill to pass a longterm faa reauthorization so we thank you for that. Im hopeful we will be able to do the same. In a bipartisan fashion. And finalize the bill into law before the end of 2023. This is a reminder that the aviation safety and the job of running the faa are not partisan. They are ensuring strong leadership at the top of americas chief aviation regulator, and they should be our common goal. Mr. Whitaker is nomination has attracted broad support not only from across the aisle but from across the Aviation Community. He is supported by the aviation workforce, pilots, flight attendant, machinist and in years and enjoys a broad support from many and the private sector of aviation. This foundation of support will serve well because he faa administrator has a big job. Over 44,000 workers across lines of business from airports to air Traffic Control at the aviation safety. And each day they help keep americans moving safely. 25,000 u. S. Airline flights carrying 2. 5 million passengers across the country and around the world. Today, you will come before the committee with more than 30 years of a diverse expense in aviation including executive leadership in the private sector and three years serving as faa deputy administrator. He led the faas modernization of the National Airspace system known short and as nextgen, and hope he will be able to illuminate today the progress that weve made an important milestones that weve achieved, and what we need to do to get it finally implemented. Mr. Whitaker will bring a commitment to advancing aviation safety and appreciate his support by families who lost loved ones and have been very dedicated to improving aviation safety. But there are challenges that remain. Americas Aviation System is under stress demonstrated by the number of near misses and close calls when need here today on a planet how to tackle safety issues across our skies. The faa workforce testing and will continue to do so over the next several years and look forward to learning how he will be able to build a strong Safety Culture attracting talent and renew leadership at the faa. Unlike its workforce faa Safety Systems and technology was also be upgraded to 21st century innovations. And if confirmed he will have the opportunity to lead them mass modernization it in the next era in telling us exactly how to get that done. To be the world leader in aviation the United States must be a strong voice for safety at the International Civil aviation organization, icao. Youreo. Over 30 years experiene in aviation including executive roles on these Important International issues and we hope your leadership will help the World Community continue its safety focus. We need to learn how the faa will effectively raise the Global Safety bar on Pilot Training and human factors. The families of the 737 max tragedies were tragedies were critical in t helping Congress Passed important legislation the aircraft certification safety and accountability act. They support your nomination as i mentioned, and we expect an understanding this morning on how youre going to carry out the further implementation of these critical safety reforms. The American Public deserves a safe reliable effective aircraft transportation system. Our economy depends on it and if confirmed you have the opportunity that only to lead the faa that shape americas future of aviation along with nasa. These are challenging times but the Aviation Community and theve leadership across many spectrums have the ability to get this job done and get it done correctly. So i welcome and thank you for your willingness to serve, and take a leadership role in helping us. I now am going, way to my colleague who underwent two judiciaries ongoing to our colleague senator welch to make an Opening Statement and that i will turn to representative grant. Madam chair, he gave an excellent presentation of mr. Whitakers experience but you left out one very important fact. Hes my neighbor. List down the dirt road. You go down brachial and up over a little dense hill and take a left and there they are on the same dirt road right down the street in vermont. So its wonderful to have michael here, mary and joe. You outline hisc public experience, his private experience and i was going to do that but you done it so well i to add tok we need it. I do want to say couple of things. With this excellent experience he has first as a pilot, lifelong pilot. And with that a constant concern about safety because hes had sd people he loves in his own plane. With his experience at the faa where you have this huge, Important Agency and he has a responsibility to make it work in the implementation of very Important Program that you mention. And then with hisis experience d the private sector, with United Airlines and the very responsible big jumps he had there, how you have more experience . In every phase of whats required to have our Flight Systems be safe, to have performance solid, and to have the managerial experience to kind of create the team and the culture thats necessary for a well functioning faa cuts sometg that he and i spoke about at a store where if you dont have it you dont need, thats the norwich Famous Country store. That broad depth of experience in that decision, and this is what i also really appreciate, at a time in his life when he was doing fine, lives in a nice place brachial, if you dont want to come see it, its a nice place. He wanted to serve. It is so neat in that country of people with the benefit of a lifelong career in the public and private sector deciding you know what, i want to serve. So that gives me just immense confidence that were going to have the tremendous director, and i yield back. Thank you, senator welch. Thank you for aan very personal view of the nominee and good to know that, that road might come in handy sometime. [laughing] message delivery. Representative graves, welcome before the committee. Thank you so much. Unless senator moran, did you want as the subcommittee chair make a statement . [inaudible] thank you. Representative graves, thank you so much for being here. Of course. Thank you, madam chair, and members of the committee. Theres a lot of familiar faces on this committee, and i like that. He also very much appreciate the opportunity, it is an honor to be a today to support Michael Whitaker for administrator to federal aviation administration. And this is a crucial time for aviation and forhe the faa. Steadfast leadership at the faa is paramount if we as a nation are t to remain the global leadr in aviation safety and innovation. I go i know this committee and nominee equivocally support. Its been a year and have since previous administrator Steve Dickson step down. If you think about it, safety is dependent on consistency and, unfortunately, the only thing that hashe been consistent at te agency since the former administrator departed is a growing list of acting positions across agency. 18 months withoutut faa administrator is troubling. The American People deserve aas confirmed later was a deep knowledge in and a passion for that matter for aviation. Because of that im honored and pleased to introduce Michael Whitaker, a very qualified nominee, that is been put forward for your consideration. Mr. Whitakers, the chief poverty officer for an advance and will bring the company which is in aviation sector that is propelling american aviation to new heights and demands both regulatory stability and innovation. Having previously served as faa deputy administrator mr. Whitaker understands what it takes to helm the agencies that hes been nominated to lead and he is also served many years obviously in the travel and airline industries. And as a professional pilot myself i appreciate the fact that he, too, is a g a pilot. I spoken to him on many occasions visited within about the need to pass on that passion to the next generation of Young Americans and be an advocate for aviation overall. The bottom line is that having mr. Whitaker confirmed as faa administrator will help provide muchneeded certainty for the faa and the Aviation Industry, which is pivotal right now in this moment in history. In addition to confirmation of it faa nominee i would be remiss if i didnt point out that enacting a longterm faa reauthorization bill will bring muchneeded certainty to the Aviation Industry. The bipartisan bill that passed out of the house in july by vote of 35169 is a fiveyear bill. While your Committee Works towards bill. While your Committee Works towards passage of companion legislation, our shared commitment to enactment of a longterm faa bill guarantees the next administrator will be charged with committing the final product of our work. This as enormous consequence to the nomination responsibility of mr. Whitaker if he if confirmed. I want to be clear, i fully expect that if mr. Whitakers confirmed as administrator that we will not agree on everything. However, i i do believe that we will have a very strong working relationship just as ive had with his predecessors. And like his predecessors for both s Democrat Administration d republican administrations i want to see him be successful in the role because that is what is in the best interest of the american Aviation Industry and in the best interest of the American People. I fought hard against the previous nominee whose lack of relevant experience was greatly concerning, and its also why im here today supporting mr. Whitaker because i believe he is the right person for this job. As the chairman of the Transportation Infrastructure Committee in the house my job is to hold the administration of any administrator of the faa accountable for the actions to conductt rigorous oversight and to ensure that they are following the legislative intent of any piece of legislation that congress passes. And rest assured i will do just that. But i also want to express my support for this committee is consideration today of a nominee who has extensive qualifications in the Aviation Fuel and was recently with the faa. Its important with itsts intricacies and with its shortcomings. I believe mr. Whitaker has a level of experience in the position of faa administrator demands and prepared to deliver the strong leadership that is needed for the faa today more than ever before. I want to thank you for your time and help the committee favorably approves mr. Whitakers nomination and ask us with the on finalizing an faa realization. So thank you very much and i yield back. Thank you, representative graves and you can look forward to working with you in a bipartisan fashion to get this over the goal line legislatively by the end of the year, so thank you for that. Senator cruz. Thank you, madam chair. I want to welcome my good friend sam graves and glad to see you slumming on the other side of the caliper welcome. I hope weve been hospitable and maybemo give you a decent cup of coffee this morning. You dont have to answer that. Good morning, welcome everyone. Mr. Whitaker, welcome. A san antonio native, something im always glad to see. Every day some 3 million passengers or commercial flights in and out of u. S. Airports. With the confidence that they will safely arrive atna their destinations. The public trust is the result of a nearly a decade collaboration between the Aviation Industry and the federal aviation administration. The faa manages 29 million square miles of airspace. It ensures that aircraft and pilots meet the highest Safety Standards, and it is the faa that will ensure the safe integration of drones, your taxes, and one day commercial spaceflight. Air taxis. When it comes to safety, the buck stops with the faa. We are here today to consider the nomination of Michael Whitaker for the faa administrator. This is a crucially important role. The next administrator will face serious challenges in rebuilding the faa after unfortunately 18 months without a Senate Confirmed leader. Among those challenges, staffing critical air Traffic Control facilities, modernizing and the quitter air traffic systems, and bringing faa employees back in person after three years of telework. Mr. Whitaker is President Bidens second nominee to the faa administrator. The first was rejected by both republicans and democrats on this committee for his lack of relevant experience. I am glad that the administration has heeded my advice and nominate a person with significant experience in aviation, mr. Whitaker. Mr. Whitaker present served as a secondincommand at the faa and has roughly three decades of aviation experience. As ive said since we received this to whitaker nomination, i am willing to keep an open mind and give them for consideration on the merits. I want to hear how hes going to address the challenges facing the faa and the Aviation Industry, should he be confirmed. I also want to ensure that political focus on faas primary responsibility, ensuring the safety of our National Airspace system. While having the fortitude and clarity of mind to question assumptions and to push back against special interests. Congress gives the administrator a fiveyear term because the faa is not a political organization. Is not intended to be a political organization. And we must keep politics out of the faa. Today mr. Whitaker has an opportunity to explain to members of this committee his vision for a stagnant agency, one that ise in desperate needf strong independent leadership willing to challenge the status quo. Mr. Whitaker cry look forward to hearing why you believe you are that independent leader and how you will meet the serious challenges faced by the faa and the Aviation Industry. Thank you. Thank you, senator cruz. Again, representative graves thank you for being here. Mr. Whitaker, if you would come up and take an opportunity to introduce anybody youd like to introduce this morning before you give your Opening Statement. Thank you chair cantwell, Ranking Member crew is come in was of the committee. Its an honor to appear before you today is President Bidens nominee for the ministry of the faa. Im grateful for this bipartisan introduction and support from a follow for monitor neighbor, senator welch and also from house to petition chairman sam graves who is been very supportive throughout this process and i thank you both. I would not get it if it wasnt for the love and support of my family especially my wife mary who is he with me today who has been patient and amazingly supportive throughout this process which you with our son joe and our daughter jordan was watching from vermont. To begin i would like to acknowledge secretary buttigieg and deputy secretary trenton for it for the Exceptional Leadership that shown in showing the faa womens focus on this Critical Mission to provide the safest and most efficient airspace system in the world. Throughout my career i have believed in this mission not only during my previous tenure at the faa but as an Airline Executive and t now as a focus n emerging technologies in our airspace. It can from i apply like 32 years of aviation experience to lead the 44,000 dedicated professionals at the faa the work inat every u. S. State and territory and across the globe to meet this mission. I begin my aviation career as an worldey for Trans Airlines and then rose through the ranks of United Airlines from senior counsel and rated to regroup to Senior Vice President of Alliances International and regulatory affairs. More recently i i work with emerging aviation technologies such a a small Unmanned Systems and electric impulsion. However, the key f explains that qualify me for this position and that will allow me to make an Immediate Impact at the faa is my three year tenure there as deputy administrator. During this time i gained significant Technical Knowledge of the complex systems that make up the National Airspace. And while at faa i also in my private pilot certificate to better understand the National Airspace, respective of a user of that system. If confirmed, my priority will be thehe safety of the flying public. It but the trust in faa to keep aviation the safest way to travel cot and the world is looking to us for decades as the Gold Standard. To maintain that trust and that pile i would immediately focus on three things as administrator. First, i will work and not just to maintain the Safety Record we have collectively achieved but to build upon it. The two bowling max crashes remind us we must be ever vigilant. The faa must finish ift t omitg the remaining provisions of the certificate certification reform legislation passed by Congress Thanks to the leadership of this committee. These changes along with other actions faa has taken one sure that the gaps and syndication process are fully closedar and that were able to catch risks evena when they are not disclosd by manufacturer. We simply cannot become complacent and we must continuously improve as an organization. In march the faa announced a new goal to in serious close calls. Its critical we achieve this. It will not be accomplished overnight but it iss urgent work that must continue. Second we need to build irrigation system of the future purchase of our cfa to be agile and created and for all of us to make ongoing investments. When i was at the faa just a few years ago drones were new, commercial space launches were rare, and flying taxis were still only in cartoons. All of this has changed and requires the agency look forward adapt quickly and execute a plan for the future. Third, none of this can be achieved without making the faa and employer of choice where aviators want to build their careers. We must have a pipeline a dedicated Public Servants to achieve our t mission. Nowhere is this clearer than the ongoing work to catch up on air Traffic Controller hiring. The shortage has been years in the making but you have my commitment to reduce this backlog. The faa faces the challenges and it will take innovators and dreamers who bring ideas from every part of our country to solve them. Aviation has opened doors of opportunity for so many including me. We must make sure and continues to do so for citizens in every corner of the country, the matter their background. I am honored by the trust the president has placed in me with this nomination. If confirmed i were being committed to the faa mission and pledged to work with you and the committee to get things done. Thank you for considering my nomination and then please answer questions. Thank you. Thank you mr. Whitaker. So appreciate you and your willingness to serve and your many years of experience. You mentioned your commitment to implementing the safety and Certification Programen which se of itor has been implemented but theres more to do. And i guess i would just say as a summation that the world of aviation since you left the faa has changedsi significantly. You mention the 737 max crashes, the covid pandemic. We kept airlines moving during that time period. Recently the notam system outages, new mexico things of that nature. What the faa needs to do i think are even greater challenges since when you were there before. So i want, i i appreciate you saying you wanted to fully implement the law, so thank you for that. What are your strategies for building a resilient Safety Culture at the faa . And what do you think it takes at this point in time to have that Safety Culture . I just want to mention we were able to implement the air Grant Program and assist already paying dividends on capitol hill and in agencies because with the smartest Technology People here helping on the very Technical Details of aviation. The underlying acts the bill has integrated project Team Sometimes run to recall them the graybeards. While im anxious to see how the graybeards assess technology, as you mention in your statement, that may not be disclosed by manufacturer and yet you have to understand the Huge Technology change that is happening. I mean, i wonder sometimes if we should be looking at a cto in some ways nasa is our cto but may be on the things as a look at the notam outage and other things, we may be in addition to the forward thinking that nasa does for the agency may be a cto for these integrative project teams, lady arteaga future but if you could talk about what it is that you think we need to build inn that intersection of changes of technology and safety . Thank you, senator cantwell. Its as great question. I think there are a number of aspects to this. We need to build a strong leadership team, make sure with great people and right position and make to. Make sure they are permanent. We need a strong bent so i think focus on making sure we have expertise in the organization is going to be key. Safety culture doesnt create itself, and i think you have to constantly emphasize that it is our First Mission abovein all ee and everything has to be focused on that. We have told the line line on pressure to reduce standards and make sure we keeping the system as safe as possible. The Technology Issues are interesting one. There are a lot of new technologies come into the agency that you cant prove out to flight testing necessarily. Software is a good example of that. New technologies that interact with each otherer in ways that maybe we haventod experienced n the past. I think it is good to look at having somebody with the appropriate Technology Experience who can see the big picture of wit and your aircraft, a new Technology Comes into how the pieces fit together and where we can look for risks that may not be apparent otherwise. So you are fully committed to the integrated project team andd doing them on board and the oversight in the certification process . Further integration in the syndication process between groups including technology is a key reform and we will certainly implement that and look for ways to even go beyond that. What else do we need to do here on capitol hill, you mention a, i would just call it a resilient workforce. How do we communicate to people what the Workforce Needs so we can build this, i think it is one of your key priority documented in your statement, but we were like every other workforce in the nation. We need the right people and we need them now. So what can we do to better enable this faa workforce . I think i think assessing the workforce will be one of the first goals i have within the agency and i would look forward to finding ways we can increase ways to bring people into the agency. I think its a tight workforce right now in aerospace and we recruit in the same places that private industry does. Weve got to figure out a way to be competitive to bring the right, into the agency. Will you work with us on the ability of the faa to communicate these outcomes . I think we get in this role between the legislative branch and the agency, and we have had to push for a lot of discussion so peopleeo understand impacts d so i hope youll commit to being a frequent communicator. I think my former colleague senator wicker had his levels of frustration many times before the committee and cooperation with the faa on information. And what we need is the authorizes but were not the appropriate scope when he did the clue to the appropriate what the shortfall and impact at the faa will mean for us through any aspect of the job but through the faa so if youll commit to that. Communicating better with stakeholders all theil would ben important priority as a. Thank you. Senator cruz. Thank you, madam chair. Try for you and chair cantwell just a moment ago were talking about the need to recruit excellent talent at the faa which is certainly a pressing need i agree. A number of air Traffic Controllers was a significant concern during your tenure as deputy administrator at faa. You repeatedly touted the faas plan to hire 6000 controls over five years. Years later unfortunately the shortage has only grown worse leading to congestion and frequent delays especially in the new york airspace. As you know all newly hired airTraffic Controllers must complete a Training Program at the current faa academy. But that academy is limited to only about 1800 individuals per year and it takes several years to fully trained and airTraffic Controller. Realistically, considering the attrition rate at the academy in the Field Training process, we need to hire significantly more than 1800 each year for several years. F. If you are confirmed as faa administrator, and you look at the issue of control training and you findd ways been consistently said to be the case, that a major chokepoint in the controller pipeline is a physical limits of the agency academy. Would you support a second atc academy to increase throughput . Yes, senator cruz i certainly would and as we discussed looking at those chokepoints and understand where theg problemsi will be an early priority and we just simply need to solve this problem figured how to get it done. I appreciate that commitment. Given that our system is facing critical airTraffic Controller shortage i would hope that one of the first things you would do would be to address this issue. And if youre confirmed quickly by the senate in you commit to addressing it and tried to turn it around by the end of the . I will call assuming i i have enough time to do that i will. Thank you. Let me turn to a different question. When you were deputy administrator of the faa how many days a week did you go into the office . Everyday. Everyday. In late july the faa said that employees had to be in the office at least three days a week by october 9. But two weeks later after the faa hired a senior labor policy advisor for the first time, the agency put that in person expectation on hold because of union push back. Do you believe it is important that the faa return to an presort . I do believe its important to be in person for collaboration working together, and when i get you the agency, this has been a challenging issue for all organizations private or public. I think what needs to happen is after understand the situation were in and the limitations that might be there issuing very clear guidance with expectations are to get people in the office. And i will say theres a a sharp differential i think between private and public. When i talked to businesses in the private sector virtually all of them the employees are going back to work and youre physically present, and yet throughout the Biden Administration we have a pattern just about every agency where large portions of the workforce have apparently decided going to the office is optional. And i think that seriously limits the effectiveness of an agency in particularly and agency Whose Mission is protecting peoples lives in the airspace. If confirmed, when you commit to working diligently to bring faa employees back to the office . I will, sir. When you were deputy administrator of faa, certification of the boeing 737 max was underway. What was your involvement in the certification of the 737 max. Was i didnt have anynt involvement in the certification of the maxtor i wish i had in retrospect, but the issues cut issues about the safety of mcas were unknown at the time, at least at the executive level so they were not raised. So what went wrong with the certification . Well, i think of course this is been well stated by the squid and others but i think i had to say it was a failure all around, i failed at bowling and a failure of the system to catch information that was not disclosed by boeing. I think they done a commendable job of plugin a lot of those holes but a think theres more work to do and we need to make sure that neverat happens again. As a technical matter what cause the two air crashes with the 737 max. Was what i think there are number of issues. Think the function of the mcas and the characteristics of the mcas cop pilots and i should say like a pilot take a lack of awareness of the system was a major contributor. So the were a number of causes. And letet me ask you, what is your level of confidence that the faa has changed how it approaches those issues so that prospectively there would not be another disaster like we had with the 737 max. Was i will not fully know until im there to understand about twothirds of the reforms have been implemented but it will be a top priority to make sure thats done and we go beyond that and bring extra vigilance to the situation. Thank you. Senator klobuchar. Thank you very much, madam chair. Mr. Whitaker, i enjoyed our discussion earlier and also am excited about the experienceri u bring to this job, and hopefully youll get confirmed swiftly, like everyone gets confirmed in the senate. Okay, that was a sarcastic joke. But i think we all know this couldnt beth more important. Appreciated senator cruz remarks about the need for the airTraffic Controller. Senator braun and i just introduced something on this. And i understand you want to see more, bigger aviation workforce. A bunch of us are working on this with grants and things like that. Tell us what would be most helpful to get the aviation workforce we need. I think the grants are very helpful. I review my role as administrators chief recruitment officer served for faath but alo for the industry. I think we need to really build interest and people becoming puns or controls or mechanics or flight attendants, its a great industry and we need to push the word out a little bit and really cast a broad net to build us brought up byle point as we cano bring people in the aviation. Senator cantwell mentioned the need to focus on what we saw out of, withth the systemwide failure that morning that we will never forget. Senator moran and i i were on te phone withre the acting director that day. Could you talk about your commitment to carry out some upgrades to our animation system . Senator moran and i passed the bill on this actually to include all the stakeholders that represent was getting picked could you quickly and to the court then have real fun like gong show questionsit for sure. No, i am committed at a been briefed on the matter from faa and understand that work is underway. Very good. About do you degree that we need to ensure that air service reaches travelers outside of urban areas and continue that program . Mr. Whitaker i do. I think our network of airports in the u. S. Is a treasure and it needs to be we need to invest in it and keep them viable. Sen. Klobuchar right. Contract Tower Program provides critical air Traffic Control safety benefits to 256 smaller airports across the country, including in st. Cloud, minnesota, and a County Airport. Do you support this program . Mr. Whit County Airport you support this program i do. Heres one that is interesting, one of our airlines and farmers in minnesota many are interested in this scene mark marketing initiatives underway, there other technologies including aircraft. Secretary vilsack would be a good one to talk to about this one of our big priorities when it comes to renewable fuel. Finally, great leadership and aviation support about this could you talk about the work that needs to be done . Maga currently familiar with but i will lookve into it all right, attribute to visit leadership able to get done on a bipartisan basis. Thank you senator klobuchar. Thank you for holding this important hearing the faa has is for the top of the last authorization complex airspace system that must accommodate commercial space activity and mobility aircraft and managing all that while maintaining the highest level of 51st go aviation experience available to istodays discussion so thank yu for being willing to take on this role. Of airspace, integration and other subjects i would submit but i want to talk about transport pilots who require vast majorities in the cockpit. I fully recognize the value of experience an essential part. Flight hours a committed the aircraft pilots fly, they are committed small aircraft. To address this issue, offered an amendment to the issue, fine recommendations of the air. To create enhanced Qualification Program completed in exchange for credit toward aeronautical experience. Similar training whose value has been by military, seasoned Airline Pilots exposure to pilots jets and allow them to experience challenging and dangerous situations so theres a Bipartisan Group of administratorson who recently called on congress to expand the use of similar training city requiringe repeated practice fr full motion flight simulators will make betterr habits so i find it hard to believe anyone would disagree with this. Just like the adoption championed america leadership and technology is benefiting aviation safety making it the safest in the world and you describe how you would work to paensure the same leadership roe to ensure their best prepared decisively . Is an important fabric of our Safety Network with a lot of endifferent technologies and questions how we might look at pathways for reaching 1500 hours with her multibilliondollar machines available for pilot try to get 1500 hours Technology Developed emulators we know it is not an adequate simulator but we should consider those. And i hope you will. Thats essentially what we are operating off of. About a as creating a framework streamline the approval process. Next step rule out access and i know. We got a bill that addresses this issue will help you look at i hope this is something stakeholders will address you will work to implement those aircraft notes thank you for being herere today and your willingness to serve make sure the system is sector. We are experiencing crises. The faa needs a leader will strengthen the Safety System and work with congress for transformational investment to enable to recruit air Traffic Controllers. Airlines broke the public pipeline when they decided the best strategy to deal with the 1500 ll cool j is causing the Pilot Shortage and result of the tens of thousands of the pilot visiting the t workforce. Mass exodus is compounded by retirement of air Traffic Controllers, decades worth of experience and we are familiar with tornadoes and like one coder gliding together to create a tornado, a post pandemic surgeon available creating a perfect storm we witness in these near misses and safety concerns. Mark has been reduced and the result is downright terrifying. According to the New York Times 12 month, 300 caps off near collisions involving curious, almost one so far this year. Despite alarming evidence aviation burglars, some Airlines Continue as Long Campaign to reform. Confirm will face pressure from parked on fixed. I want the faa to commit to our shore safetyy forms are not within the blood of passengers killed. Complacency kills, plus my the next administrator must work to increase experience and create requirements before our loved ones in the commission. If confirmed, will you protect both covid era system rejecting efforts to photograph the 1500 hour group thatbi requires at least 50 hours . Yes, 1500 hour rule is legislative and work to maintain its integrity as an important part of the Safety System and any changes i would recommend go through a process to make sure we are not lowering the bar in any way directly to break the 1500 article agreement to the Safety Advocates appear skeptical socalled institutions which enable i would earn 1500 hours line circles in the skies with gusts of wind. Could you do the same thing in the simulator where youre not practicing exact maneuvers needed 1500 hours and discuss, we would need to intensify usage and what types of procedures are being practiced. If confirmed, will you work to enhance safety by strengthening the 1500 hour rule by refining what type of hours count toward meeting the rules such as requiring more than 50 hours for the rating the experience. This is why of a proposed language is causes me to be skeptical you dont limit lead to market products. In all leos emulators army had, not once did we practice procedures in our friends every time an aircraft we experience what we do, youre just going to die and you pause the simulator. When i walked, i hope it is the same for you. Thank you and thank you for your service. I have one more question for the record. Thank you, manager. Senator maria. Thank you to you and senator cruz rescheduling todays, a terrible mistake if we lost another couple of weeks our efforts to get a confirmed r capable director, administratr of the faa glad to see you shared a priority want to associate myself with senator cruzla in a couple of instances she spoke about the importance of workforce and returning to office. That needs to t be federal what circumstance but i hope you will fully take the lead you described to santa cruz happens in the administration and also boggles my mind we desperately need air Traffic Controllers so critically that the gap created by lack of educational training means so i appreciate your answer to both questions. Let me ask a couple questions. Your nominated in the history of faa suggested, arriving daily. As demand for aviation continues to grow, couple of unprecedented challenges entered the past two years, what lessons did you learn as the administrator prepared you . Thank you. I learned an infinite amount during those three years. It was quite instructive on the i learned to appreciate the 5000 airports we have in this country, some dating back to world war ii and military use and i know from experience with startups looking at new technology, it present an infrastructure opportunity, Business Opportunity and vermont is already building charging station at airports to create their own network of conductivity so i think my experience particularly in the airspace will have for integrating Going Forward. Your experience chief operating officer, technologies, aa and in particular officially into . Number one priority but we cant use it as an excuse to move quickly, i think the key is to have an integrated vision for various commercial space launch, supersonic small rooms for vertical takeoff that plan into horizontal light into our existing system that involves technology in the system we hava not met been fully engaged mobility issues will things move at a slow pace and the difficulty we face, no one can disagree it is priority but we operate in a world in which competitors cannot lose through we need to be competitive manufacture here into this room. When asking, is for me to take charge and be a strong determined leader, a circumstance in which there is lotsts of bureaucracy and ballcb to make that child. I feel like my time gives me real advantage. I note that the agency, and a lot of people are to have a pretty clear vision with mission and i know its a hard job and important job. Will have a tough jobme if confirmed ahead of you. Have said this publicly, you and i have met, you and i had a telephone conversation at todays hearing. Everything i know about you suggest should be confirmed in my intention is to go for your confirmation. Senator peters. Thank you, madam chair. Congratulations on your nomination and willingness to take what is truly a challenging job, we appreciate that. Especially in subject, i have the privilege of representing nine rural airports served by essential air Service Program, the most of any state in the lower 48 and many are in Northern Michigan in the Upper Peninsula and only a couple of trips a day. I will take an aircraft friday the city service through eas. The proposed reauthorization bill includes a provision that will hold airlines accountable whenhe they break their contracs small impurities rely on them for service, it is essential they contain servicece. Under this proposed rule, it will be harder for airlines to germany all caps early and department of transportation would be empowered to penalize airlines abandon communities. I believe its essential to prevent uncertainty in boxes and services and committees like michigan experienced this issue last year. My question, if confirmed, will you work with congress to protect the air Service Program and hold airlines accountable to communities they serve in rural areas not just my statement across the country . Yes, sir, i believe the Program Small airport key to our system. I will work with you support the safety mechanisms and infrastructure and work with the ot on administrative this. International airport in grand rapids, michigan, second largest airport 200 Aircraft Operations each day serves the growing part of our state as well. Can profit 70 mercantilism passengers an effort to expand my because of 60yearold faa air Traffic Control tower the agency has not replaced. Thus like last year i secured my Million Dollars in spending from the airport and began the design process and replace the tower which is not done yet. Will you commit to working with me grand rapids airport to ensure a plan to replace the tower in a timely fashion . Yes, sir, i will. Thank you. Ive also long advocated to transition away from the use of toxic firefighting phones. Foster President Biden signed into law my runoff at airports that will allow air force to purchase the equipment needed to test firefighting response without discharging toxic chemicals. This year proposed authorization bill includes provisions i championed to ensure quick transition to new firefighting Financial Resources to make that transition. Michigan airports continue to lead the way on this issue but they need a strongg partner to fully transition away from the use of chemicals to protect our communities firefighters from contamination so if confirmed, ceall like to get your commitmet to work with their present use of aviation and your thoughts on this challenge. I understand the faa has been followingow guidance on transitioning and looking for new forms to fight fires effectively. In your questionnaire, he said one of your top three priorities rebuilding the workforce of the future, i agree our focus must be on building a robust workforce of air Traffic Controllers and private, aviation, engineers and other workers. I believe we cant meet this goal without doing more to recruit and retain women in these fields. 5 of Airline Pilots are women and fewer serve in the other aviation fields. I have heard directly from michigander who served on the faa Advisory Board about the work the work to to direct the industry and commercial action to support and thats why i introduced the aviation act included in the faa authorization package. Can you. Elizabeth the importance of building a strong workforce and finding ways to recruit and retain women in these critical positions . Clear making it as inclusive as possible, we need a lot of interesting aviation and all thosee jobs. Thank you,. Thank you for the hearing today. Thank you for the time to visit by phone and i hope we can move soon to the reauthorization act get that finished. The house passed their mark on that bill. We need to so we can move forward. Mr. Whitaker, talk about drones which we did as we visited last week. We noted dod, interior commerce and treasury have all warned about the threats that are there if we look at chinese drones. Because off that, i introduced the drones act that would prohibit the faa from operating federal funds for certain growingg companies in this protects us and our country and i would like to hear from you if you are confirmed, what will you do to fightht against threat we have from chinese drones and how are you going to raise awareness on this issue . Thank you for taking the time last week for us to meet. This is a very serious issue and National Security protecting our airspace and intellectual property are all very important issues. The rolee here work with other agencies and Law Enforcement officers and agencies to make sure we have production regardless where the drone is manufactured to protect to my perspective, the air space. And chinese drones specifically, would you agree prohibiting federal funds for the purchase of these drones . I would defer to body on the legislation and i will defer to Law Enforcement on how to approach this but clearly there are risks associated with drones in that category. I want to talk with you, i have an amendment i filed two reauthorization act create are indeed print to certify standards for ensuring the industry and aaa to meet installation requirements for next radio by 2024 do you believe this would help mitigate faa broadband carrier dispute over 5g . I think there is tremendous progress in resolving this issue and i know the industry has equipped the levels 95 now to include mitigation and interference f from 5g so i will continue to work with you making sure that is completed. That is great because that is something we need to see completed. The New York Post earlier this year at the epidemic surrounding aviation using credentials and privilegesgl to smuggle drugs through air force on airplanes. Like my legs, cap worked visiting different airports looking at these issues, how you plan work to counter these operations carried out on the tarmac and nations airports . We would follow the lead of tsa and any other Law Enforcement involved in stopping those activities as much as we could. Build a little bit, how would you work with other entities there in the aviation ecosystem to ensure these guys are not going to be on the tarmac and not able carry this out . Are security folks and track it to the network and find out how we can contribute we some issues with lack of leadership in the and will send that for written response. Toi want to just do believe t is an issue so we will work on that. Senator tester. I want to thank you for being here today. This is a very important issue fought a lot. It impacts the American People daily. Workforce is a major prompter. The same is true with folks who do a marvelous job but we are soon shortages there, too and my question to you, do you have any plans on how we can address Workforce Shortage . It truly is a lifeanddeath situation if t you cap folks working 70 hours in difficult situations. They do a great job and work hard, howix can we fix this . Are you referring to the towers . Yes an area need to focus on, is been going on for too long and exacerbated by covid and not understanding the direction traffic will go during that time period. We have tope have as wide a pipeline as we can read controllers into this base and air trafficfi controllers are doing a good job and a lot of people would like to do it part of my role will be recruiting and making the Agency Employer of choice for people having in aviation opportunity. I think it will take created because youre right, a lot of people want to be business so whatever you can do, get more folks available so thank you. I come from a state with these are destinations, the airport there. We got your Flight Options and its fair to say at least in my case is different world post pandemic than three pandemic. Its worse. Part of it, i thought i had a beautiful solution to be in your American Airlines simulator, we can do this a portion of it and it was pointed out to me also be leaders are not alike. There goes that idea i had so how can we fix this . How can we utilize ways to get more pilots we are paying them a decent amount more pilots in the pipeline at keep our safe know what they are doing and move forward . More light into a place like montana by the way, oftentimes if i might like, the next fight is the next night me some hope. Thank you for the question, i think the pilot situation was long in the making for many years was ready rocky, extensive just like it is to become a doctor or lawyer salaries were very low so pilot ten years ago might be 20 and the walk from it would be 100. Sellers have grown up quite a bit, both of entry level in the market, what we can do is look at other ways to facilitate people coming in and your points on simulators is good, is it obligated issue. There simulators in their simulators and time is important Safety Professionals looking at, either evidence we can . Its you got Rulemaking Committee that will make recommendations, correct . The recommendations to the rules work with congress,. Thats good but can you pushd that to do their Due Diligence i will improve to address this, the language of the Senate Reauthorization creating Aviation Technology will will will Technology Barriers filling ethnology. Drawing from your prior industry experience, do you believe the faa places an emphasis on the certification technologies . With this new position improve how they Agency Responds to innovation . I think that is a good question to the point. These technologies coming in are one of the Biggest Challenges we are placing we dont necessarily understand everything especially with Extensive Software protecting, we need resources wouldnt to make sure there is a holistic understanding of how the systems interact and where the risks are in our step in the right direction. Nebraska division serves as airport sponsors seeking federal grants. It is noted the interpretation and requirements projects are enforced region to region, state to state and even different faa planners and engineers within the state so what can be done straighten this out . How canan you, at that level, ensure requirements are interpreted and administered uniformly . Its important for transparent and uniform system to allocate funding across the system so it is applied fairly and provide direction to make sure thatt happens in combat baseline, there always exception promote the flexibility to adapt to that as well but it needs to be a transparent system to mark when we have these cases brought to our attention, if we are able to present that information to you, we do take personal interest in trying to figure out why maybe some of these discrepancies are happening. I would be happy to work with you on. Outhank you. One of aas successful industry partnerships is the faa Power Program and that includes one we have in grand island, nebraska. Critical Safety Program is important to maintain and develop rural states like mine. There are comes from the past to shut down the Power Program over budget concerns. Can you give me assurance you will support the contracts given that it is really vitally important to the National Airspace system and contract towers will remain high priority for the faa if you are confirmed . I can give you that assurance, contract towers are an important part of ourle netwk install it airport and we need to maintain those to make sure they are viable. Thank you, senator sinema. Thank you for joining us today, as you know, the faa walked Senate Confirmed leadership over a year end a half. The next administered will need to effectively evaluate aviation safety and air Traffic Control, short and longterm Workforce Development concerns and new technology so my first question, i agree sadie is top priority the responsibly of the faa, i appreciate your emphasis on not just maintaining the record but continuing to build upon it. I believe Pilot Training rules is a critical part of it of the u. S. Continues to lead the world and safety. Rather than waiting for tragedy or different to unhelpful rhetoric, its critical and trained the worlds best pilots. Each of the Senate Confirmed administrators since 1997 including michael. Two president of the aviation. These experts make clear significant technological advances in training and 15 years since the tragic air crash required to ensure the best Pilot Training continues. They argue incorporating this training and experience in structured and controlled way will be a margin of safety and commercial authorization. Its more than triple the amount of Simulator Training for pilots including air force base in arizona. Current rules appreciate military pilot regime so much that i was in the military need only 750 rather than the standard 1500 hours for the certificate. Its considered superior military training which incorporates the Simulator Training. Do you agree with these experts and former administrators using the letters produced safety for pilots without compromise . Thank you, senator. I do agree simulators are a viable training tool and we have seen that in Large Airlines with simulators that allow pilots to go through scenarios you would not want to in an aircraft. I think 1500 our role is law and we are open to anyway to accrue safety for the baseline, i think the challenge is there simulators and questions about what kind of training would be involved in the faa look at those issues and i look forward to seeing the results from the and we can continue to work on this issue. Thank you. Do you agree the responsibility of the faa with it, inc. Team letters and other systems into existing Pilot Training presumes and do you believe advanced simulators have a significant role to play in improving safety outcomes . I certainly agree advanced simulators can have significant role in the outcome. The challenge is facilitators he airlines use are much too expensive to be available pilots. The challenges define when is it appropriate for that kind of training, something we should be leaving. As Technology Evolves quickly, we have to figure out the way. Cost with Graphic Technology and interests in the case including advanced ability. I believe it incredible amounts. Can you speak to the next as well as different aid in the industry it appears in this critical time is typically what you believe are the most important thing is rising safety. I think next successful and significant in the air traffic system manages to pull together. As we did here today, traffic is controlled by satellite and medications are pushed out by data rather than voice so i think it was a Successful Transition so we need to talk about whats next whats next is new capability and technologies and what the platform looks like and how we incorporate commercial space and supersonic entrances into the market. There will be an immediate focus in a collaborative way. Thank you, thank you. Good to see you pop public, does that help enhance your experience when you served as deputy administrator . Thanks for taking the time last week. It was a viable thing and helped me understand this is appreciate what is at stake when youre up there. 2017, an alternate Certification Program known as basic medical 70000 pilots printedng line privileges. In march, fa reported Congress Hours under basic are just as safe as i was with third class what are your thoughts on the program enabling him congress rereauthorization google deadlie attached to them faa between missus english rules. My office announced faa congressional will make the 2012 reauthorization faa is not completed to this day. Faa misreporting deadlines for an average of 554 days and crucial information to legislate and conduct oversight report during your administrator or 678 days late on average. If confirmed, would you do to them confirm Meeting Congress places into law . I will do everything i can to make sure we are on schedule. Rulemaking is a frustrating thing from every perspective. By statute, i think we can all power within the faa to try to move back. We Work Together so successful, i hope we continue to Work Together. Ever since the wrightt brothers to carolina, america has been the world leader in the industry. Faa the Gold Standard for aircraft certification under and aviation safety. I want to see the Biden Administration from the go forward qualifiedid f nominee develop efficacy of classic over 550 days. Mr. Whitaker, if confirmed, i look forward to working with legitimate upcoming faa reauthorization and address the challenges facing aviation history today. Thank you go back. It has been a little rougher and his peers, a couple of things, asking about their pallets, falls a concern the committee has enemies and execute as well. All the technology was allowed how to understand from the it helps to understand abstract principles around navigation if you go through so that was the driving force to make a number of people, half wanted to spend time with him, its a dilemma ahead of the agency where you absolutely cant compromise safety and focusing on not to do their job and act and make a decision. The two hide behind standard groundsman do the job in an efficient way. I agree and we can allow safety to become an excuse for action and it does happen. Decisionmaking and a lot of we have and we often will will will will will will will be early area about, advanced air mobility, im sure you know and vermont we have a new Exciting Company justju yesterday open up facility and are governor was there, our entire congressional delegation goese into it and it will require relation and your thoughts about 8 00 a. M. And will have to play in facilitating the end a standard of safety. There is an opportunity for certification under existing role and probably need more aggressive set of rules and technology. Good luck to you and welcome. Thank you much for visiting my office. I will follow up on my colleague from vermont was talking about, my local airport has been to vermont to look at this and not using the same term, electric vertical takeoff and landing, i am assuming are talking about the same, similar think so this would be next generation. The centers of excellence and also innovators in terms of where we take this. What ideas would you have in terms of where the faa might be helpful in building out infrastructure needed from how do you envision stuff like that . They are dealing with the infrastructure but for the faa we are following the path company so as we need infrastructure to respond to the for opportunity, cost means the process lower so it lowers your home and opened up a market. I do to and it is less cluttered airspace to handle the innovation. In 2020 it seems like another neverending story of the dod has gone 5g spectrum. This created significant issues in this committee and i am wondering, would you commit to being a strong advocate to speak to avoid these similar issues . Work these things out so we dont lay it at the table to decide which direction to go. I think collaboration is good way to avoid understanding and rates the r alignment on these issues. Let me go back thank you for that. Air service, i can speak from experience is not expanding in terms of availability. There has been Different Things that have come into play, an area such as mine, you see loss of Rural Air Service and an urgent problem . How can you work to address that . I think ithi is a serious ise that needs addressed. I think have a command has been such that it has left our communities beyond the i think we want to encourage as many people into the profession as we can, rising salaries will help draw people in to this profession but we want to make sure we support that effort as well by keeping airports up to Safety Standards improving to attract. I think im a Pilot Shortage issue, we just had women in aviation expo around the state to encourage and have a broader, more women but also different types of populations. We have several pallets grown in the last several years so i am encouraged by that. Let me ask you and prior experience, coming as it to the tower, how important is thatha o have your onsite visit and how does it inform your work Going Forward . I was a frequent visitor to facilities around the country, both in large urban areas but also remote areas including contract hours it is key to hear voices on the ground, usually opinions about what Technology Pay should have my good way understand how the systems operate. Coming from a montanist rural area, having eyes on the runway is pretty significant. It can come in pretty quick targeted last week and we have to go back around and try again so i urge that, its amazing how much better on over the years, more accurate but the rural airports need that. Thank you. Thank you, madam chair. I would like to discuss resiliency of our Aviation System, nothing runways and london. Last year rising sea levels, increased turbulence, Climate Changes significantly impacting our Aviation System do you agree Climate Change poses new challenges for airlines, airports and the faa. I think we saw last week with runways beingin flooded and therefore has its own issues but sometimes that is the question of drainage but i think we need to. Do you believe all parties in the system need to invest in more resiliency . I think the airlines are investing in the equation. Thats my two of my bills to address thiss issue, infrastructure resiliency act senator sullivan as i filed an amendment to the faa. There is no time to lose. I want to turn to another issue related to airport resiliency. Airport service workers. These individuals are the Unsung Heroes of our Aviation System but they arebu often overworked and underpaid. Our airports would not function if these essential workers like baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, and ramp agents did that do their jobs. Mr. Whitaker, do you agree Airport Service workers areo critical to the operation and reliability of our Aviation System . I certainly agree they are critical to that system. I i agree. And thats why with senator schumer i havee been fighting to include my good jobs for good airports act in the faa reauthorization bill. The bill would help to ensure that Airport Service workers are paid a living wage in benefits. Its time we repay the benefits of these workers deserve. We could see it during the pandemic where they had to go to work. They had to take the risks which others did not have to take. It is absolutely imperative that we have a fairer distribution of the incredible benefits that are flowing to airports increasingly in terms of how its shared. That is not happening and senator schumer and chair cantwell and ire are committed o continue to work in order to ensure we conclude that any faa reauthorization. I would like to finally turn to aviation safety. Over the past year weve seen a scary number of near misses between aircraft. In fact, in one instance two planes at actually struck what another at bostons local y airport in my home state. Fortunately the two claims were barely moving when the wings clipped each other and no one was injured. But it was yetit another remindr about the risk of air travel. I knew other members have asked you about it, but i would like you once again just to expand on the prioritization of safety that you will bring to the faa. Thank you, senator. Clearly cost safety is a number one priority. These near misses, these incursions that the Company Number of categories, at a think what we need to do is really drive the most series once down to level of zero. Thats not been the case before but that needs to be our target. When i was a boy my aunt mary would travel around the world and go to logan airport. My brothers and i would take her over to machine were should buy an insurance policy on her life. Iof remember those. Added logan airport. And hand us the insurance policy on her life which of course as we were kissing her goodbye, left us with mixed emotions. [laughing] what is about to happen to our aunt mary . We have come a way from that at the airport. But still there are families that you with the incidents now in airports across the country thank you for good work. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you. Seeing not in my coat on the side on the screen, we will go back to keep on the site, senator baldwin. Thank you, madam chair. Mr. Whitaker, thank you so much for your willingness to return to Public Service at this critical moment for the faa. I wanted to ask you about the agencies ongoing efforts to support airports in the transition away from firefighting foams that contain pfas. I will say that the issue facing so many of my immunities in wisconsin where public wealth, municipal wealth airports have led to pfas contamination in the Drinking Water system which costsll millions of dollars in both shortterm and longterm remediation efforts. In early may i said i bipartisan letter with several of my colleagues on the committee to the faa asking that the agency complete its transition plan by early may. And im encouraged to note that that transition plan was completed and the very first pfas free foamer was approved by the faa last month. However, many airports throughout wisconsin continue to have questions about t transitin and are anxiousna for Additional Guidance and clarity from the agency. Of we fielded a number of questions and forwarded them to the agency. So when you commit to ensuring that this transition is a top priority for the agency and the faa is responsive to airports that have anyny questions and nd guidance . Yes, senator i will. This is new issue for me. Ive come to learnce about and just in recent weeks by the anderson faa has worked closely with dod to have an appropriate transition and we will make sure that that continue. I appreciate that. Another topic. Earlier this year i worked with my colleague store sullivan to introduce Bipartisan Legislation called the flight educationon access act. This would ensure the pilot profession is accessible to warn people are raising the amount of federal Student Loans available. Its a more costly educational program. This was one of the topav recommendations of the women in aviation Advisory Boards final report and ime encouraged by e strong support we have received for the legislation, including from a wideranging groups of airlines and pilot unions. Given your leadership in aviation, including at the faa and at a major airline, do you believe that additional financial tools likeol Student Loans may help more people enter the aviation workforce . I do and i think as many initiatives as we can muster to make it easier for two into this profession is very expensive to become a pilot. Its an Investment Banking to become a lawyer or doctor financially. I think if you want more pilots we need to make that pathway more affordable. Thank you. One final question. I had been working closely with aviation subcommittee chair duck with for years on access to air travel for individuals with disabilities. Duckworth in the last the we progress on the issue and were hopeful that the reauthorization the bill wee working on now will continue to mamake meaningful change in this arena. Mr. Mr. Whitaker, im interested in your thoughts about faa can continue to break down barriers for individuals with disabilities. And if confirmed what you commit to making this a top 40 . I will make itth a top priority. By all means theres every reason to make sure we move this as aggressively as possible in the space. Thank you. Thank you. Senator blumenthal. Thank you very much. I believe senator hickenlooper is going to be next. I am more than happy to call on senator hickenlooper. I apologize and appreciate, i have to go preside. We dont want the wheels of democracy to grind to a halt. Mr. Whitaker, thank you for your visityo last week. Thank you for your willingness to serve. Communities and address centennial colorado across our state have consistently to do with excessive noise of lowflying aircraft getting worse and worse. We are working to ensure a longterm authorization bill for the faa gives communities a seat at the table to resolve noise related concerns and have their concerns heard. If your confirmed we work with us to getting with the concerns of aircraft was . Thank you, senator. I certainly wouldld at a a thk engage with the community in the circumstance is crucial and can often result in understandings about operational limitations althat can only mitigate some of that noise. Perfect. Also big deal d in colorado is regional air service. Its a lifeline in many cases to Rural Communities all aroundd hr state and around the country, a big part of their economic development. In colorado some of our rural committees, grand junction, cortez, suffered dramatic reductions in air service over the lastct few years we also ned to strengthen the essential air service to ensure airlines on of the contracts that they sign with these rural areas. If your confirmed what improvements would you make to the eas program to improve what improvements would you make to improve itsrm longterm. A reliability . For the faa civil we can play really is to make sure the airports have the proper infrastructure, proper safety technology. The eas program itself is administered of course out of the dot. We support duty on that by having adequate airports. I think also encouraging your technology that might be available for those Country Technology to do forms of flight electric flights that i think our Service Offer for some of those cost some of those locations. So we can help facilitate their entry into service. Great. Lastr question. Obviously fighting Climate Change has been one of the greatest challenges we face. Clery Aviation Fuels, more efficient technologies are going to be able to reduce carbon and pollution coming out of the aviation sector. We have heard a lot of coloradans come to our office talk about the impact of related Aviation Fuels on public health, their air quality. We need to ensure that new types of Aviation Fuels and technology that are widely availablele and affordable especially for Regional Airports beforely we me their consumption requirements my perspective on this got it confirm how would you strike a balance between incentivizing and recognize how important it is to have more efficient Aviation Fuel and technology but also ensuring they are widely available for the entire aviation sector . Thank you, senator. I know this is an issue the faa and industry have worked on for many years and that theres a plan to try to make that transition by 2030. I think we need to continue to engage with ga, with airports to make sure we make the transition alsoal dont interrupt flight training, for example, x i think its going to involve a lot of collaboration to deliver that. I see the urgency in your voice and i yield back. Senator lujan. Thank you chair cantwell and mr. Whitaker, thank you for being here today and for accepting the responsibility as the representative laid out with coming forward to serve. Senator welch also said something along those lines. So thank you for accepting that responsibility. Thank you. Now, as you know i am from new mexico and new mexico is known for many, many beautiful landscapes and mountains, i weather, our sun rises got our incredible airspace which we protect. But in the next few weeks are going to be celebrating the International Balloon fiesta which is a largest hot air balloon gathering in the world. And there comes responsibility the faa pursuant to the International Balloon fiesta. Ive been proud to work with many of the blueness community in this particular space. Mr. Whitaker, to ensure that the faa would not bar hot air balloon operation flight in the city, airspace. As the technology emerge i know these issues will continue to come up as faa works to continue keep our airspace safety of my question to you is if confirmed do you pledge to keep in mind the unique needs and limitation facing hotair balloon operators as you will let regulations related to new technologies and airspace access . Thank you, senator. I think an interesting question. Weve talked a lot about new entrants in the airspace. Thats an old entry i think any airspace, so i think one of the key principles for the new entrance that the existing services can operate efficiently and unimpeded by the new entrance. So i would categorize balloons as part of that csi can give you that commitment. I appreciate that. If theres one thing we can all agree on its at the faa needs strong leadership. After winter and Summer Travel season rife with delays, technological disruptions, staffing issues, its time we can from it faa administered to get our Aviation System back on track. Now one part of the Aviation System that needs immediate attention is air Traffic Control. Mr. Whitaker, as you know, right now there are shortages and staffing across the country, forcing our control is to work intent schedules with long and longer hours. When we do not take good care of our air Traffic Controllers it puts the efficiency and safety of our Aviation System at risk fortunately there are some actions we can take together to improve the health of our air Traffic Control systems. Now, mr. Whitaker, yes or no, do you support efforts to ensure the faa is hiring and training as manyma controllers as are needed each year to address existing shortages . Yes, sir that will be a top priority. Mr. Whitaker, yes or no to support efforts to fix the way we calculate the number of air Traffic Controllers that our Aviation System needs we are leaving this hearing here as the u. S. Senate is about to gavel in. Senators are expected to vote on the nomination of Michael Whitaker to be the administrator of the federal aviation administration. Also this afternoon work on the nomination of jessica to be the head of the Labor Department wage and hour division. Live coverage of u. S. Senate here on cspan2