Well, here we go again. After just one year, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker is on his way out. Typically, FAA Administrators are appointed to fulfill a 5-year term. However, a quick search of previous FAA Administrators going back to the creation of the agency shows a stream of short-term sentences. There are very few FAA leaders that have actually completed their duly appointed 5-year term. The 22 previous administrators have served an average of less than three years. This revolving door in its top leadership position has presented a void in strategic vision and a failure to pursue innovative opportunities. Without this leadership at the helm there is a clear danger of failure to implement needed reforms, invest in aviation systems, and integrate appropriate safety measures. In fact, the FAA is still struggling to recover its reputation and restore trust following the Boeing 737 MAX debacle of 2019. In addition, the agency has not kept up with the meteoric technological advances in the aviation industry and is at a great disadvantage in their role as the safety regulator.
As the new administration comes in, one bent on a focus of de-regulation, my concern is that aviation safety may be once again placed in peril. This should concern anyone who plans on any air travel in the near future. After all, as Sully once said, “We can no longer define safety as the absence of accidents.”