A pilot, a labor relations consultant, and the former president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), ATP-rated Randy Babbitt, is now officially president Barack Obama's choice to serve as FAA administrator. Babbitt's nomination must now pass the Senate before he can set to the present priorities of (and problems posed by) air traffic control modernization and funding authorization. The FAA has been operating since 2007 without official funding reauthorization, but under temporary funding extensions. Hot-topic issues yet to be resolved revolve mainly around funding plans and the possibility of user fees that go beyond current taxation methods and do not exclude general aviation operations. AOPA offered a statement, Friday, welcoming the announcement of Babbitt's nomination and looking forward to working with the new administrator, once confirmed. Babbitt's nomination is viewed as "labor friendly" and is supported by ALPA and the Air Transport Association whose president James May called Babbit "a superb choice."
ALPA's current president, John Prater, called Babbitt, "a powerful leader who promises to direct the FAA with staunch determination and a deep understanding of the aviation industry." AVweb has received at least one email showing concern over Babbitt's nomination. One reader supposes that Babbitt's actions during the Eastern Airlines strike "helped destroy an airline and many careers." We get a lot of emails.
Source: AVweb.com
