The Senate has unanimously approved Michael Whitaker as the new administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ending a nearly 19-month vacancy in the agency's top position. Whitaker, a former deputy FAA administrator and the former COO of an air taxi development company, will take over an agency dealing with several challenges. These challenges include a surge in close calls between planes at major airports, a shortage of air traffic controllers, and aging technology that led to a temporary nationwide halt in flights earlier this year.

Whitaker's confirmation was widely expected after he received unanimous endorsement from the Senate Commerce Committee last week. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell stated that Whitaker's priorities would be to build a strong safety culture, attract new talent, and keep pace with technology advancements.

Whitaker's confirmation comes after the failed nomination of Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport, due to opposition from Republicans and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. The FAA had been without a Senate-confirmed administrator since March 2022.

As the new FAA administrator, Whitaker will face the challenge of addressing the agency's staffing shortage, modernizing its aging technology, and ensuring the safety of the flying public. He has expressed a commitment to focusing on safety, hiring, and technology upgrades. The FAA is also seeking to eliminate near misses between planes and address the growing presence of flying taxis and drones in the airspace.