Cantwell Keeps Commitment to Safety with 737 MAX Oversight Hearing to Ensure Safety Reforms are Being Met
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, questioned FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen today on the status and implementation of aviation safety reforms required in the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act (ACSAA), which Congress passed following the tragic 737 MAX crashes. Sen. Cantwell emphasized the need for transparency to ensure the FAA is meeting key deadlines, including workforce reviews to build a technical workforce.
Cantwell Opening Remarks at MAX Aviation Safety Oversight Hearing
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered the following opening remarks during today’s hearing with Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen on the status and implementation of aviation safety reforms outlined in in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (ACSAA) which Congress passed following the tragic MAX-8 crashes. Sen. Cantwell authored the aviation safety legislation and it was signed into law on December 27, 2020.
Past FAA Administrators Endorse Phil Washington, Biden’s Nominee for FAA Administrator
Former FAA Administrators today rebuked Republicans’ distortion of the aviation qualifications needed to effectively lead the agency, and publicly endorsed Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next Administrator, citing his invaluable safety experience, record of successfully managing large, complex organizations and his decades of public service.
Powerful Airport Workers Union Says Phil Washington’s Bold Leadership Needed at FAA
On behalf of 36,000 airport service employees across the country, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced its strong endorsement of Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next FAA Administrator.
Republicans Get Lesson On What It Takes To Run An Airport
During his nomination hearing last week to serve as FAA Administrator, Republicans questioned Phil Washington’s experience as CEO of Denver International Airport – the 3rd largest airport in the country – asserting the job doesn’t have anything to do with safety or aviation. In a letter to the Committee, the President of Airports Council International – North America, which represents more than 300 airports in the U.S. and Canada and more than 400 aviation-related businesses, refuted Republicans, outlining the extensive responsibilities that come with running an airport, such as meeting a complex set of FAA safety requirements in order to obtain and keep an airport operating certificate, ensuring safety of passengers, aircraft operations and facilities, and overseeing billions of dollars in safety investment projects.
Cantwell, Democrats: Phil Washington is a Proven Leader With a Mission for Safety
Today, during a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation nomination hearing for Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to be the next Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee, and other Committee Democratic members focused on the nominee’s qualifications and extensive history leading complex transportation systems, ensuring that safety is a top priority for the nation’s aviation safety Administrator.
Democrats: Phil Washington is Ready to Lead Our Nation’s Aviation Safety Agency
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today delivered the following opening statement during the nomination hearing for Phil Washington, President Biden’s choice to serve as the next administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration. Introductory remarks from Colorado Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) are also below.
Cantwell Calls for “True Redundancy”; Gives FAA One Week to Respond With Plan
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today directed the Acting FAA Administrator to return within a week with an immediate plan for building a reliable, separate back up system to ensure true redundancy for the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system.
Cantwell: “For the United States to be the leader in aviation, we must set the global standard for aviation safety.”
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing with Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen on last month’s FAA NOTAM system failure and ensuring the safety and security of our nation’s airspace. Cantwell also pointed to the lack of diversity in aviation, calling for continued work to encourage more women to enter the aviation industry.
Cantwell: The FAA Must Be the Global Standard
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the below statement ahead of the Wednesday, February 15, hearing with Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen regarding the causes and impacts of the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system outage on January 11, 2023, which prompted Nolan to issue the first nation-wide ground stop since 9/11: