The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) decisionmaking and its role within the Trump administration bubbled to the forefront this week after the agency reversed course and grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 planes amid safety concerns and mounting political pressure. The agency has long been considered a global leader in flight safety. But it lagged behind its international counterparts in temporarily suspending the Boeing jets after a Max 8 plane was involved in a crash for the second time in recent months. The incident underscored the importance of the FAA, which has gone without a permanent leader for more than a year. Trump previously considered his personal pilot for the job before moving on, and now has reportedly landed on former Delta Airlines executive Steve Dickson for the post. ADVERTISEMENT A White House official told The Hill that acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell has the president's confidence. The president, who launched the long-defunct Trump Shuttle airline service and took credit for aviation safety in 2017, earlier this week said that planes “are becoming far too complex to fly.” He has portrayed the grounding order as a precautionary safety measure. “I hope it's going to be for a short period of time,” Trump told reporters Thursday in the Oval Office. The FAA has defended its decisionmaking, insisting that it did not take action until it had the data to justify grounding planes. Agency leaders briefed members of the House Transportation Committee on Thursday morning about the grounding order. While lawmakers have overwhelmingly supported the decision, they have indicated the FAA and Boeing won't escape congressional oversight. “We’re going to go through this, we’re going to continue to collect the data,” Rep. Sam Graves Samuel (Sam) Bruce GravesGOP lawmaker points to Colonial Pipeline as infrastructure vulnerability Gas shortages spread to more states Republicans welcome the chance to work with Democrats on a bipartisan infrastructure bill MORE (R-Mo. ), the ranking member on the House Transportation Committee, said on Fox Business Network. “The House and the Senate will take a look at this, but hopefully we can get this restriction lifted and get the flying public back on track as soon as possible.” Reps. Peter DeFazio Peter Anthony DeFazioHouse Democrats introduce bill to close existing gun loopholes and prevent mass shootings Democrats seek answers from Boeing, FAA after production issues with 737 Max, Dreamliner jets Hillicon Valley: Global cybersecurity leaders say they feel unprepared for attack | Senate Commerce Committee advances Biden's FTC nominee Lina Khan | Senate panel approves bill that would invest billions in tech MORE (D-Ore.) and Rick Larsen Richard (Rick) Ray LarsenDemocrats seek answers from Boeing, FAA after production issues with 737 Max, Dreamliner jets Democrats debate fast-track for infrastructure package LIVE COVERAGE: House votes to name Speaker MORE (D-Wash.), the chairmen of the House Transportation Committee and its Subcommittee on Aviation, respectively, said they plan to conduct “rigorous oversight to get to the bottom of the FAA’s decisionmaking process.” On the Senate side, Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzGOP senators introduce resolution condemning antisemitic violence amid 'horrific' spike in attacks O'Rourke considering Texas governor bid: report Cruz planning resolution to support arms sales to Israel MORE (R-Texas) said following the grounding order that he will hold a hearing with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation and Space to address concerns surrounding two recent crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max 8. Countries began grounding the planes soon after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed on Sunday, killing all 157 people on board. In October, 189 people were killed when Lion Air Flight 610 crashed off the coast of Indonesia. Both planes were Max 8s. The FAA said in its grounding order that new satellite images and data gathered and analyzed Wednesday at the site of the Ethiopian Airlines crash “indicates some similarities” between the two flights “that warrant further investigation of the possibility of a shared cause for the two incidents that needs to be better understood and addressed.” But the decision came too late for some lawmakers, dozens of whom had pressed the agency to ground the planes. By the time the FAA acted, the U.S. was the last major country where Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 planes were still flying. ADVERTISEMENT “It does look bad. It looks suspicious that one day after all these other countries have announced the grounding that the United States announces it, but I truly believe that it was because of this new information and this new data,” said Jeff Guzzetti, who retired last month as the director of the FAA’s accident investigation division. “I think they made the right decision, and I don’t know how much of that was driven by the political pressure,” he added. This week marks the second time this year the agency has been an area of concern for lawmakers. A number of politicians, industry officials and union leaders worried during a recent 35-day shutdown that mass furloughs at the FAA could affect airline safety. The agency eventually recalled roughly 2,200 inspectors and engineers before the shutdown ended. Media reports in recent days suggested the shutdown and issues with the 737 Max planes were linked, and that the lapse in funding led to a delay in software development for the aircraft. Elwell said Wednesday that was not the case. A former military and airline pilot who has worked closely with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Elaine ChaoTop Democrat: FCC actions are a 'potential setback' to autonomous vehicles The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Tax March - US vaccine effort takes hit with Johnson & Johnson pause Gingrich on Trump-McConnell feud: GOP 'better off' focusing on Democrats MORE, Elwell has led the agency in an acting capacity since January. The agency downplayed any concerns over the lack of a permanent leader. “The effectiveness of the FAA’s robust aircraft certification and safety oversight systems do not depend on any individual or group of individuals,” the agency said in a statement to The Hill.<doc-sep>NEW A vastly improved search engine helps you find the latest on companies, business leaders, and news more easily.<doc-sep>A mural of George Floyd is shown in the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Community members continue preparations during the third day in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with multiple counts of murder in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani did an on-camera interview with One America News Network's Chanel Rion before talking to other journalists about Vice President Joe Biden and the news that Russian intelligence may have paid Taliban operatives to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Begun in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Here's what reported grand jury in Trump case may look like NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: People walk past the Trump Tower as the impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins in Washington on February 09, 2021 in New York City. After listening to nearly four hours of legal arguments, the Senate has voted on Tuesday to move ahead with the impeachment trial of former President Trump. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Report: US companies may have benefited from forced labor of Uyghurs WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the conflict in the Middle East from Cross- Hall of the White House on May 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Israel and Hamas announced that they would agree to a cease-fire, which will take into effect on Friday, following days of fighting that claimed more than 200 lives. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 26: A view of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light-rail yard where a mass shooting occurred on May 26, 2021 in San Jose, California. A VTA employee opened fire at the yard, with preliminary reports indicating nine people dead including the gunman. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Getty Images) A healthcare worker prepares to administer a Pfizer/BioNTEch coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Ontario on December 14, 2020. - Ontario, Canada's most populous province and one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, had 1,940 new cases and 23 deaths on Monday. The province is expected to give its next doses to nursing home workers as a priority, according to media reports. (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Never seen levels like this': Union president on airline passenger misconduct Memorial Day weekend will bring rain and cool air for much of the East (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated a former Delta Airlines executive to become the new administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration as the country’s airlines continue coping with the grounding of Boeing 737 Max jets. The White House said Trump was naming Steve Dickson, who retired recently as Delta’s vice president for flight operations, to the FAA role. The agency had been without a permanent chief for more than a year. The administrator role was filled in an acting capacity by Daniel Elwell for 14 months. Dickson had been eyed by the White House for months to take the job, though action on his nomination wasn’t taken until Tuesday. Trump made the selection before the current controversy surrounding the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max jets, the aircraft involved in two deadly crashes over the past several months. Last week, Trump announced from the White House the jets wouldn’t be permitted to fly until Boeing determines they are safe. His announcement came ahead of any official word from the FAA, and caught some officials off-guard. Until the announcement, the agency had insisted the planes were safe. Later, officials said new evidence from the scene of a crash in Ethiopia led them to follow the lead of other nations in grounding the plane. In assuming the post – which carries a term of five years – Dickson will come to work for a President with distinct views of air travel and aviation. A longtime user of a private Boeing 757, Trump at one point wanted to name his personal pilot, John Dunkin, to the FAA job but faced questions about Dunkin’s qualifications. As the Boeing crisis unfolded, Trump lamented on Twitter that planes were “becoming far to complex to fly,” and advocated for removing some of the technology that has been installed inside cockpits. Dickson is a pilot himself, who began his career in the military and later flew commercial aircraft including the Boeing 727, 737, 757 and 767 planes. In his post at Delta he was responsible for flight safety and pilot training.<doc-sep>Delta issued a statement Tuesday calling Dickson “an admired and impactful leader who will serve the FAA and our country well.” The company said he “has the proven record and expertise to lead the efforts to improve our nation’s aviation system and ensure the safety and efficiency of our skies.” The airline added, “We have no doubt that he will lead the FAA with the integrity and leadership that he has demonstrated throughout his career.” The Atlantan’s nomination had been rumored for months. Trump was also reportedly eyeing his personal pilot for the role, a proposition that drew resistance from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Dickson is the first senior airline executive to be appointed to lead the agency in roughly three decades, according to The Wall Street Journal. The roughly 45,000-person agency has been led by an acting head since January 2018. The FAA has recently faced a barrage of criticism about its safety standards and cozy relationship with airlines and aircraft manufacturers in the wake of two fatal crashes of Boeing 737 Max jetliners in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Trump grounded the Max 8 and Max 9 planes last week. Prior to that announcement, the FAA had stopped short of grounding the aircraft. It said its review showed “no systemic performance issues and provides no basis to order grounding the aircraft.” Delta does not have Boeing’s Max 8 or Max 9 airplanes in its fleet. But Southwest Airlines, the second-largest carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, is among the U.S. airlines that fly the Boeing 737 Max 8. In addition to investigating the recent 737 Max jetliner crashes, the FAA is also at the center of debates on new drone regulations and talks to overhaul the air traffic control system. Dickson spoke out against a push to privatize the latter while at Delta. In 2016, he said separating air traffic control from the FAA would disrupt work on the modernization of the air traffic control system known as NextGen. He said at the time that such a move would be "reckless," and he added: "We believe the more that is known of the details of this proposal, the more opposition it will face." The following year, after Trump said he’d push a plan to spin off air traffic control from the FAA, Delta softened its stance against privatization of the system. However, the effort seeking air traffic control privatization ended last year after failing to garner enough support. Under Dickson’s leadership, Delta in 2009 reinstated a program for voluntary reporting of safety concerns. He said in a written statement then that such voluntary reporting programs “are critical to identifying, understanding and correcting safety events” and could help with “the systematic identification and resolution of potential hazards and human errors, with the full cooperation of all interested parties.” Later, Dickson represented Delta’s position on contentious issues in labor negotiations with pilots. Responding to Dickson’s nomination, the Air Line Pilots Association union said it “comes at a particularly critical time for the FAA, and it is our hope and expectation that the first order of business for him will be to reaffirm the agency’s steadfast commitment to safety.” The National Air Traffic Controllers Association union said Dickson has been a “staunch advocate for aviation safety,” and the National Business Aviation Association, which represents corporate jet users, called his understanding of the national air transportation system and air traffic modernization “second to none.” Stay on top of what’s happening in Georgia government and politics at ajc.com/news/georgia-government/.<doc-sep>
Steve Dickson is a former Delta Airlines executive expected to be nominated by President Donald Trump as the new permanent head of the Federal Aviation Administration, The Wall Street Journal reports. The FAA has not had a permanent in the 14 months since former chief Michael Huerta stepped down. The agency is being led by acting head Dan Elwell, a former airline lobbyist and pilot. Dickson is a former Air Force fighter pilot who went on to become a commercial pilot for Delta, where he has worked for 27 years. Dickson retired as the company’s senior vice president for flight operations last year. The reported move comes as the FAA comes under increased scrutiny over their handling of issues surrounding Boeing’s 737 MAX plane before a second crash involving the jet in five months last week. Here’s what you need to know: 1. Steve Dickson Worked for Delta Airlines for 27 Years WSJ: White House is expected to announce as soon as today the nomination of Steve Dickson, a former senior Delta Air Lines official, as permanent FAA chief https://t.co/wo1NwSwvhI — Tim Hanrahan (@TimJHanrahan) March 19, 2019 Dickson, who stepped down last fall as senior vice president of global flight operations after 27 years at Delta, was first reported to be Trump’s pick to head the FAA last November. At Delta, Dickson oversaw more than 13,000 pilots and a support team of about 400 at the company’s Atlanta headquarters. Dickson previously served as a pilot for the airline and has flown numerous models of Boeing and Airbus planes. 2. Dickson is a Former Air Force Officer & Fighter Pilot Steve Dickson to be nominated as FAA head: Dow JonesThe White House will nominate Steve Dickson as the permanent head of the FAA. He was previously a Delta Air Lines pilot and senior flight executive. CNBC's Phil LeBeau reports. » Subscribe to CNBC: cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you… 2019-03-19T20:24:18.000Z Dickson began his flying career in the Air Force where he was an F-15 fighter pilot. Dickson rose through the ranks to become an officer in the Air Force. He also earned his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences from the United States Air Force Academy. 3. Dickson is Trump’s ‘Compromise’ Choice Trump announces plan to overhaul national air traffic control systemPresident Trump announced June 5 his plan to modernize the air traffic control system and separate it from the FAA. 2017-06-05T21:30:45.000Z Dickson was previously reported as Trump’s “leading compromise choice” to head the FAA after Senate Republicans balked at Trump’s plan to nominate his personal pilot the head the agency, according to Reuters. Dickson is said to be at odds with Trump’s call to split Air Traffic Control from the FAA. “The FAA has been trying to upgrade our nation’s air traffic control system for a long period of years,” Trump said in June of 2017. “But after billions and billions of tax dollars spent and the many years of delays, we are still stuck with an ancient, broken, antiquated, horrible system that doesn’t work.” As a Delta executive, Dickson argued that it was imperative to keep air traffic control within the agency. “It can certainly improve, but it’s not broken,” he told Politico at the time. “We set a bunch of operational records this year, and we would not have been able to do that if the air traffic control system were broken. Having said that, there are certainly opportunities to improve.” “The best path to move forward is to continue to collaborate with the FAA under the existing structure — keep the FAA together as an entity,” he said, adding that “a lot easier from a process perspective to be dealing with one agency as we’re trying to put improvements into the system.” 4. Trump Previously Wanted His Personal Pilot to Head FAA Trump's personal pilot to run FAA?Jokes fly over President Trump's plan, according to an Axios report, to have his personal pilot head the Federal Aviation Administration. CNN's Jeanne Moos wonders if the idea will take off. 2018-02-27T02:34:10.000Z The choice of Dickson comes after Trump’s failed bid to install his longtime personal pilot John Dunkin to head the FAA. Dunkin worked for Trump since 1989, The Washington Post reported. Trump administration officials attempted to make the case for Dunkin after Senate Republicans expressed concerns about his nomination. “John Dunkin isn’t just a pilot,” an administration official told Axios at the time.