Washington, DC, October 25, 2022. Media contact: media@raa.org
The Regional Airline Association congratulated Michael Whitaker on his Senate confirmation as Federal Aviation Administration Administrator. We applaud the U.S. Senate for the unanimous confirmation, which sends a clear signal that Whitaker is the right leader for the FAA and will take the helm with strong lawmaker support.
RAA thanks the Senate Commerce Committee and the leadership of Chair Maria Cantwell and Ranking Member Ted Cruz—and appreciates the important support from House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves and Ranking Member Larsen—for leading this remarkable, bipartisan confirmation.
Whitaker’s experience working across numerous aviation sectors and in public service make him the right person for the job at a critical time in aviation. On behalf of our members, we look forward to working cooperatively with the Administrator on the many pressing issues facing our industry, including modernization of pilot training, addressing critical workforce shortages, including pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers, and safely meeting demand as new entrants are integrated into our airspace system.
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About RAA
The Regional Airline Association (RAA) provides a unified voice of advocacy for North American regional airlines aimed at promoting a safe, reliable and strong regional airline industry. RAA serves as an important support network connecting regional airlines and industry business partners. In the United States, regional airlines operate 41% of scheduled passenger flights and provide the only source of scheduled air service to 67% of the nation’s airports. Regional airlines provide 75% or more of the air service in Alabama (81%), Alaska (88%), Arkansas (81%), Iowa (78%), Kansas (82%), Maine (79%), Mississippi (82%), North Dakota (88%), South Dakota (85%), Vermont (92%), West Virginia (91%). Regional airlines provide half or more of the air service in Idaho (73%), Indiana (59%), Kentucky (60%), Michigan (57%), Montana (73%), Nebraska (60%), New Hampshire (69%), New Mexico (63%), North Carolina (55%), Ohio (52%), Oklahoma (55%), Oregon (54%), Pennsylvania (59%), Rhode Island (67%), South Carolina (57%), Utah (58%), Wisconsin (67%), and Wyoming (64%).