Washington, DC, September 7, 2023. Media contact: media@raa.org
RAA applauds the nomination of Michael Whitaker for Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Whitaker has solid aviation experience and has earned a reputation for strong, fair leadership. Whitaker’s nomination comes at a critical time for the FAA, when filling the Agency’s top role is imperative to retain the highest level of safety.
RAA CEO Faye Malarkey Black noted: “We believe Michael is the kind of ‘roll up your sleeves’ leader that FAA needs to meet this moment. If he is confirmed, we look forward to cooperating on major industry challenges from protecting and evolving Safety Management System programs to advancing the world-class pilot training standards.”
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%).