Trump tips Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford as new FAA head

Photo: Republic Airways

30-year airline veteran Bryan Bedford (above), currently chief executive of US regional carrier Republic Airways, has been named by Donald Trump as the new head of the Federal Aviation Administration, according to this report from Politico.

“If confirmed, Bedford will have to lead the agency through the biggest set of challenges it’s faced in decades,” says the report. “That includes finding a way to hire more air traffic controllers, updating antiquated facilities, and navigating the fallout from a mid-air collision last month that killed 67 people.”

It added that Mr Bedford has had previous dealings with the FAA – in 2022, he unsuccessfully applied for a waiver from regulations that commercial pilots required 1,500 hours of flight time, arguing that the rules were exacerbating the country’s pilot shortage.

His appointment appears to have been warmly welcomed by the industry, with Atlas Air CEO Michael Steen, and the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association, posting positive notes. There is, perhaps, some relief that the role didn’t go to a Fox News air transport correspondent, but to an experienced airline CEO.