On Wednesday, the U. S. Senate voted to approve Steve Dickson, former head of Delta Airlines, as the Director of the FAA. Dickson’s immediate challenge is to manage the perception that the FAA was too cozy with Boeing and its inspection and certification process in the wake of to 737 MAX aircraft crashes.
Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga) said, “He is a capable leader with a proven ability to manage large organizations. At Delta, Captain Dickson worked to improve safety standards, and he is committed to ensuring aviation safety remains the FAA’s top priority.”
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., called Dickson “the wrong man for the FAA” largely on allegations of how one pilot was treated for voicing safety concerns.
The former Delta employee was appointed for a five-year term to head the FAA.