By David Shepardson
(Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after the agency has been without a permanent leader for 18 months.
Nominee Michael Whitaker, a former deputy FAA administrator, won support from the committee's top Republican Ted Cruz after his Oct. 4 confirmation hearing in which Whitaker said the agency must address a persistent air traffic controller shortage. The committee also approved the nominations of three nominees for the Federal Trade Commission.
Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell told reporters she hoped Whitaker can be confirmed before acting FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg steps down next week.
The FAA has been without a Senate-confirmed administrator for 18 months after the prior nominee withdrew.
Whitaker said the FAA must address a spate of near-miss airplane incidents and "really drive the most serious ones down to a level of zero."
The FAA in September said it would again extend cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2024. New York Terminal Radar Approach Control staffing is just at 54% of recommended levels.
U.S. airlines have expressed growing frustration with air traffic control staff shortages.
A government watchdog said in June critical air traffic facilities face significant staffing challenges, posing risks to air traffic operations. At several facilities, controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks to cover shortages.
Whitaker has said he was not involved in the certification of the Boeing (NYSE:BA) 737 MAX when he was deputy FAA administrator. The plane was grounded worldwide for 20 months after two fatal 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019.
Boeing is awaiting FAA certification of the 737 MAX 7, a small version of the best-selling plane.
In July, Boeing said the first MAX 7 delivery had been delayed to 2024.