The current CEO of Republic Airways leads the list of several candidates for the position of chief of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). If he is appointed, a conflict of interest threatens, because as CEO of the airline, his goal is to maximize profits. The primary task of the FAA chief, however, is to do everything possible to ensure air traffic safety, which would result in higher costs for airlines. Several crashes in recent weeks have clearly demonstrated how precarious the security situation in the United States is, partly due to a shortage of security professionals.
The FAA position has been vacant since January 20, when FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stepped down a little more than one year into a five-year term when Trump took office.
Bedford, a pilot and industry veteran of more than 30 years, previously headed two other carriers and oversaw a significant expansion of Republic Airways.
Indiana-based Republic is one of the biggest regional airlines in North America, operating a fleet of more than 200 Embraer aircraft with 900 daily flights in the United States and Canada. The flights operate under airline partner brands American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Tuesday (11MAR25) that he intends to ask Congress for tens of billions of dollars to overhaul the nation’s aging air traffic control system and has taken steps to boost staffing. The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and in many places, controllers are working six days a week with mandatory overtime. Last week, the FAA said it plans to permanently restrict helicopter operations near Reagan National Airport for security reasons. On 29JAN25, a mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport killed 67 people, raising serious questions about aviation safety.
Other recent incidents include fatal crashes of small planes in Alaska and Philadelphia, the crash of a regional Delta jet that flipped upside down upon landing in Toronto. Currently, the FAA is headed on an interim basis by Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau.
